PostFinance: Swiss retail bank account
Marcus Altenburg, Published
PostFinance is a retail bank based in Bern. 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.
About PostFinance
Retail and business banking for clients resident in Switzerland; since 2022 it no longer opens accounts for non-residents.
| Type | Retail bank |
|---|---|
| Head office | Bern |
| Legal name | PostFinance Ltd |
| Assets | around CHF 104.8 billion total assets (as of 2024) |
| Part of | Swiss Post |
| Service languages | English, German, French, Italian |
| Regulator | FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) |
| Non-residents | Accepts international clients |
- Owned by Swiss Post; a systemically important bank under FINMA supervision.
- One of the largest retail banks in Switzerland; stopped opening accounts for non-residents in 2022.
What PostFinance offers
- Personal and business accounts
- Debit and credit cards
- E-trading (equities, bonds, ETFs, derivatives)
- Cryptocurrency trading, custody and Ethereum staking
- Pillar 3a retirement planning
Can a non-resident open an account at PostFinance?
Yes. PostFinance 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 PostFinance
- 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 PostFinance, 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. PostFinance is supervised by FINMA.
Credit ratings
| Agency | Rating | As of |
|---|---|---|
| S&P | AA / A-1+ | 2024 |
Is PostFinance a fit for a non-resident?
As a retail bank, PostFinance 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 PostFinance with 35 other Swiss banks.
Official website: PostFinance.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
01Can a non-resident open an account at PostFinance?
Yes. PostFinance is a retail bank in Bern 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 PostFinance?
PostFinance is a retail bank, part of Swiss Post, based in Bern. Owned by Swiss Post; a systemically important bank under FINMA supervision.
03What is the minimum to bank with PostFinance?
There is no published per-bank minimum. As a retail bank, PostFinance 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 PostFinance?
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 PostFinance account remotely, without visiting Switzerland?
Usually not entirely. PostFinance 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 PostFinance 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. PostFinance is supervised by FINMA.
07Does PostFinance serve clients in English?
Yes. PostFinance runs an English-language service alongside German, French, Italian, so a non-resident can be onboarded and advised in English.
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