Bank of Family That Lent to Popes and Emperors May Be for Sale

The Fugger family was once one of Europe’s most influential banking dynasties, building trading routes and lending money to Holy Roman Emperors and popes. Now, a private bank founded by one of its descendants may be coming up for sale.

Vienna Insurance Group AG is preparing to sell Fuerst Fugger Privatbank AG, a small wealth manager founded in in 1954, according to people familiar with the plans. A decision may come after VIG finalizes the takeover of Nuernberger Versicherung AG, which currently owns the bank, in the second half of the year, they said, asking for anonymity because the plan hasn’t been publicly announced.