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Your consultant
Adam Abdellaoui
Of Counsel

How to Open an Account with BCP (Banque de Commerce et de Placements) SA

Date of last update: 12 January 2026
Important notice: Banque Privée BCP (Suisse) SA was acquired by Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) in November 2021. The information below reflects the bank's structure and services prior to integration into UBP's platform. For current banking services in Geneva, clients should contact UBP directly.

Not to be confused with: Banque de Commerce et de Placements SA (BCP, Geneva), founded in 1963 and focused on commodity trade finance, or Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP Group, Morocco).

Banque Privée BCP (Suisse) SA operated as a Swiss private bank in Geneva from 2002 until its acquisition by Union Bancaire Privée in 2021. The bank specialized in private banking and wealth management for individual and institutional clients across Europe, Latin America, and Africa. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Comercial Português (Millennium bcp), it combined Swiss banking traditions with the international reach of Portugal's largest private banking group.
+41 (44) 5152530

Banque Privée BCP (Suisse) SA

Information verified and updated

Current Status
Acquired by Union Bancaire Privée
Completed November 2021
Operating Period
2002 – 2021
Founded in Geneva
Former Parent Group
Millennium bcp
Banco Comercial Português
Specialization
Private Banking
Wealth Management

Core Wealth Management Solutions

01

Personal Asset Management

Individual investment strategies built on analysis of client goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. Follows Swiss banking standards for diversification.

02

Financial & Estate Planning

Structuring assets for family wealth preservation and intergenerational transfer. Includes trust structures and holding company arrangements.

03

Tax Optimization

Advisory for managing tax obligations under Swiss federal regimes and international treaties, ensuring compliance while minimizing burden.

04

Family Office Services

Comprehensive coordination for substantial family wealth, including consolidated reporting, multi-generational planning, and legal advisory.

Portfolio Construction Process

Step 1
Analysis
Client goal and suitability analysis under Swiss standards.
Step 2
Diversification
Strategic allocation by asset class and geography.
Step 3
Implementation
Execution through global custodians and multi-market access.
Step 4
Monitoring
Periodic rule-based rebalancing.

Historical Milestones

2002
Establishment of Millennium Banque Privée in Geneva as Swiss subsidiary of Banco Comercial Português.
2003
Formal registration as Banque Privée BCP (Suisse) SA with authorization for banking and securities trading.
June 2021
Announcement of acquisition agreement with Union Bancaire Privée (UBP).
November 2, 2021
Completion of share purchase and integration into UBP platform.
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Key Facts & Governance

Legal Name
Banque Privée BCP (Suisse) SA
Legal Form
Société Anonyme (SA)
Headquarters (Historical)
Place du Molard 4, 1204 Geneva
Supervision
FINMA (Until 2021)
Historical Membership
Swiss Bankers Association (SBA)
Former Ownership (2002-2021)
100% owned by Millennium bcp

Your Path to Partnership

01

Initial Consultation

Confidential discussion to establish financial objectives, investment experience, and service requirements.

02

Document Preparation

Preparation of required documentation under Swiss regulatory standards, including identity proof and source of funds verification.

03

Onboarding & Activation

Account activation following compliance approval, providing access to banking services and investment platforms.

Current Banking Services

Since the 2021 acquisition, Geneva operations are managed by Union Bancaire Privée (UBP).

UBP Geneva Headquarters
Rue du Rhône 96-98
1204 Geneva, Switzerland
Contact Telephone
+41 58 819 21 11
Website
ubp.com
Standard Hours
Monday – Friday
09:00 – 17:00 (CET)

Practical Information

Deposit Protection
CHF 100,000
Protected per client under esisuisse scheme.
Onboarding time (Individuals)
2 – 6 Weeks
Depends on documentation completeness.
Onboarding time (Corporate)
4 – 12 Weeks
Subject to compliance review.

Frequently asked questions

Adam Abdellaoui
Your personal contact
Of Counsel

Contact us to learn more about opening a Swiss bank account

Swiss banks

Bank name
Country
Year of foundation
Account opening procedure
Cost of account opening
Switzerland
1941
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1924
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1993
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1996
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1963
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1872
Bank visit
$3 500
Switzerland
1975
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1990
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1953
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1873
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1988
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1796
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1964
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1805
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1958
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
2010
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1804
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1986
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1998
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1969
Online
$3 500
Switzerland
1998
Bank visit
$3 500

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