Firm
Practices
Recognitions
Publications
Contacts
En
De
Callback
Callback
En
De
We use cookies to provide the best site experience.
Knowledgebase

Swiss bank account — guidance about the conditions and fees nowadays

Dari Podhur, Counsel
9 July, 2024 – updated 08 November, 2024
Swiss bank account for a company and a foreigner? Which bank to open an account in Switzerland? How to open a bank account in Switzerland: step-by-step guide, know-how and perks.

Table of Contents

Swiss bank account opening

Opening a Swiss bank account is a process that fascinates not only with the high level of confidentiality but also with the stability of the financial system of this country. When the international business environment becomes increasingly unstable, many companies and private investors seek alternatives to preserve and increase capital. However, this process has legal and financial complexity, especially regarding international legal structures. In this article, we will look at how to open a Swiss bank account, outline the main stages of licensing, and raise issues of corporate law that an entrepreneur or investor may encounter along the way.
Swiss Bank Account
Swiss banks are considered the standard of reliability and give business credibility. If a company has an account in a Swiss bank, this indicates that partners in any corner of the world can do business with it.

There is an opinion that opening an account in a Swiss bank is difficult and expensive. This is true but not valid: Swiss bank account opening is indeed a costly pleasure, but by no means inaccessible (if finances allow). Many banks in this country can satisfy client's business needs, and we have prepared an overview of the best Swiss banks for opening an account.

Banking in Switzerland

Swiss is famous for its high wages, political neutrality, good working conditions, liberal approach to economic issues, and minimal bureaucracy. The financial system has also enjoyed undiminished popularity in this country over the years, and Swiss bank accounts are considered among the most secure in the world. Over the centuries, Switzerland has built up the strength of its banking industry, and its main characteristics are undoubtedly confidentiality and a high level of banking secrecy.
NEED MORE DETAILS? DROP US A LINE!

Advantages of the banking system

For decades, Switzerland has maintained its position as one of the most reliable and stable centres in the global financial arena. Swiss banks are known for their resilience, even during global economic crises. They offer various financial instruments and services, from basic accounts to complex investment portfolios and asset management. This variety allows clients to choose the optimal schemes for preserving and increasing their capital. In addition, Switzerland's national currency, the Swiss franc, is considered one of the most stable currencies in the world, which adds a layer of protection for assets.
Swiss Bank Account

Bank accounts — Privacy and security

Privacy and security issues have always been one of the key advantages of the Swiss banking system. Although many countries are tightening financial transparency laws, Switzerland continues to be among the leaders in ensuring the anonymity of its clients. It has strict bank secrecy laws that significantly restrict the disclosure of account holder information. But it is worth noting that recently, some rules have become less strict in complying with international standards. However, the level of data protection in Switzerland remains very high, and compliance with laws and regulations is ensured to the highest standards. As a result, choosing Switzerland to open a bank account is a strategically sound step for those who value stability, reliability, and confidentiality. All conditions have been created here so that clients, be they large corporations or private investors, can focus on long-term financial goals, minimising risks and uncertainty.

Swiss bank account opening: step-by-step guide

Let's look at the process step by step.

The first step is not specific to Switzerland, as it involves analysing your situation and available options. There are no universal solutions where the identical product suits all individuals or companies. We operate in 10+ countries and understand the needs of our clients perfectly. Therefore, we always carefully study your situation at the first step and select the best solution.

In the second stage, we begin to prepare documents. The minimum package includes:
  • Application for opening an account;
  • Letter of recommendation (from an agent);
  • Constituent documents for the company for which you are opening;
  • Passports of all directors and shareholders;
  • Confirmation of your residential address;
  • Certificate of good condition (not over three months) for companies older than six months.
Many banks require confirmation of the legal origin of funds. Therefore, even at the opening stage, you can attach supporting documents. Non-standard documents that may be necessary:
  • A certificate from the bank where you are currently being serviced, reflecting all transactions for the last three months;
  • Letter of recommendation;
  • And some others.
All additional documents are usually needed to evaluate the client.
ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS
Some banks, such as CIM, offer remote opening. In this case, you will not need to travel to Geneva or other Swiss cities; everything can be done anywhere. Banks practice customer identification through Skype and other means of communication. The necessary documents are sent by classic mail, and ultimately, you become the owner of a Switzerland bank account without travelling to Switzerland.
Swiss Bank Account remote opening
In the third stage, when all the documents are collected, an application for opening is submitted to the bank. Each bank has its deadline and regulations, but preliminary consideration of the application requires at least several days, and in some cases more. Unfortunately, opening an account on the same day in 2024 is impossible. However, you can significantly speed up the opening process by working with us.
The next stage is final—after the bank has reviewed and approved your application, they open an account for you but do not begin servicing. Many organizations will require you to pay an activation fee at this stage. The amount depends on the bank and your product, but on average, it is 5,000 (private account)—10,000 (company account) CHF.
The activation payment is not a waste since you can use your money after all opening procedures are completed. The activation payment is the first tranche that the bank asks the client to make. Once the payment is made, you will have full access to all services. And only from this moment will the account begin to work fully.
It is important to remember that according to the bank's terms and conditions, you may be required to keep a certain amount in your account - the minimum balance. This amount depends on your bank and account type and is rarely below 1,000 francs. The bank can set a minimum balance for each in euros, dollars, or other currencies when opening an account.
NEED MORE DETAILS? DROP US A LINE!
Swiss Bank Account

Investment accounts

Foreigners and non-residents view Switzerland not only as a "haven" where they can safely save any amount of money but also as a jurisdiction where they can increase their capital.
In addition to classic corporate accounts, investment products are also available to foreigners. This product is one level higher than deposits, so most investment instruments have high requirements:
  • The yield is higher than that of deposits;
  • The initial investment is often at least 250,000 euros;
  • And others.
Professional Swiss managers can increase their capital in euros or Swiss francs by 3-5% per year while maintaining low risk. Riskier instruments with higher returns are also available.

Several types of accounts are most common among Swiss bank clients:

All of these accounts can be opened in most Swiss banks. The technical terms for opening an account vary from 1 to 3 days, while a credit card is usually issued after 7 to 15 days.

  • Regular, classic Swiss bank account

    It satisfies the needs of most clients, both for conducting banking operations and implementing investment programs. It is protected by Swiss banking secrecy and can be used without any special formalities or problems. It does not require a minimum deposit at the time of opening. Typically, a credit card is also linked to such an account. It is possible to manage your account via the Internet;

  • Bank investment account

    Typically, such accounts are provided to established clients who wish to invest funds, and they require personalized service provided by a bank employee with exceptional qualifications. With such an account, you can use part of the funds for investment, while the other part can be used for personal purposes;

  • Coded bank account

    It is the most famous account. This is a typical Swiss financial instrument. It differs from other accounts in that only one, or very few, bank employees know the account's owner. A signature or password usually identifies the account in such a way that the client is recognised by the bank simply by using the code;

  • Securities account

    Bank account - securities, through which the client entrusts the bank with the task of managing, investing, and disinvesting shares, bonds, and treasury bills. This account is usually opened in combination with an investment account.

Review of the best banks in Switzerland for opening an account

Over the years, the term "Swiss bank" has become a household name, and some have developed the opinion that the main thing about them is that they are located in Switzerland. But this, of course, is not the case, and the issue of choosing a banking organization must be approached as carefully as in any other jurisdiction.
In total, more than 200 banks are operating in Switzerland, the key ones being:
  • Julius Baer - the annual turnover for the first year is expected to be EUR 2'000'000. Julius Baer is a private bank focused on wealth management. To open a company account, the company is expected to have invested assets of at least EUR 1'000'000 after one year. Please note that for maintaining an account with Julius Baer, minimum fees per annum of approximately EUR 4'000 (for a personal account) and EUR 5'000 – EUR 6'000 (for a company account) will apply regardless of the funds deposited. We may not open an account if the number of transactions (in – and outflows) significantly exceeds 20 transactions per annum.
  • Valiant - only nationally operating companies, small foreign shareholdings, personal - only for Swiss residents.
  • Sygnum - Crypto friendly, 2000 CHF - onboarding, annual fee - from 10000 CHF.
  • UBS - turnover 10 mln.
  • Raiffeisen Zuerich - as a regional bank, they focus on regional corporate clients based in Zurich.
  • Railsbank - is not a bank but a fintech regulated as an EMI.
  • Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI) - RBI has a strict policy of banking only with large corporate customers active in CEE and Austria.
  • Banque Cramer - to support the more commercial structure of this potential opening, they require at least CHF2m of pure PB assets (e.g., discretionary portfolio) from the shareholder.
  • Pictet - only Wealth Management services.
  • Safra Sarasin - the organization specializes in asset management and not in accounts for highly active commercial businesses and has a minimum account size of 2 million.
  • CIM Banque - 5-10 mln of turnover. CIM Banque is not the largest or most popular bank in the country. However, this is the banking structure where you can get maximum opportunities if you are a foreigner.
  • PostFinance - international asset management company.
  • Zurcher Cantonalbank - the largest cantonal bank and the fourth largest bank in Switzerland.
  • Credit Suisse - ready to get work with a turnover of $5 million or more.
  • Urner Kantonalbank.
This is an incomplete list - only large banking structures most actively developing in 2024.
ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!
The peculiarity is that banks select and weed out clients, sometimes putting forward impossible demands. For example, you may encounter the following difficulties:
  • High activation fee;
  • High requirements for minimum balance and deposit;
  • Complex requirements for documents on the origin of money;
  • The bank does not work with foreigners;
  • And other problems.
For example, some banks are not open to non-residents. There are also very high requirements for approving an application. For example, a bank may require an activation payment of more than 100,000 euros and also set a non-reducible balance of more than 500 thousand euros. And some products have even higher requirements!

Thanks to such rules, banks sort clients by level and work only with those who meet the criteria. This creates many problems for foreigners, who sometimes cannot open accounts in any bank. However, it is precisely in such requirements and general order that the secret lies behind why the country's banking system has remained stable for many centuries.

Opening an account in Switzerland is no more difficult than in most other countries.
Swiss Bank Account

Is it worth opening an account in Switzerland?

As we have already clarified, everything is individual. Switzerland is distinguished from other jurisdictions by a whole list of strengths:
  • The most stable, reliable, and respectable jurisdiction;
  • Maintaining bank secrecy;
  • Service and services of the highest level;
  • Unique products;
  • Large selection of banks.
The level of financial risk is minimal. This applies to both the jurisdiction itself and the currency. But there are also several serious disadvantages:
  • Opening on your own is difficult;
  • High requirements for clients who come without an authorised agent;
  • In some cases, banking services are more expensive.
The latter is expensive banking services (about 30%), a real scourge of modern Swiss "banking." Due to the high level of services and high demand, Swiss tariffs are among the highest in Europe. This is partly due to the jurisdiction's incredible popularity.

Client profile – people or companies with a high-income level who value a high level of service and need reliability and confidentiality. At the same time, all money stored or passed through Swiss account must have a "white" origin and documents that can confirm its origin.
CONTACT US

Answers to important questions

Is it possible to open accounts for foreign companies?
Corporate accounts for foreign companies are a key product for many Swiss banks. Some even work exclusively with persons who are legal entities. Therefore, there are no problems for a legal entity located in another country.
Difficulties can only arise with companies from classic offshore zones, the service of which is complex in most countries. But this issue can also be resolved if you seek our help.
How much interest does the bank pay on my deposits?
The rate of interest you receive will depend on market conditions that determine interest rates in general and the type of bank account you open. Please remember that any Swiss-based financial institution paying interest or dividends must withhold income tax at 35%. Swiss taxpayers pay tax where the funds are received. Foreigners can claim a refund of tax paid if their country of residence has entered into a double tax treaty with Switzerland.
How safe are Swiss banks?
All banks operating in Switzerland are required to obtain a license from the Swiss Federal Banking Commission (SFBC). This Commission is a member of the Basel Commission on Banking Supervision and regulates and supervises the activities of all banks following the standards of the Basel Commission. These standards cover not only issues of the size of the bank's authorized capital and liquidity but also all other issues of the activities of banks in general. Swiss law requires even higher standards than the Basel Agreement as an additional safety measure. Therefore, Swiss banks, of course, can be considered one of the safest in the world.
How do Swiss banks maintain banking secrecy?
Traditionally, Switzerland pays excellent attention to the confidentiality of client relationships, including financial relations. Polls consistently show that most Swiss people want to maintain the status quo on this issue. However, no matter how much confidentiality Swiss banks offer to their domestic or foreign clients, it is still not absolute and does not protect criminals. Confidential information about a client's accounts in a Swiss bank can only be disclosed by the decision of a competent court in Switzerland.
What are "numbered" accounts?
The procedure for opening "numbered" accounts is the same as for other accounts. The bank must verify your identity and establish the beneficial owner's identity. "Numbered" accounts are, of course, not anonymous! If your company has a "numbered" bank account, then all operations are not carried out on behalf of the company but are replaced by a code or number. This procedure is an internal security measure to ensure that your identity is known only to a small group of bank employees - in addition, a "numbered" account does not provide any other privileges in terms of confidentiality.
Is there any minimum deposit required to open an account?
Most major Swiss banks require a minimum deposit when opening a checking or savings account. When ordering a full service, such a deposit is symbolic and amounts to only 2-3 thousand euros.
Should the account be opened in Swiss francs?
No. Swiss banks offer to open accounts in US dollars, euros, and other currencies, as well as Swiss francs.

Conclusion

The Swiss banking system is one of the most stable and reliable in the world, so many foreigners and foreign companies want to open Swiss bank accounts in this jurisdiction.

Switzerland is often called the country of banks and the world's most reliable finance repository. This is true; if you need to open a Swiss bank account and protect your savings from all sorts of risks and excessive taxes, a stable state will do just fine. Switzerland remains neutral and is not subject to crises; capital will be reliably sheltered from economic adversity.

A bank account can be opened via the Internet, which is very convenient. However, documents certified by a notary often still have to be sent by mail. Much depends on the bank's policy; several hundred are in Switzerland!

FAQs on opening a Swiss bank account

Opening a Swiss bank account offers several advantages, including stability, reliability, confidentiality, and access to various financial services. Swiss banks are known for their high level of security, political neutrality, and minimal bureaucracy, making them a preferred choice for many investors and individuals.
CONTACT US