Pictet Group: Swiss private bank account
Marcus Altenburg, Published
Pictet Group is a private bank based in Geneva, founded in 1805. It works with international clients, so a non-resident can open an account here when the source-of-funds file is clean. As a private bank, it typically expects a private-banking relationship, commonly from CHF 500,000 upward — as of July 2026, and not a published per-bank figure.
About Pictet Group
Private clients and institutional investors through wealth management, asset management and asset servicing; no investment banking or commercial lending.
| Type | Private bank |
|---|---|
| Head office | Geneva |
| Founded | 1805 |
| Legal name | Banque Pictet & Cie SA |
| Assets | CHF 757 billion in assets under management or custody (as of 2025) |
| Employees | around 5,507 (2025) |
| Capital ratio | 20.9% (2025) |
| Service languages | English, French, German |
| Regulator | FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) |
| Non-residents | Accepts international clients |
- One of Europe's largest independent wealth and asset managers, owned by its managing partners.
- Founded in Geneva in 1805.
- Does no investment banking and extends no commercial loans.
What Pictet Group offers
- Wealth management and family office
- Asset management
- Asset servicing (fund administration and custody)
Can a non-resident open an account at Pictet Group?
Yes. Pictet Group 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 Pictet Group
- 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 six weeks once the file is complete.
Requirements: resident vs non-resident
| Requirement | Swiss resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Typical minimum | CHF 250,000 – 500,000 | CHF 500,000+ |
| Identification | One meeting or a relationship manager | Usually one in-person meeting at the Swiss office |
| Indicative timeline | one to three weeks | two to six 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 Pictet Group, 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. Pictet Group is supervised by FINMA, and reports a capital ratio of 20.9% (2025).
Is Pictet Group a fit for a non-resident?
As a private bank, Pictet Group is built for substantial, advised relationships rather than a simple transactional account. It suits a non-resident with investable assets who wants wealth management alongside banking and can meet a private-banking entry level.
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 Pictet Group with 35 other Swiss banks.
Official website: Pictet Group.
Same segment
Other private banks for non-residents
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
01Can a non-resident open an account at Pictet Group?
Yes. Pictet Group is a private 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.
02What kind of bank is Pictet Group?
Pictet Group is a private bank, founded in 1805, based in Geneva. One of Europe's largest independent wealth and asset managers, owned by its managing partners.
03What is the minimum to bank with Pictet Group?
There is no published per-bank minimum. As a private bank, Pictet Group typically expects a private-banking relationship, commonly from CHF 500,000 upward. 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 Pictet Group?
Typically one to three weeks for a Swiss resident and two to six 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.
05Can I open a Pictet Group account remotely, without visiting Switzerland?
Usually not entirely. Pictet Group 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 Pictet Group 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. Pictet Group is supervised by FINMA.
07Does Pictet Group serve clients in English?
Yes. Pictet Group runs an English-language service alongside French, German, so a non-resident can be onboarded and advised in English.
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