Which banks do you work with for Swiss account opening?

We have established relationships with cantonal banks (Zuger Kantonalbank, Zürcher Kantonalbank), Swiss PostFinance, and selected private banks and neobanks (Neon Business, Yuh, Wise Business). The right bank depends on your company's activity, ownership structure, and banking needs.

How long does it take to open a Swiss business account?

Typically 2–6 weeks from submission of complete KYC documentation. The main variable is the bank's internal due diligence process. Fintech and neobank accounts can be opened faster (1–2 weeks). Traditional cantonal banks may take 4–8 weeks for more complex structures.

What documents are required to open a Swiss business bank account?

Typically: commercial register extract (Handelsregisterauszug), articles of association, proof of business activity (contracts, invoices, or business plan), beneficial owner declaration (FINMA form A), and passport copies for all directors and significant shareholders. For foreign-owned companies, additional documentation on the parent structure may be required.

Bank Account Opening Switzerland

Last updated: 10 May 2026 · Mueller Stöckli Treuhand AG

Opening a Swiss business account is harder than it was

Swiss banks have significantly tightened their KYC and AML procedures since 2016. Many straightforward applications from foreign-owned companies are rejected outright without proper preparation. We handle the documentation, coordinate with relationship managers, and ensure your application is complete before submission — substantially increasing the likelihood of approval at a traditional bank or FinTech.

Which account types we support

Swiss IBAN business account (FinTech — fully remote, 5–10 days)
Traditional cantonal or national bank business account (Zug, Zurich)
Multi-currency accounts for import/export and international operations
Crypto-friendly accounts and virtual asset accounts

Our process

Step	Timeline	What we do
Initial assessment	Day 1	Review company structure, ownership, business activity, flag potential issues
Document preparation	Days 2–4	Prepare full dossier: certified articles, UBO declaration, business description, source of funds statement
Bank matching	Day 4	Match your profile to the most suitable bank(s) and submit application
Follow-up	Days 5–15	Respond to bank queries, provide supplementary documents
Account open	Days 10–30	Coordinate IBAN handover and online banking activation

Documents typically required

Certified extract from the Handelsregister (Zug)
Articles of association (Statuten), certified
Passport copies of all directors and beneficial owners (UBO)
Proof of address for all signatories
Business description and source of funds declaration
VAT registration certificate (if applicable)
Last 2 years' financial statements (for established companies)

Pricing

Package	Fee	Includes
FinTech account	CHF 490	Document preparation, one FinTech application, full follow-up
Standard bank account	CHF 990	Document preparation, up to 3 bank applications, dedicated contact
Complex structures	From CHF 1'900	Holdings, crypto, non-resident directors, multiple UBOs, multi-currency

All fees are one-time. No success fee. If an application is rejected despite complete documentation, we resubmit to an alternative bank at no additional charge (Standard and Complex packages only).

Which banks do we work with

Our bank account opening service is provided by EXPERTsuisse certified fiduciaries familiar with Swiss bank KYC requirements.

We have active relationships with cantonal banks (Zuger Kantonalbank, ZKB), national banks, and Swiss FinTech platforms offering IBAN accounts. For complex or crypto-related structures we work with specialist institutions that have clear policies for these client types. We do not guarantee account opening — no legitimate adviser can — but we significantly improve the quality and completeness of your application.

Capital deposit accounts for company formation

Forming a GmbH (minimum CHF 20'000) or AG (minimum CHF 100'000)? You need a capital deposit account (Kapitaleinlagekonto) at a Swiss bank before incorporation. We coordinate this as part of our company formation service, ensuring the capital is deposited, confirmed, and released to the operative account on the same day as commercial register entry. Many clients also pair this service with a Swiss resident director or registered address in Zug.

KYC Documents Checklist

Before approaching any Swiss bank, you will need the following documents prepared and reviewed. Incomplete or inconsistent dossiers are the most common reason for delayed or rejected applications.

Commercial register extract (Handelsregisterauszug) — not older than 3 months at time of submission
Certified copy of articles of association (Statuten)
Passport copies of all directors and shareholders holding more than a 10% stake
Beneficial owner declaration (FINMA form A or the bank's equivalent form)
Business plan or description of activity (typically 2–3 pages covering services or products, target markets, and expected transaction volumes)
Source of funds declaration for the initial deposit
For foreign-owned companies: corporate documents of the parent entity, translated and apostilled if issued by a non-German-speaking jurisdiction

Exact requirements vary by bank and account type. We prepare and review your KYC package before submission to minimise delays.

Swiss Bank Account Opening