PostFinance
Bern, founded . Retail and business banking for clients resident in Switzerland; since 2022 it no longer opens accounts for non-residents.
PostFinanceBank Cler: Swiss retail bank account
Marcus Altenburg, Published
Bank Cler is a retail bank based in Basel, founded in 1927. It works with international clients, so a non-resident can open an account here when the source-of-funds file is clean. As a retail bank, it typically expects little or nothing for residents, though non-resident access is limited — as of July 2026, and not a published per-bank figure.
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About Bank Cler
Retail banking for private individuals and SMEs, oriented to private customers in Switzerland.
| Type | Retail bank |
|---|---|
| Head office | Basel, canton of Basel-Stadt |
| Founded | 1927 |
| Legal name | Bank Cler AG |
| Assets | around CHF 19.8 billion total assets (as of 2024) |
| Part of | Basler Kantonalbank |
| Capital ratio | 26–27% risk-adjusted capital (S&P projection through 2027) |
| Service languages | German, French, Italian |
| Regulator | FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) |
| Non-residents | Accepts international clients |
- 100% subsidiary of Basler Kantonalbank since 2019.
- Formerly Bank Coop; rebranded Bank Cler in 2017; around 23 branches nationwide.
What Bank Cler offers
- Retail banking and wealth management
- Residential mortgages
- Zak neobanking app
- Securities and investment accounts
- Pillar 3a pension accounts
Can a non-resident open an account at Bank Cler?
Yes. Bank Cler assesses each non-resident applicant on source of wealth, source of funds and risk profile. The decisive factor is a documented source of funds, not nationality. Assemble the evidence (tax returns, sale or employment records, a clear paper trail) before you approach the bank.
How to open an account at Bank Cler
- Confirm your profile and the account type. Agree the type of relationship — personal, private-banking or corporate — and the likely minimum with a relationship manager.
- Assemble the documents. A valid passport, proof of address dated within three months, and evidence of the source of your funds and wealth (full checklist below).
- Verify your identity. Residents can usually start online or in a branch; a non-resident normally attends one in-person meeting at a Swiss office.
- Compliance review, then go-live. The bank runs its onboarding, AML and source-of-funds checks, then opens the account and issues access. Expect case by case once the file is complete.
Requirements: resident vs non-resident
| Requirement | Swiss resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Typical minimum | Little or none | Limited / case by case |
| Identification | Branch visit | Branch visit, where accepted at all |
| Indicative timeline | one to two weeks | case by case |
| Remote opening | Sometimes | Rarely — usually one Swiss visit |
Documents you will need
- a valid passport or national identity card;
- proof of residential address dated within the last three months (utility bill, bank statement or official letter);
- evidence of the source of funds and source of wealth (tax returns, employment or sale contracts, business records, inheritance documents);
- a FATCA/CRS self-certification, plus beneficial-ownership declarations where a company or structure holds the account.
How your money is protected
Deposits at Bank Cler, as at every Swiss bank, are covered by the Swiss depositor-protection scheme (esisuisse) up to CHF 100,000 per client, per bank. Securities held in custody remain the client's property and are segregated from the bank's own balance sheet, so they are returned in full even if the bank fails. Bank Cler is supervised by FINMA, and reports a capital ratio of 26–27% risk-adjusted capital (S&P projection through 2027).
Is Bank Cler a fit for a non-resident?
As a retail bank, Bank Cler is built around customers resident in Switzerland. A non-resident without a Swiss footing will usually find a private or online bank the more realistic route.
If you would rather have this handled than explained, we prepare the source-of-funds file and introduce you to a suitable bank, and we can incorporate the company an account often sits behind. You can also compare Bank Cler with 35 other Swiss banks.
Official website: Bank Cler.
Related banks
Related Swiss banks for non-residents
Migros Bank
Zurich, founded 1958. Retail and commercial banking primarily for customers resident in Switzerland; non-resident onboarding is limited and not a standard offering.
Migros BankUBS
Zurich, founded 1862. Wealth management, asset management and investment banking for private, corporate and institutional clients worldwide.
UBS FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
01Can a non-resident open an account at Bank Cler?
Yes. Bank Cler is a retail bank in Basel that works with international clients. As with any Swiss bank, approval turns on a documented source of funds and the bank's own onboarding checks, not on nationality alone.
02What kind of bank is Bank Cler?
Bank Cler is a retail bank, part of Basler Kantonalbank, founded in 1927, based in Basel. 100% subsidiary of Basler Kantonalbank since 2019.
03What is the minimum to bank with Bank Cler?
There is no published per-bank minimum. As a retail bank, Bank Cler typically expects little or nothing for residents, though non-resident access is limited. The realistic entry point depends on the relationship rather than a fixed rule (as of July 2026).
04How long does it take to open an account at Bank Cler?
Typically one to two weeks for a Swiss resident and case by case for a non-resident, measured from a complete file. The compliance and source-of-funds checks are the main variable, not the paperwork itself.
05Can I open a Bank Cler account remotely, without visiting Switzerland?
Usually not entirely. Bank Cler normally expects a non-resident to attend one in-person meeting at its Swiss office; the rest of the process runs remotely.
06How are deposits at Bank Cler protected?
Cash deposits are covered by the Swiss depositor-protection scheme (esisuisse) up to CHF 100,000 per client, per bank. Securities held in custody are your property and are segregated from the bank's own balance sheet, so they are returned in full even in an insolvency. Bank Cler is supervised by FINMA.
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