— About
Our History.
35 years of banking on conviction.
— About
35 years of banking on conviction.
— Founded
1991
— Years independent
35
— Branches
Praha · Vienna · Zürich
— Ownership
Privately held
— Overview
Founded in 1991 in Praha — eighteen months after the Velvet Revolution — Diavulcan was one of the first independent private banks chartered in the new Czech Republic. Privately controlled from day one, never publicly listed, and built specifically to serve the discerning families and operators who returned home to rebuild Czech business.
— Features
Chartered in 1991 by Ing. Lukáš Beran and three Praha founding families on Václavské náměstí, where the bank still operates today.
Vienna office opened 1996 to serve the German-speaking client base. Zürich representative office added 2009 for Swiss-resident clients.
Since 2014, a deliberate digital programme — banking API, mobile platform, the Vault document service — built without compromising the original private-banking franchise.
— Thirty-five years
Five inflection points that shaped the bank we are today. From a small Praha trust house chartered in 1991 to a regulated Czech private bank serving 12,400 clients across Central Europe.
Open an account →— Timeline
Thirty-five years of conviction.
Founded in Praha
Established by Ing. Lukáš Beran and three Praha founding families as one of the first independent private banks of the post-revolutionary Czech Republic.
Banking license · Vienna
Granted full banking license by the Czech National Bank. Vienna representative office opens to serve German-speaking clients.
EU accession
Czech Republic joins the EU. Diavulcan becomes a member of the EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme; private-banking franchise extends across the single market.
Digital programme
Banking API, mobile platform, and the Vault digital service released in a staged eight-year programme. Original private-banking franchise unchanged.
Net-zero certified
Operations net-zero certified across all three offices. Scope-3 financed-emissions targets aligned with Net Zero Banking Alliance commitments.
— Process
Step 01
Independence
Privately controlled since 1991. No external shareholders. No quarterly earnings call. The same conviction that opened the doors still runs the file.
Step 02
Continuity
One ownership structure for 35 years. One charter. No mergers, no bailouts, no rebrands.
Step 03
Modernisation
Banking API, mobile platform, digital onboarding — all built without compromising the original private-banking franchise.
Step 04
Today
312 employees across Praha, Vienna, and Zürich. Roughly 12,400 private clients and 1,800 corporate.
— Key facts
All headline terms shown here. Indicative pricing — your dedicated banker will confirm exact figures based on your relationship and the structure agreed.
Regulated by the Czech National Bank.
Member of EU Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
| Founded | 1991 |
| Headquarters | Praha, Czech Republic |
| Branches | Praha · Vienna · Zürich |
| Employees | 312 |
| Private clients | ~12,400 |
| AUM | €48bn+ |
"We banked elsewhere until 1996. We have not had reason to leave Diavulcan since. Three banks have tried to win us over. None has come close."
— Mr. P. Janáček
Client since 1996 · Praha
— Questions
Is the bank still family-owned?
Yes. The founding families remain the controlling shareholders via a holding trust. No outside ownership in 35 years.
Are you publicly listed?
No. We have no plans to list. Private ownership is structurally aligned with the franchise we run.
How do you finance growth without external capital?
Profitable growth funded by retained earnings every year since 1991.
Where were you before the Velvet Revolution?
We weren't. Diavulcan is a post-revolutionary institution — chartered in 1991 specifically for the new private-banking landscape that opened up after 1989.
Have a question we did not answer? Message your banker or write to us directly.
— Related
— Begin
A short conversation is the fastest way to understand whether our history are the right structure for you. We reply within two business days — usually the same day.