Who can open a Swiss bank account?
Everyone can open an account at a bank in Switzerland. However, banks reserve the right to reject customers. For example, a bank might refuse to offer banking services to a so-called “politically exposed person” who the bank believes would pose a “reputation” risk if he or she were to become a client. A bank might also refuse to start a banking relationship if it has doubts about the origins of the potential client’s funds. Swiss banks are forbidden by law to accept money which they know or must assume stem from crime or any illegal activities.
How can I open a Swiss bank account on-line?
Yes, but You will have to envoy the bank an envelope containing all the required documents, in accordance with the Due Diligence Agreement (CDB 03), the bank verifies the identity of the contracting partner by obtaining a certified copy of an official identification document (e.g. passport and confirmation of residential address). The certified copy may be provided by a branch, representative office or group company of the bank; by a correspondent bank; by a financial intermediary specifically appointed by the bank; or by a notary public or public office that customarily issues such authentications. The bank also checks the address of the new customer through an exchange of correspondence.:
For swiss personal bank account the following documents are required:
Certified Passport/ national identity card
Certified utility bill or bank statement
For Swiss corporate bank accounts the following documents are required
All the above plus:
Certified company documents (Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Article of Associations)
How can I open an account from my home country?
Swiss banks have procedures concerning the opening of accounts, irrespective of the domicile of the customer. In line with Swiss laws governing “due diligence”, the bank must verify the identity of the customer on the basis of an official document (e.g. a passport and confirmation of residential address).
Why bank in Swiss?
Bank in Switzerland are famous for their strict bank secrecy, their solvibility, and they benefit from the country’s political and financial stability. No swiss bank has ever declared bankrupt.
Can you open the Swiss account without having to visit the bank personally?
Of course, all the swiss accounts (exluded hnwi accounts) we support to open do not require the physical presence of the owner.
How safe are banks in Switzerland?
All banks operating in Switzerland must be licensed by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA. The FINMA, which is a member of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, regulates and supervises all banks in Switzerland according to the Basel Committee’s standards. These standards cover not only equity and capital adequacy but also the entire scope of prudential and behavioural rules. As an additional safety measure, Swiss law demands capital adequacy standards even higher than those required by the Basel Accord. Swiss banks can therefore certainly be counted amongst the safest in the world.
How secret are swiss banks?
In Switzerland great importance has traditionally been attached to the protection of an individual’s privacy, and this has always included financial privacy. Surveys consistently show that the vast majority of the Swiss people want to maintain this protection. However, the high level of confidentiality Swiss banks offer both their domestic and foreign customers is not absolute and certainly does not shield criminals. As a matter of principle the rights to privacy can be suspended when a criminal investigation is underway. Our aim is to protect the privacy of the honest bank client while exposing criminals to the full force of the law.
Can an account by opened anonymously in Switzerland?
No, that is not possible. Banks follow so-called “know-your-customer” rules which require staff to identify the person opening an account and, where necessary, to establish the identity of the beneficial owner. Incidentally it was the banks themselves who drew up the extremely strict, internationally recognized rules for verifying the identity of their clients as a deterrent to money of criminal origin.
What swiss bank client secrecy means?
Bank client confidentiality means that the banks have a duty to keep confidential all facts that involve their customers. At the same time, it is a right of the customer, for it is the customers not the banks who are entitled to the protected data. Bank client confidentiality protects the clients’ privacy and is thus comparable to the discretion exercised by lawyers or doctors. The right to privacy is a mainstay of the Swiss legal system, and it is laid down in the Federal Constitution (section 13).
Does swiss secrecy shield criminals?
No. Bank customer confidentiality has never been absolute. Swiss banks are obliged, for example, to disclose information in criminal proceedings against their clients. This is an absolute obligation, regardless of whether the offence was committed in Switzerland or abroad. Compared with other countries Switzerland has always been very successful at combating organized crime and money laundering. Switzerland is one of the cleanest financial centers in the world.
What documents are required to open the swiss personal bank account?
- Passport.
- Copy of utilities must be no longer than three months old. You may need to have these documents certified.
What means certificated/notarized documents?
Certification means that a bank official, cpa, attorney at law, notary public, attests that the documents are true. As example, for each documents he writes: “I hereby certify this is the true copy of Mr. First Name, Last Name”. This comes with signature, date and professional stamp.
What documentation will the bank want to see?
As mentioned above, Swiss banks are obliged to verify the identity of a client. The bank will want to see official identification papers such as a valid passport or an equivalent official identification document containing a photograph. The bank may also ask for documentation that can prove the origin of your funds, such as the contract for a house sale, a statement from a foreign bank, a receipt from the sale of securities, etc.
What questions will the Swiss bank ask me?
First of all, the bank’s staff will certainly ask questions to fulfill the bank’s legal obligations with regard to due diligence. This will include asking for proof of your identity and also establishing the identity of the beneficial owner of the assets if you are depositing funds on behalf of someone else. The bank’s staff might also ask about the origin of the funds and the nature of your professional business and they will also want to get an idea of your usual financial transactions. In order to offer you the best advice, the bank will also ask about your future plans, for example, whether you intend to buy a house, start a business, retire, etc. If you are asking the bank to manage an investment portfolio they will also ask how much risk you are willing to accept. In short, the more the bank knows about you, the more it can tailor its advice and service to your individual needs.
Is the opening guaranteed?
Yes the opening is guaranteed as long as You:
a) Fill correctly the application form
b) Are not a criminal
c) Show bank proof of source of funds
d) Have all the documents legally valid and certified.
How long does it take to open a swiss account?
From few working days up to 3 weeks.
What are the fees applied by the swiss banks?
Swiss banks have competitive fees and higher interests rates compared to the banks around the corner
How can I withdraw money from my swiss bank account?
ATM card and credit card valid in all the world.
Can I open a Swiss account as a non resident ?
Sure , almost all our clients are non-residents. We have clients in many countries.
I’m Indian (south african, brazilian, etc,etc) citizen, can I still open the swiss account ?
Yes, you can.
Do you have an swiss bank account? Should you pay tax?
If you receive savings and investment income from abroad, you will usually need to declare this on a Self Assessment (SA) tax return. You may have to pay Income Tax, but if you’ve paid foreign tax on the income you may be able to offset (deduct) this.
Does the account have on-line banking?
Yes all account have on-line banking 24 hours/ 7 days always available.
Can I close my swiss account whenever I wish ?
Sure There are no restrictions when it comes to closing an account in Offshore countries. You are free to close your account if you wish. The procedure is immediate and cost-free. Of course, if your money is invested, it generally takes a few days to liquidate positions, but even so, no one will prevent you from withdrawing your funds or charge you a financial penalty.
Which swiss bank will account be opened with ?
We have a large network of banks in Offshore countries.
Many of which have been in operations for over 100 years. Our company will select the bank with the best conditions at present from a permanently updated list of banks with the best price-ratio. We work with banks in all categories. Which bank is right for you depends on many factors, such your country of tax residence, where you reside, eventual treaties of exchange information that have been signed, how much you plan to deposit and what kind of operations will you perform with funds.
Can I choose the swiss bank ?
Yes you can choice bank. We do not, however, give out the names of the banks before you actually pay in full an order. Each account we offer can be opened with different banks in the same country We select the bank that suits better the client needs and minimum deposit requirements. We do not offer “mass product”. We select the banks with the best conditions at present from a permanently updated list of banks with the best privacy&security policy.
Why do I need to pay to open an account ? What benefits would you provide?
Opening a bank account in Swiss is not like opening one in your home country, where all you need is a walk into any bank down the street with your driver’s license and 10$. Swiss banks are very cautious in dealing with new clients that are not introduced by someone they know. Using our bank introduction services, you benefit from the advice of professionals specialists in international banking laws, international company and tax laws. We make sure the opening procedure is as quick and straightforward as possible. For a little fee you’ll save weeks of searches and many complications. In many cases we can obtain better terms for our clients lower minimum balance, lower commissions, less restrictions on facilities offered, etc… Most banks have many restrictions to what facilities you will actually get and you usually learn about it after you have opened your account. We can open accounts by mail. We opened hundreds of accounts for clients all over the world and can provide quick and reliable service. Through us you are assigned seasoned, professional and efficient account managers. In any given bank, there are good account managers and not-so-good ones. The good ones are always busy with clients and take only the most promising new clients or those sent by people they know. We specialize in helping international clients open an offshore bank account that will match their needs and more important that will not cause tax problem in their home country. We are not a bank and offer impartial advice and assistance in selecting and opening the right account for your needs in the right country