Rothschild & Co (Zurich)— Bank account opening in Switzerland

Alexandre de Rothschild serves as Executive Chairman and manages Rothschild & Co in 2026. He replaced his father David de Rothschild as CEO in March 2017 and as chairman in May 2017 following the annual shareholder meeting. "The group is owned by the Rothschild family with partners and aligned investors." — Rothschild & Co, 2024. The family initiated a €3.7 billion buyback in 2023 to take the company private, completing delisting from Euronext.

Rothschild & Co manages approximately €124 billion in combined Wealth and Asset Management AUM as of December 31, 2024 (€108 billion in wealth management, €38 billion in asset management). By comparison, BlackRock manages $10 trillion AUM (2023), Vanguard $8.5 trillion, and JPMorgan $3.7 trillion. Rothschild & Co operates as a mid-sized independent advisory and wealth management firm rather than a universal banking giant. The bank's strength lies in M&A advisory rather than balance sheet size.

No. Rothschild & Co Asset Management US portfolio totaled $5.55 billion as of September 30, 2021. Global financial assets reached $455 trillion in 2023 per McKinsey Global Institute. Rothschild & Co's assets represent less than 0.01% of worldwide financial assets. For context, BlackRock manages $10 trillion (2.2% of global assets), Vanguard $8.5 trillion, and JPMorgan $3.7 trillion. The bank focuses on capital preservation through investments in technology, biotech, and energy sectors rather than systemic financial control.

Rothschild & Co maintains offices in over 40 countries across 60 locations with approximately 1,600 advisory professionals. Key offices include Guernsey (Rothschild and Co Bank International Limited, Saint Julian's Court, St Julian's Avenue), Germany (Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Allee 12), and Switzerland (Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 181). The bank operates across Europe, Americas, Asia, and the Middle East with primary hubs in Paris, London, New York, and Zurich.

Rothschild & Co operated as a public company (SCA structure) with shares traded on Euronext until 2023, when the Rothschild family announced a €3.7 billion buyback to take the company private through delisting. The family maintained control through Concordia BV and Rothschilds Continuation Holdings AG since 2011 despite public trading status. The term "private bank" in wealth management refers to services for high-net-worth individuals rather than ownership structure. Rothschild & Co provides private banking services (managing individual wealth) while the corporate entity transitioned from public to private ownership in 2023–2024.

Rothschild & Co does not publicly disclose minimum deposit requirements, as these vary based on client profile, service package, and jurisdiction. Prospective clients should contact the bank directly during the initial consultation stage to discuss specific requirements and eligibility criteria for their situation.

The bank serves clients from diverse jurisdictions but maintains strict compliance with international sanctions, anti-money laundering regulations, and FINMA requirements. Acceptance depends on individual circumstances, source of funds verification, and regulatory considerations. Clients from jurisdictions with enhanced due diligence requirements may face additional documentation requests during the KYC process.

Rothschild & Co distinguishes itself through its integrated model combining private banking, wealth management, and global advisory services under one roof. Unlike pure private banks, Rothschild & Co leverages its M&A and corporate finance expertise to provide clients with access to proprietary deal flow and strategic advisory capabilities. The bank's 200+ year history and family ownership structure also differentiate it from newer entrants or publicly traded competitors.

The bank employs active management strategies based on fundamental research rather than passive index tracking. Portfolio construction focuses on long-term capital preservation, inflation protection, and risk-adjusted returns. Investment teams conduct in-depth company analysis and maintain long-term corporate relationships to identify opportunities. The bank blends return-generating assets (equities, alternative investments) with diversifying assets (fixed income, real assets) tailored to each client's risk tolerance and financial objectives.

Yes. Rothschild & Co provides 24/7 digital access through its mobile banking app and internet banking platform. Clients can monitor account balances, review transaction history, initiate domestic and international payments, and access account statements. The digital platform supports multi-factor authentication and encrypted communications to ensure security.

The bank employs multilingual staff across its global offices, with language capabilities including English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and various other languages depending on office location. The Zurich office specifically serves international clients through a multilingual team equipped to handle cross-border banking needs.

The timeline varies based on client complexity and documentation completeness. For straightforward cases with complete documentation, the process typically takes 4–8 weeks from initial consultation to account activation. More complex structures involving multiple jurisdictions, corporate entities, or enhanced due diligence requirements may extend the timeline to 12–16 weeks. The bank provides regular updates throughout the process.

As of January 2026, Rothschild & Co does not directly offer cryptocurrency trading or custody services. However, the bank may provide advisory services for clients with digital asset exposure and can facilitate connections to regulated third-party cryptocurrency service providers where appropriate. The bank's approach to digital assets evolves in line with regulatory developments and client demand.

Fee structures vary based on service type, account size, and complexity. Typical fees include annual management fees (percentage of assets under management), transaction fees for trades and foreign exchange, custody fees for securities holding, and advisory fees for bespoke services. The bank provides detailed fee schedules during the initial consultation stage. Clients should request a comprehensive fee breakdown before account opening.

Deposits held at Rothschild & Co Bank AG in Switzerland are covered by the Swiss depositor protection scheme (esisuisse) up to CHF 100,000 per client per bank in the event of bank insolvency. This protection applies to cash deposits and does not extend to investment securities, which remain client assets held in custody. Clients with deposits exceeding CHF 100,000 should discuss additional protection strategies with their relationship manager.