From Banco Lyon to BCO Swiss Family Office

In 1989, a banker and entrepreneur from Lugano acquires Banco Lyon S.A. in Costa Rica, while simultaneously develops the Swiss presence through BCO Lyon S.A., headquartered in Lugano.

In 1996, the banking operations in Costa Rica were sold to an international group, while BCO Lyon S.A. continued its growth and development in Switzerland.

Over the years, BCO progressively focused its activities on independent wealth advisory services and solutions tailored to private and entrepreneurial clients, evolving from a single-family office into a multi-family office platform.

Today, the Group provides integrated services in the fields of wealth management, estate and succession planning, tax advisory, and real estate advisory through its offices in Lugano and Bellinzona..

 

The history of the Banco Lyon, from 1843 onwards

Captain William Le Lacheur first landed in Costa Rica in 1843. His arrival proved pivotal to the country's economic development.
Having landed in Puntarenas on the western Pacific coast, he arrived in San José (the capital since 1823) to join the country's coffee producers, whom he managed to convince on two key aspects for the country's development: exporting coffee directly to Europe without passing through Valparaíso, Chile, and smuggling 16 young men to be educated at English universities. Upon completing their studies, they all returned to Costa Rica not only with a European education but also with a new sport: soccer.
William devoted himself to developing Costa Rica's coffee export and trade, continually expanding his naval fleet. Louisa Maria, the youngest of William's five children, married Benjamin Abbot Lyon. After William's death in 1863, his son, John Allez Le Lacheur, and his son-in-law, Benjamin Lyon, continued the coffee export business and, together with several Costa Rican families, created the first coffee export company called Le Lacheur, Dent & Company.
William's grandson, George Lyon, founded BANCO LYON in 1944.