Opening a business account in Switzerland: steps and documents to provide

The capital deposit account before incorporation

A business account in Switzerland is the franc or multi-currency account of a company entered in the commercial register, or of a foreign company, and it is never automatic. The bank checks the officers, the beneficial owners and the real business activity. To found an AG or a GmbH, cash contributions first go into a blocked capital deposit account, and the bank issues a certificate for the notary.

To found an AG or a GmbH, cash contributions are paid into a blocked capital deposit account, the first step before the final business account in Switzerland. The bank issues a deposit certificate used by the notary, then releases the funds once the company is entered in the commercial register.

Minimum capital for an AG and a GmbH

An AG needs capital of at least 100,000 francs, with 50,000 paid in on formation, and a GmbH 20,000 francs fully paid. The revised law also allows capital in a foreign currency relevant to the business, under conditions.

A person domiciled in Switzerland to represent the company

The Code of Obligations requires a person domiciled in Switzerland to be able to represent the company, whether director, managing officer or executive. Founders living entirely abroad therefore often appoint a local director, whom the bank identifies like other signatories.

Company documents and form K or A

The bank asks for the commercial register extract, the articles, the list of signatories and the controlling person declaration on form K. It also checks the activity through a business plan, contracts or invoices.

The new federal transparency register

Since 1 October 2026, the law on transparency of legal entities requires companies to report their beneficial owners to a register kept by the Federal Office of Justice. Banks can compare this data with the declarations made at account opening.

Foreign company and Swiss branch

A foreign business can enter a branch in the commercial register, with a representative domiciled in Switzerland. Banks then review the parent company, its accounts and its beneficial owners, not only the branch.

Customer payments by QR-bill and Twint

Companies with a Swiss business bank account invoice Swiss customers by QR-bill, which includes the IBAN and a payment reference for automatic reconciliation. Shops accept card payments by terminal or through Twint, under an acquiring contract concluded separately with a provider.

VAT from 100,000 francs of turnover

VAT registration becomes compulsory above 100,000 francs of annual turnover, with a standard rate of 8.1 percent since 2024. The company receives a UID number and accounts for VAT with the Federal Tax Administration.

Packages for SMEs and start-ups

UBS Switzerland offers SMEs packages combining an account, cards, online banking and international payments. For a company owned from abroad, opening depends on the review of beneficial owners and of the business carried out in Switzerland.

International trade and Swiss sanctions

Trading firms based in Geneva or Zug use documentary credits, guarantees and currency hedging. Switzerland applies its own sanctions ordinances, often aligned with those of the European Union, which banks check for every transaction.

Steps to open a business account in Switzerland

The usual order is: choosing the legal form, opening the capital deposit account, going to the notary, entry in the commercial register, obtaining the UID number, submitting the file to the bank and then activating the final account. Each step depends on the previous one, so you need a realistic timetable, especially when the founders live abroad.

The file includes the commercial register extract, the articles, the list of signatories with their identity documents, the controlling person declaration on form K or A, proof of address and a description of the business. A business plan, contracts or invoices support the project. Depending on the bank, other documents may be requested before the final decision.

The most common mistakes are an activity described in general terms, an incomplete group chart, a Swiss-domiciled representative whose role is not explained and no proof of real activity. A business account in Switzerland requested for a company with no demonstrable customers or contracts is often examined at length. A short, consistent, documented file beats a long story without papers.

Company bank account in Switzerland: questions to ask the bank

Before handing over the file, ask the bank about the company types accepted, excluded activities, acceptance of foreign shareholders and any special requirements for a company owned from abroad. Ask whether opening can be done remotely or whether a meeting is compulsory. Write down the answers to compare two or three institutions without relying on a verbal agreement.

Find out about fees: account maintenance, domestic and international payments, cards, online banking, QR-bill and card acceptance solutions. Also ask how the bank handles foreign currency payments and what evidence it asks for on a large transfer. A company bank account in Switzerland serving regularly documented flows generally works better than one funded without supporting papers.

Finally, ask about follow-up: periodic review of the file, updates for signatories or beneficial owners, processing times and a named contact. No bank guarantees opening before completing its full review.

Corporate account in Switzerland: AG, GmbH or branch, which file to prepare

For an AG or a GmbH, the bank examines the capital, the shareholders, the directors or managers and the person domiciled in Switzerland who represents the company. Every important person is identified. Prepare recent, legible documents that agree with each other, and a clear explanation of the structure when the shareholder is itself a foreign company.

For a branch of a foreign company, the bank looks at the parent company, its accounts, its shareholders and its beneficial owners. Prepare the annual accounts, the articles, the register extract from the country of origin and the decision to open the branch. A complete file avoids the back-and-forth that slows the opening of a Swiss company account.

Whatever the form chosen, explain the activity concretely: customers, suppliers, countries involved, currencies, expected flows and approximate volume. Show an example of a contract or invoice. The bank compares this information with public registers, including the new transparency register, and may question any inconsistency between the documents provided.

Tax duties and checks before opening

The company must meet its obligations to the Federal Tax Administration, notably for VAT once registration becomes compulsory, as well as its accounting and cantonal tax obligations. A business account in Switzerland whose flows do not match the accounts filed quickly attracts attention.

The bank may send information on the people who control the company under the applicable exchange standards. A tax adviser can explain the effect of these rules on your situation before the company is formed.

Check that the bank is a supervised institution in Switzerland and that your contact really belongs to it. Be wary of intermediaries who guarantee opening or demand large advance payments. Keep the articles, minutes, contracts and statements: this file will ease periodic reviews and responses to requests from the authorities.

Before choosing a bank for a business account in Switzerland, list the documents you can already provide: the commercial register extract, the articles, proof of identity for each officer and a clear description of the beneficial owners. A file that is complete and consistent from the start spares you repeated requests from the bank and shortens the wait.

If you are still founding the company, plan the blocked capital deposit account early, because it comes before the final business account. Ask the bank how it will release the funds once the company is entered in the commercial register, and which packages it offers to SMEs and start-ups. Compare the fees and the tools offered for payments, VAT and QR-bills before you commit.