Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP): Swiss universal bank account

Marcus Altenburg, Managing Partner Published 14 May 2026

Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) is a universal bank based in Geneva, founded in 1963. It works with international clients, so a non-resident can open an account here when the source-of-funds file is clean. As a universal bank, it typically expects from around CHF 50,000 to CHF 100,000 or more for a non-resident — as of July 2026, and not a published per-bank figure.

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About Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP)

Corporate and private clients worldwide, with a particular focus on commodity trade finance.

Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) at a glance: legal status, head office, size and client access.
Type	Universal bank
Head office	Geneva
Founded	1963
Legal name	Banque de Commerce et de Placements SA
Part of	Borak Ltd (69%) and Yapı ve Kredi Bankası (31%)
Service languages	English, French
Regulator	FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority)
Non-residents	Accepts international clients

Core businesses are commodity trade finance and wealth management.
Branch in Luxembourg and representative office in Dubai; FINMA-supervised.

What Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) offers

Commodity and structured trade finance
Private banking and wealth management
Multi-currency accounts and payments
Correspondent banking

Can a non-resident open an account at Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP)?

Yes. Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) assesses each non-resident applicant on source of wealth, source of funds and risk profile, and runs an English-language service for international clients. 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 Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP)

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 two to four weeks once the file is complete.

Requirements: resident vs non-resident

Indicative onboarding requirements for a universal bank, by residency (as of July 2026 — segment-typical, not a published Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) figure).
Requirement	Swiss resident	Non-resident
Typical minimum	CHF 0 – 25,000	CHF 50,000 – 100,000+
Identification	Online or a branch visit	In-person at a Swiss branch
Indicative timeline	one to three weeks	two to four weeks
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 Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP), 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. Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) is supervised by FINMA.

Is Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) a fit for a non-resident?

As a universal bank, Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) can cover everyday banking, financing and wealth services in one place. For a non-resident it tends to suit those with a business or corporate dimension, not only a personal account.

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 Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) with 35 other Swiss banks.

Official website: Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP).

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Lienhardt & Partner Privatbank Zürich

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Can a non-resident open an account at Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP)?

Yes. Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) is a universal bank in Geneva 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.

What kind of bank is Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP)?

Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) is a universal bank, part of Borak Ltd (69%) and Yapı ve Kredi Bankası (31%), founded in 1963, based in Geneva. Core businesses are commodity trade finance and wealth management.

What is the minimum to bank with Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP)?

There is no published per-bank minimum. As a universal bank, Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) typically expects from around CHF 50,000 to CHF 100,000 or more for a non-resident. The realistic entry point depends on the relationship rather than a fixed rule (as of July 2026).

How long does it take to open an account at Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP)?

Typically one to three weeks for a Swiss resident and two to four weeks for a non-resident, measured from a complete file. The compliance and source-of-funds checks are the main variable, not the paperwork itself.

Can I open a Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) account remotely, without visiting Switzerland?

Usually not entirely. Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) normally expects a non-resident to attend one in-person meeting at its Swiss office; the rest of the process runs remotely.

How are deposits at Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) 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. Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) is supervised by FINMA.

Does Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) serve clients in English?

Yes. Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) runs an English-language service alongside French, so a non-resident can be onboarded and advised in English.

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