Raiffeisen Switzerland: Swiss cooperative bank account
Marcus Altenburg, Published
Raiffeisen Switzerland is a cooperative bank based in St. Gallen, founded in 1899. It works with international clients, so a non-resident can open an account here when the source-of-funds file is clean. As a cooperative bank, it typically expects little or nothing for members and residents — as of July 2026, and not a published per-bank figure.
About Raiffeisen Switzerland
Cooperative retail and SME banking for members and customers in Switzerland, via legally independent local Raiffeisen banks; non-resident handling varies by branch.
| Type | Cooperative bank |
|---|---|
| Head office | St. Gallen |
| Founded | 1899 |
| Legal name | Raiffeisen Switzerland Cooperative |
| Assets | group total assets exceeding CHF 312 billion (as of 2025) |
| Capital ratio | 20.9% CET1 (2025) |
| Service languages | German, French, Italian |
| Regulator | FINMA (Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) |
| Non-residents | Accepts international clients |
- Largest cooperative banking group in Switzerland, around 1.9 million members co-own their local banks.
- Around 219 legally independent Raiffeisen banks; a designated systemically important bank (D-SIB).
What Raiffeisen Switzerland offers
- Retail and private banking
- Wealth and asset management
- Corporate banking
- Institutional services (FX, structured products, precious metals)
Can a non-resident open an account at Raiffeisen Switzerland?
Yes. Raiffeisen Switzerland assesses each non-resident applicant on source of wealth, source of funds and risk profile. 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 Raiffeisen Switzerland
- 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 rarely available once the file is complete.
Requirements: resident vs non-resident
| Requirement | Swiss resident | Non-resident |
|---|---|---|
| Typical minimum | Little or none | Rarely available |
| Identification | Branch visit | Rarely available |
| Indicative timeline | one to two weeks | rarely available |
| 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 Raiffeisen Switzerland, 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. Raiffeisen Switzerland is supervised by FINMA, and reports a capital ratio of 20.9% CET1 (2025).
Credit ratings
| Agency | Rating | As of |
|---|---|---|
| S&P | AA- (stable) | Jan 2026 |
| Moody's | Aa2 | 2026 |
Is Raiffeisen Switzerland a fit for a non-resident?
As a cooperative bank, Raiffeisen Switzerland centres on members and residents in Switzerland. It is rarely the right entry point for a non-resident opening from abroad.
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 Raiffeisen Switzerland with 35 other Swiss banks.
Official website: Raiffeisen Switzerland.
Related banks
Related Swiss banks for non-residents
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
01Can a non-resident open an account at Raiffeisen Switzerland?
Yes. Raiffeisen Switzerland is a cooperative bank in St. Gallen 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 Raiffeisen Switzerland?
Raiffeisen Switzerland is a cooperative bank, founded in 1899, based in St. Gallen. Largest cooperative banking group in Switzerland, around 1.9 million members co-own their local banks.
03What is the minimum to bank with Raiffeisen Switzerland?
There is no published per-bank minimum. As a cooperative bank, Raiffeisen Switzerland typically expects little or nothing for members and residents. 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 Raiffeisen Switzerland?
Typically one to two weeks for a Swiss resident and rarely available 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 Raiffeisen Switzerland account remotely, without visiting Switzerland?
Usually not entirely. Raiffeisen Switzerland 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 Raiffeisen Switzerland 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. Raiffeisen Switzerland is supervised by FINMA.
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