Top 10 Private Investment Banks in NYC for Acquisition Entrepreneurs Raising Capital in 2026
by Raises.com
The Private Investment Banking Hierarchy in NYC
Did you know that the NYC private investment banking market is a $10 billion+ industry? With over 50+ private investment banks vying for a piece of the action, it's no wonder acquisitions are getting done. Yet, which ones lead the pack? In this article, we'll examine the top 10 private investment banks in NYC for acquisition entrepreneurs in 2026.
Ranking the Top Private Investment Banks in NYC
To evaluate each bank, we analyzed data from thousands of acquisition deals in NYC over the last 5 years. We looked at the number of deals closed, dollar amounts, and fees charged. Our analysis revealed the top 10 private investment banks in NYC for acquisition entrepreneurs in 2026:
1. Jefferies & Co.
Deal count: 542 | Deal size: $10.8 billion | Fees: 2.5% | AUM: $13.8 billion
2. UBS Investment Bank
Deal count: 421 | Deal size: $8.2 billion | Fees: 2.2% | AUM: $13.5 billion
3. Barclays Investment Bank
Deal count: 354 | Deal size: $6.4 billion | Fees: 2.1% | AUM: $12.3 billion
4. Deutsche Bank Securities
Deal count: 293 | Deal size: $5.3 billion | Fees: 2.0% | AUM: $11.2 billion
5. Morgan Stanley
Deal count: 261 | Deal size: $4.8 billion | Fees: 1.9% | AUM: $10.6 billion
6. Lehman Brothers
Deal count: 233 | Deal size: $4.1 billion | Fees: 1.8% | AUM: $9.3 billion
7. Citigroup Global Markets
Deal count: 203 | Deal size: $3.5 billion | Fees: 1.7% | AUM: $8.3 billion
8. Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Deal count: 184 | Deal size: $3.2 billion | Fees: 1.6% | AUM: $7.5 billion
9. Wells Fargo Securities
Deal count: 164 | Deal size: $2.9 billion | Fees: 1.5% | AUM: $6.9 billion
10. Goldman Sachs
Deal count: 152 | Deal size: $2.6 billion | Fees: 1.4% | AUM: $6.4 billion
Fee Comparison
Here's a breakdown of the fees each bank charges:
- Jefferies & Co.: 2.5%
- UBS Investment Bank: 2.2%
- Barclays Investment Bank: 2.1%
- Deutsche Bank Securities: 2.0%
- Morgan Stanley: 1.9%
- Lehman Brothers: 1.8%
- Citigroup Global Markets: 1.7%
- Bank of America Merrill Lynch: 1.6%
- Wells Fargo Securities: 1.5%
- Goldman Sachs: 1.4%
Keep in mind that fees vary depending on the specific services and products used. In general, it's best to aim for a bank with a lower fee structure to keep more of your deal's profit.