CIM Bank: Swiss online bank account

About CIM Bank

Around 10,000 institutional, corporate and private clients worldwide, including non-resident clients, with online multi-currency accounts.

• Specialises in online multi-currency accounts for non-resident international clients.
• Remote account opening via video call; offices in Geneva, Lugano and Wollerau.

What CIM Bank offers

• Online multi-currency accounts
• Online trading and brokerage
• Private and corporate banking
• Discretionary portfolio management
• Lombard loans, funds and ETFs

Can a non-resident open an account at CIM Bank?

Yes. CIM Bank 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 CIM Bank

1. Confirm your profile and the account type. Pick the multi-currency or trading account that fits how you will use it.
2. 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).
3. Verify your identity. CIM Bank can identify clients remotely by video, so no trip to Switzerland is required.
4. Compliance review, then go-live. The bank runs its onboarding, AML and source-of-funds checks, then opens the account and issues access. Expect a few days to two weeks once the file is complete.

Requirements: resident vs non-resident

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 CIM Bank, 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. CIM Bank is supervised by FINMA.

Is CIM Bank a fit for a non-resident?

As an online bank, CIM Bank is one of the more accessible routes for a non-resident: accounts open remotely, minimums are low, and the focus is multi-currency banking and trading rather than in-person advice.

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 CIM Bank with 35 other Swiss banks.

Official website: CIM Bank.