15 clicks to zero: How EFG International is scaling ETF trading with automation

EFG International

EFG International is a global private banking group with CHF 185.0 billion in assets under management, year-end 2025 (USD 233.6 billion, as of 3/25/26). Operating in more than 40 locations across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Americas and the Middle East, the firm employs over 3,200 professionals, including around 760 Client Relationship Officers, serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, next-generation clients, and institutional investors through discretionary, tailored wealth solutions.

FEATURED PRODUCTS

INDUSTRY

Financial Solutions

REGION

Europe

GOAL

Scale trading operations to support profitable growth, while maintaining trader oversight and best execution standards.

clicks reduced per order

reduction in manual RFQ workflows

activated for fully automated orders

EFG modernized its ETF execution infrastructure ahead of volume growth, reducing manual RFQ workflows by 60 percent — from 15 clicks to six, and zero for qualifying trades.

Semi-automated workflows accelerate execution, while preserving trader judgment and fiduciary oversight.

Integrated Bloomberg solutions enabled EFG to scale trading volumes without proportional headcount increases, using EMSX, RFQe for ETFs, Rule Builder and BTCA.

“The best solution was integrating the two (EFG’s native OMS and Bloomberg’s EMSX) together. There we found some interesting workflows that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible, and that allow us to keep control.”

Philipp Sporka
Head of Equities & ETD Execution & Sales, EFG International

Situation

EFG’s core execution management system covered most needs, and workflows functioned well. But as daily trading volumes climbed and orders shifted toward more ETFs and structured products, EFG needed to scale operations without diluting trader expertise.

Traders operate under strict fiduciary responsibility, with every order defensible and client interests paramount. NAV trades and complex ETF switches became part of daily workflow, rather than occasional events.

Market volatility required faster execution, while maintaining rigorous standards.

Challenge

Operational bottlenecks threatened to limit growth. The trading desk needed faster broker access and streamlined ETF execution to handle increased volumes, while maintaining fiduciary oversight.

Adding new brokers required lengthy enablement processes.

Manual ETF RFQ processes consumed significant trader time.

Solution

Bloomberg’s Electronic Markets solutions complement EFG’s infrastructure through EMSX, RFQE for ETFs, Rule Builder and BTCA. Bloomberg and EFG worked extensively to understand workflows and scope the right solution.

The workflow maintains trader control, as traders acknowledge orders and apply judgment before rules trigger automated actions when conditions are met. Traders retain oversight and intervention capability throughout.

60% efficiency gain, with ETF RFQs reduced from 15 clicks to six with semi-automation — and zero for fully automated orders

Scalability to handle substantial volume growth without proportional headcount increases

“We wanted some automation, but we also wanted the trader to keep control. We wanted flexibility. By integrating the two systems, we found solutions that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible, and that allows us to keep control.”

Philipp Sporka
Head of Equities & ETD Execution & Sales, EFG International