Compare Banks in Switzerland

For a fee-free account: neon free, ZKB Banking or UBS key4 in their CHF 0 versions. For mortgages: Raiffeisen or ZKB. For wealth management: UBS. The right answer depends on your profile: a neobank covers everyday payments, while a cantonal or major bank often remains essential for a mortgage.

Pillar 3a is Switzerland's private pension savings, tax-deductible up to an annual cap set by the federal government. ZKB Frankly, Swissquote and Yuh offer equity or ETF-based 3a solutions with low fees. The money stays locked until five years before retirement age, apart from legal exceptions such as buying a main home, leaving Switzerland for good or becoming self-employed.

TWINT is Switzerland's mobile payment system (QR code, P2P, online shopping). All major banks (UBS, PostFinance, Raiffeisen, ZKB, Migros Bank) and neobanks (neon, Yuh) integrate TWINT in their app. The app links straight to your bank account and works without a card: it has become the usual way to split a bill, pay a tradesperson or feed a parking meter.

Yes, esisuisse protects deposits up to CHF 100,000 per depositor per bank. Cantonal banks (ZKB, BCGE, BCV) additionally benefit from a cantonal state guarantee covering all deposits. The scheme promises quick payout but is capped at sector level, so spreading a large balance across several institutions remains the only full protection above that amount.

neon: four plans from CHF 0 to 15 a month, savings from 0.38% to 0.45%, cash withdrawals from 1.5% to free depending on plan. Yuh: built-in investing (stocks, ETFs, crypto), 0.95% FX fee. CSX, Credit Suisse's former digital offer, disappeared with the integration into UBS. Compare the hidden costs too: withdrawals, replacement cards and currency conversion.

Cantonal banks (ZKB, BCV, BCGE, etc.) are owned by cantons and benefit from a state guarantee. They often offer the best mortgage rates, AAA rating and maximum stability. That guarantee does not cover every cantonal bank, however: a few cantons have removed or limited it, so check an institution's status before placing a large sum with it.

Neobanks Neon and Yuh accept Swiss residents with B or C permits. Traditional banks (UBS, Raiffeisen, ZKB) also accept cross-border workers (G permit) with ID and proof of address. Non-resident cross-border workers often face higher account fees or an outright refusal, as banks apply strict cross-border tax compliance rules.

There is no automatic bank switching service in Switzerland (unlike the EU). You must manually transfer your LSV/DD, standing orders and inform employers/insurers of your new IBAN. Neobanks (neon, Yuh) allow opening from the app. Plan the changeover over two or three months, keeping both accounts open until every salary payment, standing order and direct debit has been confirmed on the new one.