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Adam Abdellaoui
Of Counsel
Your consultant
Julius Baer Group — Bank account opening in Switzerland
Date of last update: 12 January 2026
Julius Baer Group stands as one of Switzerland's premier private banking institutions, managing CHF 520 billion in assets as of October 2025. Headquartered in Zurich since 1890, the bank operates as Julius Baer Group Ltd (AG), specializing exclusively in private banking and wealth management for high-net-worth individuals and family offices across more than 25 countries.
+41 (44) 5152530
Julius Baer Group
Updated: January 2026 | Author: Marcus Altenburg
Founded
1890
Headquarters: Zurich
AUM
CHF 520bn
As of October 2025
Presence
25 Countries
60 Locations
Ticker
BAER
SIX Swiss Exchange
Financial Strength (2024)
IFRS Net Profit
CHF 1.022bn
Adj. profit growth +11% YoY
Capital Ratio (CET1)
14.5%
Above regulatory minimums
Client Deposits
CHF 69bn
Loan-to-deposit ratio 61%
Key Advantages
Pure-play Private Banking
100% resource dedication to wealth management; no conflicts with investment banking.
Global Reach, Swiss Stability
60 locations regulated by FINMA; deposit insurance up to CHF 100,000 via esisuisse.
Strong Momentum
265,000 new clients and CHF 44bn net new money in 2024.
Risks & Disadvantages
High Entry Threshold
Minimum typically CHF 500k, reaching CHF 1-5M for certain segments.
Cost Efficiency Pressures
Cost-to-income ratio at 70.9% (2024), prompting planned cuts.
No Corporate Banking
Lacks trade finance or working capital facilities; focused purely on private wealth.
Investment Mandates
Three primary service models designed to match client involvement levels, plus structured solutions.
Advisory Mandates
Client retains final decision authority. Includes strategic recommendations and proactive portfolio monitoring across global assets.
Discretionary Mandates
Bank manages portfolio within agreed CIP parameters. Options include ESG integration, impact investing, and custom solutions.
Global Markets Access
Direct execution on major exchanges (Europe, Asia, N. America) via relationship managers or e-Trading platform.
Structured Products
Custom derivatives for yield enhancement or capital protection. Includes participation products and private market funds.
Global Network
Operating in over 25 countries with approximately 60 locations.
Switzerland (HQ)
- Zurich (Headquarters)
- Geneva
- Lugano
- St. Moritz, Basel, Berne
Europe
- London, Dublin
- Frankfurt, Luxembourg
- Madrid, Milan, Monaco
- Lisbon (New, Jan 2026)
Asia & Middle East
- Singapore, Hong Kong
- Dubai, Abu Dhabi (ADGM)
- Tokyo, Mumbai
- Shanghai, Bangkok
Latin America
- Santiago de Chile
- Mexico City
- Exited Brazil Onshore (2025)
Industry Recognition (2024-2025)
Best Private Bank – Pure Play
Asian Private Banker Awards 2024
Western Europe's Best for Discretionary Portfolio Management
Euromoney 2025
Best Market Maker
Swiss Derivative Awards 2024 (6th win)
Moody's Ratings
Long-term Deposit A1
Short-term Deposit Prime-1
MSCI ESG Rating A
Maria Werner
Of Counsel – specialized in corporate law and tax law
info@goldblum.ch
+41 (44) 5152530
History & Milestones
1890
Exchange office founded in Zurich by Ludwig Hirschhorn and Theodor Grob.
1980
First Swiss private bank to go public; Baer family retained voting control.
2005
Transition to "one share, one vote." Acquired three private banks and GAM from UBS.
2014
Acquired private banking assets of Israeli Bank Leumi.
Comparison: Swiss Private Banks
Julius Baer
Focus Pure-play private banking
Min. Assets CHF 500k – 5M
2024 Growth +3.3% Net New Money
UBS Global WM
Focus Universal bank / Wealth Mgmt
Min. Assets CHF 250k – 2M
2024 Growth +2.5% Net New Money
Pictet Group
Focus Asset Mgmt & Private Banking
Min. Assets CHF 1,000,000+
2024 Growth +1.7% Net New Money
Account Opening Process
1
Initial Consultation
Submit application with financial plan and source of funds.
2
KYC Procedure
Provide passport, utility bills, and tax returns for verification.
3
Compliance Review
1-2 month review period for verification and background checks.
4
Activation
In-person meeting to sign forms and initiate account.
Minimum Requirements
Standard Private Banking CHF 500,000
Premium / International CHF 1 – 5 Million
*Thresholds vary by client domicile and regional office policies.
Frequently asked questions
Julius Baer requires a minimum deposit of CHF 500,000 (approximately $550,000 USD) for private banking accounts, though this threshold may vary by client type and regional office. Some sources indicate minimums of CHF 1-5 million for premium HNWI segments. Clients should verify current requirements with their local Julius Baer office, as policies adjust based on market conditions and strategic focus.
Yes. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd. is a Swiss bank authorized and regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA as both a bank and securities firm. The bank's legal form is a public limited company (Julius Baer Group Ltd.), headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. FINMA oversight ensures compliance with Swiss banking regulations, capital adequacy standards (CET1 ratio 14.5% as of 2024), and AML/KYC requirements.
Julius Baer operates in more than 25 countries with approximately 60 locations. Key regions include:
Switzerland: Zurich (headquarters), Geneva, Basel, Berne, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano, St. Gallen, St. Moritz, and other cities.
Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Portugal (Lisbon office opened January 2026).
Asia-Pacific: Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, India, China (Shanghai).
Middle East: United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Israel (Tel Aviv), Abu Dhabi (new advisory office approved 2025).
Latin America: Chile, Mexico.
The bank exited Brazil onshore operations in 2025 while entering Italy onshore as part of strategic portfolio optimization.
Switzerland: Zurich (headquarters), Geneva, Basel, Berne, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano, St. Gallen, St. Moritz, and other cities.
Europe: Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Portugal (Lisbon office opened January 2026).
Asia-Pacific: Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, India, China (Shanghai).
Middle East: United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Israel (Tel Aviv), Abu Dhabi (new advisory office approved 2025).
Latin America: Chile, Mexico.
The bank exited Brazil onshore operations in 2025 while entering Italy onshore as part of strategic portfolio optimization.
Deposits at Julius Baer are protected by esisuisse, Switzerland's self-regulatory deposit insurance scheme managed by Swiss banks collectively. Coverage limit: CHF 100,000 per client per institution in case of bank insolvency. This applies to credit balances of private and corporate clients; accounts are aggregated per client across all Julius Baer entities.
Additional safety factors include:
- Strong capital position: CET1 ratio 14.5%, total capital ratio 24.0% (end 2023), well above regulatory minimums.
- Liquidity coverage ratio: 303% (June 2025), indicating robust short-term liquidity buffers.
- Moody's ratings: A1 long-term deposit, Prime-1 short-term deposit, stable outlook.
Esisuisse operates under Swiss federal law, with payouts from a collective fund if an individual bank's resources prove insufficient.
Additional safety factors include:
- Strong capital position: CET1 ratio 14.5%, total capital ratio 24.0% (end 2023), well above regulatory minimums.
- Liquidity coverage ratio: 303% (June 2025), indicating robust short-term liquidity buffers.
- Moody's ratings: A1 long-term deposit, Prime-1 short-term deposit, stable outlook.
Esisuisse operates under Swiss federal law, with payouts from a collective fund if an individual bank's resources prove insufficient.
Julius Baer specializes exclusively in private banking for individual clients and family offices, not standard corporate banking services (trade finance, working capital facilities, corporate cash management). However, the bank does open corporate investment accounts for legal entities engaged in investment activity, securities custody, and dividend collection.
Corporate account requirements include:
- Business plan and financial statements
- Corporate documents with apostille certification
- Beneficial owner documentation with source of funds verification
- Minimum deposit thresholds similar to private clients (CHF 500,000 – 1,000,000)
Corporate clients seeking traditional banking services (payroll, supplier payments, letters of credit) should consider universal banks like UBS rather than pure-play private banks like Julius Baer.
Corporate account requirements include:
- Business plan and financial statements
- Corporate documents with apostille certification
- Beneficial owner documentation with source of funds verification
- Minimum deposit thresholds similar to private clients (CHF 500,000 – 1,000,000)
Corporate clients seeking traditional banking services (payroll, supplier payments, letters of credit) should consider universal banks like UBS rather than pure-play private banks like Julius Baer.
Julius Baer employs multilingual staff across its 60 global locations, providing services in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, and other languages depending on regional office capabilities. Clients from diverse jurisdictions benefit from relationship managers fluent in their preferred language, ensuring clear communication on complex wealth management matters. The bank's international network enables seamless coordination across time zones and regulatory environments.
In 2024, Julius Baer reported CHF 14.2 billion in net new money with a 3.3% growth rate, outpacing Pictet's 1.7% and matching UBS Global Wealth Management's 2.5%. The bank's pure-play private banking model allows focused resource allocation toward client acquisition and retention, reflected in 265,000 new clients joining in 2024. However, absolute AUM remains smaller than UBS due to Julius Baer's specialized positioning versus universal banking competitors.
Discretionary portfolio management at Julius Baer typically requires minimum assets of CHF 1-2 million, though thresholds vary by mandate complexity and regional office. Standard discretionary strategies may accept lower minimums (CHF 500,000-1 million), while fully customized mandates or private markets access often require CHF 5 million+. Clients should discuss specific requirements with their relationship manager during initial consultation.
Julius Baer maintains robust cross-border tax compliance frameworks aligned with OECD Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and U.S. FATCA requirements. The bank automatically exchanges client financial information with tax authorities in relevant jurisdictions, ensuring clients meet reporting obligations. Relationship managers coordinate with clients' tax advisors to structure portfolios tax-efficiently within legal boundaries, leveraging Switzerland's extensive double tax treaty network.
Julius Baer's global network enables account portability when clients relocate. The bank transfers relationship management to the appropriate regional office while maintaining account continuity. However, regulatory requirements in the new jurisdiction may necessitate additional documentation or adjustments to investment mandates. Clients should notify their relationship manager 3-6 months before relocation to ensure smooth transition and compliance with local regulations.
Yes. Julius Baer integrates ESG considerations across discretionary mandates and advisory services. The bank offers dedicated sustainable investment strategies, impact investing opportunities, and sustainability profile assessments enabling clients to align portfolios with personal values. ESG integration extends to private markets, structured products, and thematic mandates focused on climate transition, social impact, or governance excellence.
Julius Baer operates under Swiss banking secrecy laws, which protect client confidentiality within international compliance frameworks. The bank employs secure e-Banking platforms with multi-factor authentication, encrypted communications, and centralized asset custody. However, Swiss banking secrecy does not shield illegal activity—the bank complies with legitimate requests from tax authorities and law enforcement under mutual legal assistance treaties and CRS/FATCA obligations.
Julius Baer employs a fee structure combining management fees (typically 0.5-1.5% annually on AUM depending on portfolio size and complexity), performance fees for certain mandates, and transaction costs for securities trading. Discretionary mandates generally carry higher fees than advisory-only relationships due to active management. The bank provides transparent fee schedules during onboarding, with relationship managers explaining all costs before account activation.
While Julius Baer accepts initial applications remotely, most clients must attend an in-person meeting at a Julius Baer office (Zurich, Geneva, or select international locations) to finalize account opening and sign mandate agreements. This requirement stems from Swiss KYC regulations and the bank's commitment to establishing personal relationships with clients. However, certain international offices may offer alternative arrangements for clients unable to travel—discuss options with your relationship manager during initial consultation.
Julius Baer offers comprehensive succession planning including estate structuring, trust formation, family governance frameworks, and inheritance distribution strategies. The bank coordinates with clients' legal and tax advisors to design multi-generational wealth transfer plans aligned with tax-efficient jurisdictions. Services extend to philanthropic advisory, foundation establishment, and next-generation wealth education programs preparing heirs for responsible capital stewardship.
Adam Abdellaoui
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Of Counsel
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