In 1856, in Yverdon, Louis Michod founded a private bank in a town experiencing strong industrial and commercial growth.
At that time, being a banker meant more than managing capital: it meant committing one’s signature, reputation and personal responsibility.
The relationship was direct. Trust was essential. It was not declared, it was earned.
When Alfred Piguet joined the firm and later gave it his name in 1888, the institution firmly embraced a demanding model: that of partners with unlimited liability.
This legal structure was far from incidental.
It required rigour, prudence and a strong sense of duty. It shaped a corporate culture grounded in measured judgement and close client relationships.
From an early stage, the bank supported entrepreneurs and economic stakeholders in a region undergoing transformation. It grew alongside Yverdon, while remaining firmly anchored in its roots.
Over the course of the twentieth century, the bank evolved.
It opened a branch in Lausanne, while maintaining its headquarters in Yverdon — its founding location and historical heart.
In 1991, within a complex economic environment, the bank chose to join forces with Banque Cantonale Vaudoise.
This partnership strengthened its development while preserving its positioning as a private bank. Independence of action remained intact, as did its local anchoring.
At the turn of the 2000s, under the leadership of forward-thinking executives, the bank affirmed its distinctive approach:
a clear strategy based on internal analysis, conviction and accountability.
Here, decisions are not diluted in anonymous consensus.
They are owned, assumed and explained.
The institution’s human scale allows it to prioritise flexibility, responsiveness and continuous dialogue between teams and clients.
Throughout its development, the bank has cultivated a distinctive identity: combining prudence and tradition with boldness and adaptability.
Its headquarters remain in Yverdon, because this is where the bank’s spirit and history reside.
Returning to the origins is not an exercise in nostalgia.
It is about understanding what continues to guide action today: responsibility, proximity, high standards and independence of mind.
Foundations laid in 1856.
They continue to inspire every decision we mak.