Taiwan FSC Approves 50 Financial Institutions for Kaohsiung Asian Asset Management Hub

Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission is using a pilot zone in Kaohsiung to advance its Asian Asset Management Center initiative. The program allows banks, life insurers, investment trust and consulting firms, and securities companies to test innovative services aimed at wealthy clients. It is a key part of Taiwan’s effort to expand its asset-management industry, retain domestic wealth and attract more international capital.

The regulator said 59 financial institutions have received approval to enter the Kaohsiung zone, with the total expected to exceed 60 in 2026. Participating firms are expanding into family-office services, financing backed by portfolios of financial assets and technology-enabled private banking. The rush underscores intensifying competition for high-net-worth clients as Taiwan seeks to build a broader wealth-management hub.

Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission is using the Kaohsiung pilot zone to test policies for its Asian Asset Management Center initiative. Through financial-services trials, it aims to attract high-net-worth clients, family wealth management businesses and private capital. With the zone entering an evaluation phase after one year of operation, the prospects for turning trial programs into permanent services will shape the development of Taiwan's wealth management and succession-planning markets.

The FSC said family-office advisory services and innovative high-savings insurance policies are expected to formally launch in the third quarter of 2026. During the same quarter, it will also introduce three trial programs covering cross-border financial services, eased restrictions on private funds and dedicated accounts for prepaid premiums. The announcement did not disclose minimum asset or premium thresholds, and further details are still pending from the FSC.

Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission is promoting wealth-management services for high-net-worth clients, encouraging domestic banks to integrate investment, trust and cross-border financial offerings. It is using the Kaohsiung Asian Asset Management Center special zone as a policy hub. Competition in Wealth Management 2.0 is intensifying with the addition of Bank of Taiwan, Taiwan Business Bank and Far Eastern International Bank, while the industry is targeting NT$3 trillion in assets under management.

In 2026, the FSC approved Bank of Taiwan, Taiwan Business Bank and Far Eastern International Bank to offer Wealth Management 2.0 services for high-net-worth clients. After securing approval, the three banks will apply to establish operations in the Kaohsiung special zone. Under current plans, the total number of banks, securities firms, insurers and other financial institutions operating in the zone could exceed 60 in 2026.

Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission is seeking to establish the country as an Asian asset-management hub, using a special zone in Kaohsiung as a pilot site for high-net-worth client management and financial-services innovation. The policy is important to retaining domestic capital, attracting international funds and strengthening Taiwan's wealth-management competitiveness. It will also lay the groundwork for dedicated legislation and regulatory changes.

The FSC plans to hold an event in late July marking the Kaohsiung special zone's first anniversary, where it will present preliminary plans for dedicated legislation governing the Asian asset-management hub and the results of its high-net-worth business trials. So far, 21 banks have been approved to offer related services, with assets under management reaching NT$2.4 trillion. Mature pilot programs will gradually be expanded across Taiwan.