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Adam Abdellaoui
Of Counsel
Your consultant
UBS Bank —
Bank account opening in Switzerland
Date of last update: 12 January 2026
UBS Group AG is a global Swiss financial institution headquartered in Zurich and Basel, managing USD 6.9 trillion in invested assets as of Q3 2025. Founded through the 1998 merger of Union Bank of Switzerland and Swiss Bank Corporation, UBS operates across 50+ countries through four core divisions: Global Wealth Management, Investment Bank, Personal & Corporate Banking, and Asset Management. The bank serves 2.6 million individual clients and 143,000 corporate clients worldwide.
In March 2023, UBS completed a historic emergency acquisition of Credit Suisse for CHF 3 billion to prevent systemic collapse, consolidating Switzerland's banking landscape. The integration achieved USD 10 billion in cost reductions ahead of schedule, with client migration substantially complete by 2025.
Opening a UBS account requires rigorous compliance with Swiss AML standards. Non-residents must visit a Swiss branch in person with valid passport, proof of residence, and income source verification. Private banking accounts require minimum deposits from CHF 500,000. The process typically takes 15-30 business days for non-residents due to enhanced due diligence requirements. UBS maintains strong credit ratings (Moody's Aa2, S&P A+, Fitch A+) and operates under strict FINMA supervision with CET1 capital ratio of 14.8%.
In March 2023, UBS completed a historic emergency acquisition of Credit Suisse for CHF 3 billion to prevent systemic collapse, consolidating Switzerland's banking landscape. The integration achieved USD 10 billion in cost reductions ahead of schedule, with client migration substantially complete by 2025.
Opening a UBS account requires rigorous compliance with Swiss AML standards. Non-residents must visit a Swiss branch in person with valid passport, proof of residence, and income source verification. Private banking accounts require minimum deposits from CHF 500,000. The process typically takes 15-30 business days for non-residents due to enhanced due diligence requirements. UBS maintains strong credit ratings (Moody's Aa2, S&P A+, Fitch A+) and operates under strict FINMA supervision with CET1 capital ratio of 14.8%.
+41 (44) 5152530
UBS Group AG
Global financial institution headquartered in Zurich and Basel, formed through the 1998 merger of Union Bank of Switzerland and Swiss Bank Corporation.
Invested Assets
USD 6.9 trillion
Q3 2025
Global Workforce
128,983
Employees (2024)
Headquarters
Zurich & Basel
Switzerland
Stock Ticker
UBSG / UBS
SIX Swiss Ex / NYSE
Account Opening Stages
STEP 1
Selection
Choose account type (Personal, Private Banking, or Corporate) based on needs and assets.
STEP 2
Documentation
Prepare passport, residence permit, utility bill (≤3 months), and proof of income source.
STEP 3
Verification
Identity verification via app (Residents) or in-branch meeting (Non-residents).
STEP 4
Review
Bank compliance review taking 10–30 business days depending on complexity.
Requirements by Residency
Swiss Resident
- ✓ Swiss ID or Passport + Permit
- ✓ Utility bill (≤3 months old)
- ✓ Can open online via App
- • Min. Deposit: CHF 500k (Private Banking only)
Non-Resident
- ✓ Valid passport
- ✓ Utility bill/Bank statement (≤3 months)
- • Must visit branch in person
- • Min. Deposit: CHF 500,000+
*Non-residents face higher fees due to compliance costs and enhanced due diligence on fund origins.
Financial Performance
Key metrics reported in Q3 2025 following Credit Suisse integration.
Pre-tax Profit
USD 2.8bn
↑ 45% Year-over-Year
Capital Strength
14.8%
CET1 Coefficient
Integration
USD 10bn
Cost reductions realized
Evolution: From Origins to Mega-Merger
1862
Bank in Winterthur
Founding of one of the predecessor institutions.
1998
Formation of UBS
Merger of Union Bank of Switzerland (est. 1912) and Swiss Bank Corporation (est. 1872).
2023
Credit Suisse Acquisition
• March 19: Agreement signed for CHF 3 billion. • June 12: Credit Suisse Group AG merged into UBS Group AG.
2024
Entity Merger
On May 31, UBS AG and Credit Suisse AG merged; Credit Suisse AG ceased as a separate entity.
Global Wealth Management
Serving wealthy individuals and families.
45 countries
2.6m clients
Investment Bank
Advisory, capital markets, and financing solutions.
35 countries
Institutions
Personal & Corporate
Standard banking and securities.
143k corporate
3k financial inst.
Maria Werner
Of Counsel – specialized in corporate law and tax law
info@goldblum.ch
+41 (44) 5152530
Contact & Support
Primary Lines
Main International (Zurich)
+41 44 234 11 11
Corporate Client Support
+41 (0) 848 848 064
Registered Offices
Zurich HQ
Bahnhofstrasse 45
8001 Zurich, Switzerland
8001 Zurich, Switzerland
Basel HQ
Aeschenvorstadt 1
4051 Basel, Switzerland
4051 Basel, Switzerland
Significant Shareholders
Institutional investors own over 50% of UBS Group AG shares. Largest holdings reported as of June 30, 2025:
5.89%
UBS Asset Management AG
186 million shares
4.55%
Norges Bank
144 million shares
4.27%
The Vanguard Group
135 million shares
Frequently asked questions
Clients order account statements through Digital Banking by downloading available formats for assets, Pillar 3a tax, and paperless invoices. Statements appear in the account documents section with date and time stamps. Paper copies can be requested at branch offices for visa applications or official purposes, though UBS encourages digital document access through the "Everything electronically" setting in e-banking preferences.
Yes, non-residents can open UBS accounts in 2026 with minimum deposit CHF 500,000 for private banking. Required documents include passport, proof of residence (utility bills or bank statements dated within three months), and income source verification. UBS conducts enhanced due diligence for certain client profiles and jurisdictions. Non-residents face higher fees due to additional compliance costs. Process duration extends up to 30 days for activation.
UBS maintains high credit ratings post-acquisition. Moody's affirmed Aa2/Stable for UBS AG long-term (November 21, 2025), upgrading senior unsecured debt to A2 from A3. S&P revised outlook to Stable (September 16, 2025) from negative post-2023 deal, maintaining A+ long-term rating for UBS AG and UBS Switzerland AG. Fitch assigned A+/Positive outlook (June 16, 2025) for UBS AG long-term. Initial post-deal (2023) negative outlooks reflected integration risks; subsequent upgrades signal strong reliability despite systemic significance concerns. The CET1 coefficient reached 14.8% in Q3 2025, up from 14.3% in 2024. Pre-tax profit reached USD 2.8 billion in Q3 2025, up 45% year-over-year.
UBS does not charge account maintenance fees for students at accredited Swiss universities. For average private clients, basic account servicing costs up to CHF 1,250 annually without additional services, rising to CHF 3,375 annually with supplementary services (2013 data). Private banking accounts require minimum balance from CHF 500,000. Specific fee schedules vary by account type, transaction volume, and client segment; clients should request detailed fee disclosure during account opening consultation.
UBS Group AG is organized as a Swiss Aktiengesellschaft (AG) with shares traded on SIX Swiss Exchange under FINMA supervision. Institutional investors own over 50% of shares; remainder held by financial institutions, funds, banks, and retail investors. Largest shareholders as of June 30, 2025: UBS Asset Management AG (5.89%, 186 million shares), Norges Bank (4.55%, 144 million shares), Vanguard Group (4.27%, 135 million shares). Norges Bank disclosed 4.90% (January 22, 2025); BlackRock held 5.01% (November 30, 2023). UBS Group AG owns 100% of UBS AG, the operating subsidiary providing banking services.
UBS originally stood for "Union Bank of Switzerland" (German: Schweizerische Bankgesellschaft), one of the predecessor institutions that merged in 1998. However, since the merger with Swiss Bank Corporation, the bank officially uses only the acronym "UBS" without expanding it — the letters no longer represent specific words. This rebranding reflects the bank's evolution into a global financial services group beyond its Swiss origins.
Account opening timeline varies by client type and residency. Swiss residents using the digital app can complete the process in 5–10 business days. Non-residents opening accounts in-branch typically wait 15–30 business days due to enhanced due diligence requirements. Corporate accounts may take 20–40 business days depending on entity complexity and beneficial ownership verification. Delays can occur if documentation is incomplete or if additional compliance reviews are triggered.
Yes, UBS provides corporate banking solutions for small and medium enterprises through its Personal & Corporate Banking division. Services include business current accounts, payment processing, trade finance, and working capital facilities. However, UBS does not publish minimum deposit requirements for corporate accounts publicly. Small business owners should contact a UBS corporate banking advisor directly to discuss eligibility, required documentation, and fee structures based on their specific business profile.
No, non-residents cannot open UBS accounts remotely in 2026. Swiss banking regulations and UBS internal policies require non-resident clients to appear in person at a Swiss branch for identity verification and account opening procedures. This applies to both individual and corporate accounts. Only Swiss residents can use the digital account opening app. International clients must plan a trip to Switzerland or work through authorized intermediaries who can facilitate the in-person meeting.
UBS supports multi-currency accounts covering major global currencies including CHF (Swiss Franc), EUR (Euro), USD (US Dollar), GBP (British Pound), JPY (Japanese Yen), and others. Clients can hold, transfer, and exchange funds across these currencies within their account structure. Currency exchange services are available through UBS foreign exchange desk during business hours. Specific currency availability may vary by account type and client segment; private banking clients typically have access to broader currency options than standard retail accounts.
Yes, UBS offers comprehensive investment advisory through its Global Wealth Management division. Services range from basic portfolio construction for entry-level clients ($5,000 minimum) to sophisticated discretionary mandates for ultra-high-net-worth families. Advisory teams provide asset allocation recommendations, market research, alternative investment access, and ongoing portfolio monitoring. Clients can choose between advisory relationships (where they make final decisions) and discretionary management (where UBS executes trades on their behalf within agreed parameters). Advisory fees vary based on assets under management and service level.
UBS client deposits benefit from multiple protection layers. Swiss depositor protection scheme (esisuisse) covers up to CHF 100,000 per client per bank in case of bank failure. Beyond this, UBS maintains strong capital ratios — CET1 coefficient of 14.8% in Q3 2025 — well above regulatory minimums. The bank operates under strict FINMA supervision and "too big to fail" framework requiring additional capital buffers. Client assets in custody (securities, funds) are segregated from bank's own assets and not subject to bank creditors in insolvency scenarios.
Private banking account opening requires: (1) valid passport or national ID, (2) proof of residence dated within three months (utility bill, bank statement, or government-issued document), (3) comprehensive income and wealth source documentation (tax returns, employment contracts, business ownership records, inheritance documents), (4) beneficial ownership declarations if opening through corporate structures, (5) FATCA/CRS self-certification forms. Non-residents may need additional documentation depending on jurisdiction. UBS conducts thorough due diligence; incomplete documentation delays the process significantly.
Yes, UBS mobile banking app provides comprehensive account management capabilities. Clients can check balances, execute domestic and international payments, scan and pay QR-bills, block/unblock cards, adjust spending limits, view investment portfolio performance, and access account statements. The app supports biometric authentication (fingerprint, face recognition) and encrypted document delivery. However, certain operations — such as opening new accounts, applying for mortgages, or making significant investment decisions — still require interaction with relationship managers or branch visits.
Adam Abdellaoui
Your personal contact
Of Counsel
Contact us to learn more about opening a Swiss bank account
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