Banking

• Let us help you open a bank account

• This will take you 1 week

• Required documents:

  • Employment contract

  • Passport / Identification card

  • Swiss residency permit

Opening a bank account in Switzerland as quickly as possible following your arrival is recommended. Your Swiss employer will insist on paying your salary into a Swiss bank account, and to avoid international transfer charges, you will almost certainly prefer to pay your rent and utilities from a Swiss bank account.

Opening a bank account is subject to various regulations. The application process can vary depending on your nationality and place of residence. There are three things you will definitely need:

• An ID card or passport

• A valid Swiss residency and work permit (or a residency permit plus a Swiss employment contract)

• Yourself, in person

The last point is as important as the previous two, because you cannot open a bank account online, over the phone or by send your partner or lawyer to open one for you. Swiss laws require banks to confirm a potential client’s identity and to verify their source of income.

What to look out for

• Nearly every bank charges a monthly or annual fee for use of the account. The fee varies, typically based on which banking services you sign up for. Most people look to have a current account (to receive their salary), a savings account, at least one credit card, and access to online banking.

• You must be registered as a resident in Switzerland before being able to open an account.