Swiss Bank Account Opening Service. Apply online
Swiss bank account opening for private clients with CHF 500,000 or more in investable assets. We assess your profile, build the compliance file and introduce it to a suitable Swiss bank. Apply online with a free eligibility review.
Easy Global Banking is an account opening consultancy, not a bank. We prepare a case for a bank to assess; the bank makes its own decision. This page explains the service. If you want a broad eligibility guide, read our guide to Swiss banking for clients abroad.
What our Swiss bank account opening service includes
We take a private-client case from the first eligibility check to the bank’s decision. The useful work happens before an application is sent: choosing a realistic route and making the money trail easy to follow. That is where an incomplete file often loses weeks.
- Eligibility triage: we review residence, citizenship, tax position, occupation, investable assets and the intended use of the account.
- Document plan: we identify gaps, then prepare a KYC summary, source-of-funds explanation and wealth chronology for the agreed scope.
- Bank route: we assess which type of institution may suit the profile, then arrange a targeted introduction when the file is ready.
- Onboarding support: we coordinate questions, identity checks and administrative follow-up until the bank reaches a decision.
| Included in our scope | Decided or charged elsewhere |
|---|---|
| Preliminary eligibility review and, if engaged, agreed KYC preparation and introduction support | The bank’s acceptance decision, account terms and investment suitability assessment |
| A written scope and fee before paid work begins | Bank charges, custody or mandate fees, translations, notarisation and third-party advice |
| An honest view if the file is not ready for introduction | Legal or tax advice, guaranteed approval, or an anonymous account |
Who this service is for
Our private-client route starts at roughly CHF 500,000 of investable assets. It suits entrepreneurs, internationally mobile families and holders of documented investment or business wealth who want help preparing and presenting a bankable file. The figure is a service threshold, not a promise that any bank will accept the case.
Below that level, a retail or digital provider may be more sensible. Compare lower-balance account options. If you prefer to approach banks yourself, use the guide linked above; the advice here is for clients who want us to handle preparation and introduction.
Eligibility by client profile
Banks assess the whole file: residence, wealth history, the current holder of the funds and the account’s purpose. This matrix frames our first review.
| Profile | Likely review | Evidence that matters |
|---|---|---|
| EU, UK or EEA resident with business or investment wealth | Private banking route may be available | Tax residence, company accounts or portfolio records, current bank statements |
| UAE, GCC, Turkey, Latin America or CIS resident (excluding Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) | Individual bank policy matters more | Real residence, operating income, tax records and the transfer trail |
| US person | Specialist institution required | US-client banking requirements and tax documentation |
| Crypto-derived wealth | Specialist review first | Exchange exports, wallet history, fiat conversion and tax records; see Swiss crypto banking routes |
| Complex ownership or politically exposed person | Enhanced due diligence | Beneficial-owner chart, commercial purpose, wealth chronology and independent evidence |
Our four-way triage
| Classification | What it means | Our next step |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Assets, residence and wealth evidence fit a straightforward review | Agree the file scope and identify a suitable bank route |
| Reviewable | The basic case may work, but documents or explanations are missing | Name the gaps before an introduction |
| Complex | PEP links, US status, crypto or several entities need specialist assessment | Check whether an appropriate institution and evidence route exist |
| Not ready | The asset level or evidence does not support this service now | Explain what to obtain or which alternative to consider |
Run a quick first-pass triage
Five answers give you a preparation route. This is only a guide; a bank must review the real file.
If your answer raises a concern, our AML risk calculator helps you list the questions worth resolving. It is not a bank score.
The Swiss bank account opening process
The five stages below can overlap. The bank may request further evidence, so these periods are planning estimates.
| Stage | What happens | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Profile triage | We check the basic facts and whether this service is appropriate. | 2–3 working days |
| 2. Risk screening | We review ownership, adverse information and any issues that need explanation. | 3–5 working days |
| 3. Dossier build | We put identity, tax, wealth and deposit evidence into a coherent file. | 1–3 weeks, depending on records |
| 4. Bank matching | We choose a possible route based on current policy, profile and purpose. | 3–5 working days |
| 5. Bank onboarding | The bank reviews, asks questions, completes identification and decides. | Often 2–10 weeks after a complete file |
Where the time goes
Bars compare indicative stage length on a common scale; they are not client success rates.
Know the likely route before applying
Send the basic facts. We will tell you whether preparation and an introduction make sense for your case.
Start a free eligibility reviewWhich bank route fits your case?
The best-known name is not automatically the best desk for your profile. Swiss private banks differ in asset minimums, country policies, investment model and comfort with operating businesses. We look at the practical fit first, then the brand.
- Private banks: generally suited to investment and custody relationships where the asset level and residence fit their policy.
- Universal banks: may offer a wider service set, though individual desks can have different international-client rules.
- Cantonal banks: worth considering only where the institution’s geographic and client policy allows it; a Swiss licence alone says nothing about eligibility.
- Specialist desks: relevant when US status, documented crypto wealth or a particular company structure needs dedicated expertise.
We never promise a named bank. Compare Swiss private banks by size, then consider each desk’s current policy.
Minimum assets and practical bank choice
Our review begins at CHF 500,000. More assets can widen the options, but bank minimums and evidence requirements vary.
| Investable assets | Indicative route | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| CHF 500,000–1 million | Selective private banking review | A clear file and realistic bank match matter most. |
| CHF 1–3 million | Broader potential choice | More desks may consider the relationship, subject to residence and wealth evidence. |
| CHF 3–5 million | Larger relationship desks | Useful for wider investment and custody needs; screening remains detailed. |
| CHF 5 million+ | Top-tier or family-office route | More service options, with no exemption from due diligence. |
How asset level can change the search
Qualitative illustration of potential bank choice, not a count of institutions or a guarantee.
For institution-specific figures, see the minimum deposit guide. Figures on a comparison page can change; the bank’s current offer controls.
The documents a bank will ask to understand
A private bank needs to understand ownership, wealth history, the proposed transfer and the account’s purpose. We begin with records that answer those questions.
- Valid identity document, proof of actual address and tax identification details.
- Employment, business or investment records explaining how wealth accumulated.
- Statements from the current bank and contracts behind the proposed transfer.
- Ownership chart and beneficial-owner information for a company, trust or foundation.
- A short statement of the account purpose, expected currencies and transaction pattern.
The bank may ask for certified copies, tax returns, audited accounts or additional country-specific forms. Use the full document checklist to prepare them.
Source of wealth and source of funds are different questions
Source of wealth explains how the overall assets were built. Source of funds traces the proposed deposit from its current bank to the new account. Both need evidence.
A business owner might show company accounts and dividend vouchers for the wealth history, then current-bank statements for the deposit. See our wealth declaration template.
Check what you can produce now
This counts documents only. It is not a compliance score or a prediction of approval. Tick an item only if the record is available.
Missing an item? Ask us which records matter for your case.
Why a direct application can stall
A bank can decline for many reasons. Three avoidable problems are an unsupported wealth story, the wrong desk and conflicting documents.
The biography problem
“I built a successful business” is not enough. Show ownership, earnings and the point at which they became assets held at the current bank.
The wrong-desk problem
A desk may have no mandate for the client’s residence, activity or account purpose. We check the route before sending a file.
The consistency problem
Tax residence, ownership and payment records should agree. We reconcile gaps before an introduction, especially after a move or business sale.
A previous decline needs its own review. Read our guide to reapplying after a Swiss bank rejection before submitting the same file elsewhere.
Swiss bank account opening fees and payment timing
The eligibility review is free. Agreed KYC preparation is prepaid. The separate private-client introduction fee is due only after successful opening; bank charges are separate.
Our published fee schedule gives current amounts. Preparation is paid work even when the introduction fee is success-based. Neither fee buys an approval.
Swiss banking is private, regulated and reportable
Swiss banking offers established custody and a clear legal framework, but no anonymity. Banks verify identity and beneficial ownership and investigate higher-risk relationships.
- Check the institution itself in FINMA’s authorised-institutions register. EGB is an independent consultancy and does not claim a banking licence.
- Swiss deposit insurance covers eligible deposits up to CHF 100,000 per client and bank; that is not cover for an entire private banking portfolio.
- Switzerland participates in automatic exchange of financial-account information with partner jurisdictions.
- FINMA’s AML guidance explains why banks identify beneficial owners and clarify the purpose and background of certain relationships.
- Swiss sanctions screening can also affect whether a relationship or transfer is permitted.
We will not conceal ownership, residence or the origin of funds. Seek local advice on the tax consequences.
Who prepares the file
Easy Global Banking is operated by BMA Business Solutions GmbH in Chur. We prepare KYC files and coordinate introductions; the bank decides. We have prepared and onboarded complex client files, including multi-entity structures, PEP connections, crypto-derived and business-sale wealth, at banks in Switzerland, Singapore and other jurisdictions. Read about the firm and its consultant.
Swiss bank account opening: common questions
How long does the process take?
Bank onboarding often takes 2–10 weeks after the bank has a complete file. The preparation work comes first and varies with the documents available. A bank can request more evidence or arrange an in-person meeting, so the sequence is a planning estimate, not a deadline.
What does your service cost?
The initial eligibility review is free. Agreed KYC preparation is prepaid, and the separate private-client introduction fee is due after successful account opening. Bank, custody and third-party charges are separate. The published fee schedule sets out current amounts and the scope of each service.
Can the account be opened remotely?
Sometimes. Certain banks use video identification and certified documents, while others require a visit or meeting. The answer depends on the institution, residence and structure. We check the available onboarding method for the route proposed to you.
What minimum assets do I need?
Our private-client review begins at about CHF 500,000 in investable assets. Greater assets can widen bank choice, but each institution sets its own minimum and evaluates the full profile. We confirm the relevant threshold during matching.
Which banks do you work with?
We select a possible private, universal or specialist banking route based on the client’s profile and the bank’s current policy. We do not promise access to a particular institution. The name of a bank is discussed when a specific introduction is realistic.
Do you guarantee approval?
No. Only the bank can approve an account. Our screening and document preparation are designed to catch gaps before an introduction, but they cannot override a bank’s risk appetite, legal duties or final decision.
Can you help with a company or holding account?
Yes, where the structure and intended activity fit an available route. A bank will need the beneficial owners, control structure, business purpose and transaction profile. Operating companies can involve a different fee and bank search; see our Swiss business banking guide.
Can crypto-derived wealth be considered?
Yes, by some institutions and only with a convincing history. Expect to show acquisition, exchange and wallet records, fiat conversion, tax treatment and the present location of the funds. We assess the record before suggesting a specialist bank route.
What if a bank declines?
We ask what can be learned from the decision, subject to the bank’s willingness to explain it. A different route may be possible if the problem was fit or a document gap. We do not send the same unsupported file from bank to bank.
For company-specific steps, see Swiss business bank accounts.
Start with a private review of your case
Tell us your residence, citizenships, expected deposit, business or occupation, and where the funds sit today. We will explain whether this service fits and what evidence to prepare first.
Start a free eligibility reviewYou may also contact us on WhatsApp at +41 79 657 78 70. Please do not send sensitive documents in an initial message. Easy Global Banking is not a bank, law firm or tax adviser. Every institution makes its own onboarding decision.
Sources and review date
Regulatory information reviewed 23 September 2026. The five primary references are FINMA’s authorised institutions, esisuisse deposit insurance, the Swiss AEOI explanation, FINMA’s AML overview, and SECO’s sanctions search.