Credit Suisse is reviewing a number of German financial institutions as potential targets as it aims to have a fully operational German personal finance business for private investors with between €50,000 ($45,000) and €1m to spend.

A spokesman for Credit Suisse said that the bank aimed to have five to six investment centres based in Germany's larger regional cities by the end of 2001. The bank wants to capitalise on the rapid growth of a shareowner culture in Germany and changes to pension laws, which will increase the number of privately held pensions.