What the bank wants
Expect the commercial-register extract, articles, board/signatory documents, beneficial-owner information, tax residence of owners, business plan or activity description, expected payment flows and source of initial funds.
For the surrounding context, see Swiss company formation.
For an international company, be ready to explain:
- where customers are located;
- expected annual turnover;
- currencies and countries of incoming/outgoing transfers;
- suppliers and payment platforms;
- why the company is Swiss; and
- where management and employees are located.
If this decision changes the viability or sequence of your move, a Swiss relocation strategy consultation can apply it to your own facts.
High-risk models take longer
Crypto, payments, financial services, gaming, adult sectors, sanctions-sensitive regions and opaque ownership structures can trigger enhanced review or refusal.
Use the right bank for the job
A local cantonal or Raiffeisen relationship can work well for a domestic operating business. Companies with multi-currency international payments, complex shareholders or cross-border finance may need a larger bank or specialist provider.
For the surrounding context, see GmbH versus AG.
Do not mix personal and company money
Swiss corporate law, tax and accounting expect clear separation. Pay salary and dividends through formal processes and document shareholder loans.
For the surrounding context, see the Swiss incorporation process.
The easier your business is to explain in three sentences, the easier it is to bank.
The bank is part of the incorporation project
A newly formed Swiss company may be perfectly legal and still be unattractive to a particular bank. The institution wants to understand shareholders, beneficial owners, business model, customer countries, expected turnover, currencies and source of initial capital.
Prepare this information before the commercial-register extract arrives. For international founders, the hardest cases are often companies with no obvious Swiss operating substance, high-risk geographies, crypto flows or a business that is difficult to explain in one paragraph.
Do not run the company through a private account
A corporate entity should have its own banking trail. Mixing shareholder and company payments creates accounting, tax and compliance problems and can breach a retail bank’s terms.
A business bank account should be selected for the actual flows: international wires, cards, payroll, multi-currency, merchant acquiring, brokerage or financing. The cheapest account can become expensive if every EUR/USD conversion carries a wide spread.
For a non-resident founder, establish early whether the bank requires a Swiss-resident signatory, local substance or an in-person meeting.
General information on Swiss law and practice, not individual legal, tax or investment advice.
