You can usually open a Swiss bank account soon after you arrive, even before your permit card comes. Bring a passport or ID card, your permit or your commune's registration confirmation, and proof of your Swiss address. You can open it at a branch or, with an app-based bank, from your phone.

In short

  • Why: salary, rent, insurance premiums and bills all run through a Swiss account.
  • Documents: photo ID, permit or registration confirmation, proof of address. Each bank sets its own list.
  • Before the permit card arrives: many banks accept the registration confirmation from your commune.
  • Where: a large or cantonal bank, PostFinance, or an app-based bank.
  • Fees differ a lot: check the terms before you choose.

Why you need one

  • Salary: most employers pay into a Swiss account and ask for your details soon after you start.
  • Rent and deposit: landlords expect rent by standing order, and the deposit usually goes into a blocked account in your name.
  • Bills: health insurance, utilities, your phone contract and the radio and TV fee are paid by Swiss invoice or direct debit.
  • Everyday payments: a Swiss debit card and TWINT, the Swiss payment app.

Account types

  • Private or salary account: your everyday account, with a debit card and online banking. Most newcomers open this first.
  • Savings account: for money you set aside.
  • Joint account: shared by two people, often partners, for rent and household costs.

Many people start with one private account and add others later.

Types of bank

  • Large and cantonal banks: big retail banks and the cantonal banks (most cantons have one) offer branches and in-person advice. PostFinance, run by the postal service, has a dense branch and counter network.
  • App-based banks: providers such as Neon, Yuh or Revolut let you open and run an account mostly from your phone.

These are examples, not recommendations. Compare what matters to you: branch access, languages, card options and how you open the account.

Documents

  • A valid passport or national ID card. EU/EFTA nationals can generally use an ID card.
  • Your residence permit or registration confirmation as proof that you may live here.
  • Proof of your Swiss address: a rental contract, the registration confirmation or a recent utility bill.

Bring originals and keep copies and scans. If you are unsure which permit applies to you, try the permit finder.

How it works

At a branch bank, you book an appointment and open the account in person. With an app, you apply on your phone, upload photos of your documents and confirm your identity by video call or another remote check. Either way, the bank must verify who you are first. Your card and security details then arrive separately by post over the following days. App sign-ups can be quick; branch appointments depend on availability. If your first salary is coming soon, start early.

Before your permit card arrives

The permit card can take several weeks. Many banks accept the registration confirmation your commune gives you when you register, as interim proof of status. Policies differ, so ask your bank. This is one more reason to register promptly. See the B residence permit and the first weeks in Switzerland.

Everyday banking

  • Debit card: for shops, online payments and cash. Many providers let you add it to a phone wallet.
  • TWINT: for paying in shops, between friends and some invoices. It links to your account or card.
  • E-banking: transfers and standing orders, with two-factor login, so a Swiss mobile number helps.
  • Fees: account, card and transaction fees vary widely, and some accounts charge monthly. Check current terms with the bank.

For how banking fits with registration, your permit and health insurance, see the first weeks in Switzerland and the checklist for moving to Switzerland. General official information is on ch.ch.