PKB Privatbank SA: Swiss private bank account
Marcus Altenburg, Published
PKB Privatbank SA is a private bank based in Lugano, founded in 1958. 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 PKB Privatbank SA
Wealth management and financial advisory for private clients, including international clients.
| Type | Private bank |
|---|---|
| Head office | Lugano, canton of Ticino |
| Founded | 1958 |
| Assets | CHF 13.5 billion (as of 31 December 2024) |
| Swiss offices | Lugano, Zurich, Geneva |
| Part of | Trabaldo Togna family (via Auriga SA, Luxembourg) |
| Capital ratio | 35.5% Core Tier 1 (bank, 2024) |
| Service languages | English, Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Regulator | FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) |
| Non-residents | Accepts international clients |
- Founded 1958 in Zurich as Privat Kredit Bank; head office moved to Lugano in 2000.
- Family-controlled; offices in Lugano, Bellinzona, Geneva, Zurich and Lausanne.
What PKB Privatbank SA offers
- Discretionary and advisory portfolio management
- Lombard loans and mortgage financing
- Structured products and FX trading
- Access to global markets and Swiss-franc bonds
Can a non-resident open an account at PKB Privatbank SA?
Yes. PKB Privatbank SA 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 PKB Privatbank SA
- 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 PKB Privatbank SA, 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. PKB Privatbank SA is supervised by FINMA, and reports a capital ratio of 35.5% Core Tier 1 (bank, 2024).
Is PKB Privatbank SA a fit for a non-resident?
As a private bank, PKB Privatbank SA 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 PKB Privatbank SA with 35 other Swiss banks.
Official website: PKB Privatbank SA.
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Frequently asked questions.
01Can a non-resident open an account at PKB Privatbank SA?
Yes. PKB Privatbank SA is a private bank in Lugano 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 PKB Privatbank SA?
PKB Privatbank SA is a private bank, part of Trabaldo Togna family (via Auriga SA, Luxembourg), founded in 1958, based in Lugano. Founded 1958 in Zurich as Privat Kredit Bank; head office moved to Lugano in 2000.
03What is the minimum to bank with PKB Privatbank SA?
There is no published per-bank minimum. As a private bank, PKB Privatbank SA 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 PKB Privatbank SA?
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 PKB Privatbank SA account remotely, without visiting Switzerland?
Usually not entirely. PKB Privatbank SA 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 PKB Privatbank SA 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. PKB Privatbank SA is supervised by FINMA.
07Does PKB Privatbank SA serve clients in English?
Yes. PKB Privatbank SA runs an English-language service alongside Italian, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, so a non-resident can be onboarded and advised in English.
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