Sal. Oppenheim, the Cologne-based German private bank, is planning to increase the regional orientation of its business with wealthy private customers, according to Financial Times Deutschland.

Management has said that the bank is considering the installation of new regional branches, in Hanover and Bremen, to enable it to respond to local investment culture.

The bank, the holding of which is headquartered in Luxembourg, is reported to manage around €45 billion euros for wealthy private customers. This area of activity was the main earner for the bank in 2006, generating €129 million out of a total profit of €309 million.