Can a Swiss Citizen Living Abroad Open a Swiss Bank Account Online?

Good day,

Is it possible for a Swiss citizen living abroad (in Germany) to open a Swiss bank account online?

I need a Swiss account to make payments and receive money (a social security pension, for example). If it is possible, how much would it cost me to open a bank account online?

Kind regards

Hi there,

It is possible to open a bank account in Switzerland as a Swiss living abroad, but many Swiss banks do not accept new non-resident customers. Some Swiss banks will accept you as a non-resident if you give a power of attorney over your account to an acquaintance living in Switzerland.

It is important to understand that the vast majority of banks charge additional non-resident fees. You can request a comparison of non-resident fees charged by many Swiss banks in the moneyland.ch guide to non-resident fees.

You can also use the moneyland.ch private account comparison to compare the standard costs of Swiss private accounts, excluding non-resident fees.

Although you can easily apply for private accounts from larger Swiss banks online, most banks require you to present yourself at a branch office in person to complete the application. Some banks (particularly online brokers) may accept a certified copy of your passport in place of a face-to-face meeting, but still require your signature so documents must be received and sent by mail. UBS now provides an app which lets you open a bank account completey remotely using a smartphone, but this service is only available to residents of Switzerland.

Best regards from Moneyguru