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Edmond Safra: Giant of Global Private Banking Some 50 years after he first tried his hand in the world of finance, Edmond J. Safra is more than ever the world's "doyen of private banking." As Honorary Chairman of Republic New York Corporation and Republic National Bank of New York, and as Chairman of Safra Republic Holdings S.A., Safra is one of the major leaders of international private banking. As a sign of confidence in the expanding Israeli economy, Republic recently opened an office in Tel Aviv. Edmond Safra created a banking empire based on the tradition established by his family, especially his father Jacob, whose portrait is found in all of his offices. A scion of the famed Safra banking family, whose financial undertakings began in the city of Aleppo, Syria, a century and a half ago, Edmond Safra created a truly international banking empire, based on the tradition established by his family, especially his father, Jacob. Born in Beirut in 1932, Safra left home at the age of sixteen for his initiation into international finance. Over the years, he has studied trade and markets in Europe, assisted in the re-establishment of the Safra empire in Sao Paulo, Brazil (which included the setting up of Banco Safra S.A. now run by brothers Joseph and Moise), founded banking establishments in Geneva and New York and parlayed his initial capital of some million into billions. Known for his personal integrity and honesty, Edmond Safra has built one of the world's safest banking institutions, with a very solid financial basis and a policy of prudence and personal service to the client. His banking empire is composed of two groups. The American-style Republic National Bank of New York, wholly owned by Republic New York Corporation, operates a consumer bank branch network in the Greater New York City area and in South Florida, and engages in domestic and international private banking. It also acts as a dealer in high-quality bonds, precious metals, foreign exchange and interest rate swaps and other derivatives, in North and South America, Europe and the U.K., the Middle East, the Far East and Australia. Safra Republic Holdings based in Luxembourg, specializes in Swiss style private banking through its six subsidiaries in Europe, of which Republic National Bank (Suisse) is the largest. RNB (Suisse) offers a comprehensive range of services and investment tools through its branches in Switzerland, Guernsey and Gibraltar and its offices in Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London and most recently Tel Aviv. In addition to being a banking giant, Safra is also a major philanthropist. Both he and his wife, Lily, actively support humanitarian, artistic and environmental causes, and are involved with a number of academic institutions. Safra established the International Foundation for Sephardic Education, which has awarded more than 10,000 grants to needy students. In June 1998, Safra received an Honorary Doctorate in Philosophy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Looking to the future, Safra is confident. "Recently, I celebrated fifty years in the banking sector. I used to say I wanted to build banks that would last a thousand years. Now, I would like my banks to last ten thousand years. All my banks have top notch managers at all levels. And with my brothers, who are remarkable bankers following the same principles, as well as with my nephews, the necessary continuity will always be granted." By Gail Lichtman Israel - Fifty years of finance & industry http://www.jpost.co.il/com/Finance/safra.html --------------------------------------------- the above report was published in 1998? joao paulo's message says that the republic bank has been sold due to pd...? which puts a different 'spin' on Safra's words above: "...the necessary continuity will always be granted" another reminder that we are not driving this bus imho janet ------------------------------------------------------------ janet paterson 52 now 41 dx 37 onset [log in to unmask] 613-256-8340 PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada a new voice <http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/6263/> ------------------------------------------------------------