Swiss Bank Accounts
Swiss bank account for your company.
Formation, capital deposit, and beyond.
Every Swiss AG and GmbH formation requires a capital deposit account before the notary appointment. After incorporation, your company needs an operating account. Our Zug team manages bank introductions for both — and handles the full KYC documentation package on your behalf.
3–7 days
Capital deposit account
3–6 wks
Corporate operating account
CHF 100K
esisuisse deposit insurance
101+
AEOI reporting jurisdictions
Account Types
Four types of Swiss bank account
and when you need each one
The term "Swiss bank account" covers four distinct account types with different legal requirements, eligibility criteria, and use cases. For founders forming a Swiss AG or GmbH, the capital deposit account comes first — before the notary appointment and before the Commercial Register entry.
Capital deposit account
Kapitaleinlagekonto
Required before your notary appointment. Receives the paid-in share capital (CHF 50,000 for AG; CHF 20,000 for GmbH). Blocked until the Commercial Register entry is published. Converted to an operating account after incorporation.
Corporate operating account
Geschäftskonto
Day-to-day business account for Swiss company operations. Multi-currency (CHF, EUR, USD, GBP). Required for payroll, VAT payments, supplier payments. Bank applies full KYC to the beneficial owner (CDB 20 Form A + Form K).
Personal current account
Privatkonto
Personal CHF transaction account for Swiss residents and non-residents. Non-residents face enhanced due diligence (GwG Art. 6), certified document requirements, and in some banks, minimum balance requirements or monthly surcharges.
Private banking account
Wealth management
Full investment custody and portfolio management for HNWI. Minimum entry: CHF 500,000–1,000,000+ depending on institution. Includes discretionary mandate, advisory mandate, and execution-only options. Separate from standard commercial banking.
The formation sequence: bank account comes first
Under OR Art. 629 (AG) and OR Art. 777c (GmbH), a valid capital deposit account confirmation from a Swiss bank is a prerequisite for the notary appointment. No bank account — no notary appointment — no company registration. Goldblum & Partner manages bank introductions as part of the formation process.
Key Data
Swiss Banking System — Key Figures
Opening a business bank account in Switzerland
250+
FINMA-regulated banks
Switzerland hosts one of the highest densities of regulated banks per capita globally.
CHF 100K
Deposit protection (ESA)
Per depositor per bank, guaranteed under the Swiss deposit protection scheme.
2–6 wks
Account opening timeline
KYC/AML documentation review is the main variable in processing time.
100+
Double tax treaty countries
Swiss DTT network protects against double taxation on investment income.
Corporate Banking
Opening a Swiss corporate account
KYC requirements and timeline
Required documents — foreign-owned Swiss company
Commercial Register extract
Current ZEFIX extract (Handelsregisterauszug). Not older than 3 months.
Articles of association
Certified copy of Statuten as registered. In German or translated.
Shareholder / partner list
All shareholders or GmbH partners with percentage ownership.
CDB 20 Form A
Beneficial owner declaration for each UBO holding ≥25% (OR Art. 697j).
CDB 20 Form K
Controlling-person declaration for the operating legal entity.
Business plan
Description of business activities, revenue model, target markets, and expected transaction volumes.
Source of funds declaration
Written statement on the origin of the share capital and expected business revenues.
Passport / ID (all UBOs)
Notarised and apostilled copies for non-resident beneficial owners. Valid national ID card acceptable for EU/EFTA residents.
Opening timeline
Banks that serve foreign-owned Swiss companies
Zuger Kantonalbank (ZKB)
Cantonal bankState-guaranteed. Primary bank for Zug-incorporated entities. Located at Baarerstrasse 33 — adjacent to our office. Strong corporate banking team for Crypto Valley companies.
UBS Group AG
G-SIB universal bankSwitzerland's largest bank post-Credit Suisse merger (2023). Full personal, corporate, and private banking. Enhanced KYC for foreign-owned companies. Non-resident fee ~CHF 30/month.
Swissquote Bank AG
Digital broker-bankFINMA-licensed. Multi-currency accounts. Generally accessible for non-residents and foreign-owned Swiss companies. Investor-focused with strong FX and securities platform.
Dukascopy Bank SA
Online bank (Geneva)FINMA-licensed. Compliant with FINMA Circular 2016/7 (VideoIdent). Remote account opening available for personal and corporate accounts. Accepts non-residents.
Deposit insurance — esisuisse
Deposits at FINMA-licensed Swiss banks are protected up to CHF 100,000 per depositor per bank (not per account) under the esisuisse scheme. This applies only to banks holding a full banking licence under BankG Art. 3. Digital-only platforms that operate via a banking-as-a-service partnership (Neon via Hypothekarbank Lenzburg; Yuh via PostFinance) may have different coverage — verify per institution. Wise operates as an EU e-money institution and is not covered by esisuisse.
Banking Secrecy & Transparency
Bank secrecy in 2025:
what remains, what changed
What BankG Art. 47 still protects
- Bank employees are criminally liable for disclosing account information to private third parties
- Competitors, journalists, private creditors, and divorcing spouses cannot compel a Swiss bank to disclose your account details
- Numbered accounts remain available — identity is known to the bank but not used in external communications
- Third-party data requests require a Swiss court order or mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) request
What secrecy no longer covers
- AEOI/CRS automatic reporting to 101+ tax authority partners (in force since 1 January 2017; first exchanges 2018)
- FATCA reporting for US persons under Switzerland's Model 2 IGA — direct IRS reporting by Swiss banks
- Criminal investigations: MLAT cooperation with foreign prosecutors
- Anonymous accounts: categorically abolished. Full KYC required for every account at every FINMA-licensed bank
Related banking topics
Specialist Swiss banking guides
Swiss bank account for non-residents
Enhanced due diligence under GwG Art. 6 and which banks accept non-residents in 2026.
Open a Swiss account online
Remote KYC via VideoIdent under FINMA Circular 2016/7 — which banks really support it.
Swiss bank secrecy in 2026
What survived AEoI / CRS and what BankG Art. 47 still protects today.
Top Swiss banks
UBS, Raiffeisen, Cantonal, Postfinance, Sygnum — and what each is actually good at.
FAQ
Frequently asked
questions
Precise answers to the most common questions about forming a company in Switzerland. For specific advice on your structure, book a free consultation.
Free consultationOfficial Sources
- FINMA — Licensed Banks in Switzerland
Official FINMA register of all licensed Swiss banks
- GwG — Anti-Money Laundering Act
Swiss Federal Act on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing
- BankG — Swiss Banking Act
Federal Banking Act governing all Swiss banks
- SBA — Swiss Bankers Association
Industry body for Swiss banking — guidelines and standards
Free Consultation
Ready to incorporate
in Switzerland?
Speak with a Zug advisor. We'll review your structure, recommend the optimal entity type, and outline the timeline. No commitment — no pricing barrier at entry.
Baarerstrasse 25 · 6300 Zug · Switzerland · Est. 2007