Which Swiss banks accept US citizens?
Yes, it's legal for U.S. citizens to open a bank account in Switzerland. However, setting up a Swiss bank account requires a identity verification and you might have to provide various official documents that serve as proof of address and income.
Yes, it's legal for U.S. citizens to open a bank account in Switzerland. However, setting up a Swiss bank account requires a identity verification and you might have to provide various official documents that serve as proof of address and income.
Bank | Residents of these countries can open accounts online |
---|---|
Coop Finance Plus | Cross-border workers from summer 2024 |
Neon | Cross-border workers from summer 2024 |
Yapeal | Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein |
Yuh | Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein |
- Citibank, NA, Las Vegas, Succursale de Genève.
- Citibank, NA, Las Vegas, Zurich Branch.
- Goldman Sachs Bank AG.
- JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Columbus, Succursale de Zurich.
- J.P. Morgan (Suisse) SA, Geneva.
- Merrill Lynch Capital Markets AG.
- Morgan Stanley AG.
As of 2022, information about your Swiss bank account must be handed over to the IRS in the United States. The IRS is responsible for collecting taxes and assessing the wealth of Americans, even wealth held in Swiss bank accounts must be accounted for.
One of the most recommended banks for expats living in Switzerland is UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland). This bank offers a wide range of services specifically tailored for expats, such as international account opening, multi-currency accounts, and assistance with tax and legal matters.
Some benefits of Swiss bank accounts are the low levels of financial risk and high levels of privacy. The Swiss economy has been known to be very stable, and the country has not been part of any major conflicts for some time.
You can start the process online. As a non-resident, you should contact a Swiss bank and ask for an application form. You will be given the required documents and an account manager to help you with the process.
Yes, non-residents and foreigners can open a Swiss bank account either in person or online. Additional charges may apply if you want to open an account remotely. You're also required to provide the required documentation to prove your identity and income source.
If you're asking yourself which Swiss bank is best for foreigners, this one could be it. Credit Suisse offers its customers three different packages: Bonviva Silver, Gold, and Platinum, within which you have debit cards, credit cards, savings accounts, private accounts, and insurance.
Does Chase bank operate in Switzerland?
Below you can find the local branches for JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. in Switzerland.
The minimum balance for Swiss bank accounts depends on the account type and can vary from free of charge up to millions of dollars. Generally, Swiss banks may require you to deposit at least 10,000 CHF ( $9,000 or EUR 6,800) within a month of opening your account.
Credit Suisse has dedicated investment-banking professionals on the ground in many regions of the country, with offices in Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco and is a member of all major stock exchanges.
FATCA Reporting
One of easiest ways for the IRS to discover your foreign bank account is to have the information hand-fed to them from various Foreign Financial Institutions.
Swiss private bank Banque Pictet et Cie SA admitted today to conspiring with U.S. taxpayers and others to hide more than $5.6 billion in 1,637 secret bank accounts in Switzerland and elsewhere and to conceal the income generated in those accounts from the IRS.
Levy on Foreign Bank
The IRS generally cannot levy on a foreign bank account. But it can levy on a domestic branch of a foreign bank. The rules for this type of levy can be found in 26 C.F.R. 301.6332–1(a)(2).
The minimum balance for Swiss bank accounts depends on the account type and can vary from free of charge up to millions of dollars. Generally, Swiss banks may require you to deposit at least 10,000 CHF ( $9,000 or EUR 6,800) within a month of opening your account.
No, it's not illegal for a U.S. citizen to have a foreign bank account. However, it is essential to ensure all IRS and compliance requirements are met, including the disclosure of such accounts.
Foreign individuals and companies can also open Swiss bank accounts remotely, as this is one of the few European countries to allow for the procedure to be completed online. Even so, the banks allowing for such accounts to be created will require a larger deposit compared to more traditional banks.
Switzerland's robust and well-regulated banking system and stable economy offer a secure haven for depositing and managing funds. This makes Swiss banks particularly attractive for high-net-worth individuals, businesses, and those from countries with less stable economies or political situations.
References
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-is-too-much-money-for-a-high-yield-savings-account/
- https://nomadcapitalist.com/finance/offshore/top-5-safest-countries-to-bank-offshore/
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/banks/checking-accounts/how-much-should-i-keep-in-my-checking-account/
- https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/irs-audit-triggers
- https://ableforensics.com/will-a-private-investigator-be-able-to-find-hidden-bank-accounts/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/many-americans-retire-million-dollars-140019814.html
- https://www.thetaxdefenders.com/can-the-irs-take-money-from-my-bank-account-without-notice/
- https://www.usaa.com/inet/wc/advice-finances-safe-place-for-saving-cash
- https://www.alperlaw.com/offshore/swiss-bank-accounts/
- https://www.expat.hsbc.com/expat-explorer/expat-guides/switzerland/tax-in-switzerland/
- https://www.quora.com/Can-the-government-see-how-much-money-is-in-your-bank-account
- https://www.forbesindia.com/article/explainers/the-10-largest-banks-in-the-world/86967/1
- https://www.finder.com/savings-accounts/savings-account-you-cant-withdraw-from
- https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/fraud/untraceable-payment-methods.html
- https://www.quora.com/Does-the-IRS-monitor-your-savings-and-checking-accounts
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/list-of-failed-banks/
- https://medium.com/@worldmarket366/are-swiss-bank-accounts-still-secret-how-secret-it-is-8342e903e305
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/4-most-popular-banks-millionaires-150054420.html
- https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/if-you-deposit-a-lot-of-cash-does-your-bank-report-it-to-the-government
- https://privin.net/uncovering-hidden-bank-accounts-a-comprehensive-guide-to-bank-account-search/
- https://www.forbes.com/lists/cybersecure-banks/
- https://www.credit-suisse.com/ch/en/investment-banking/regional-presence/americas/united-states.html
- https://klasing-associates.com/swiss-offshore-bank-account-information-still-handed-irs-2022/
- https://www.getabstract.com/es/resumen/inside-pictet-the-secretive-swiss-bank-for-the-worlds-richest-people/42545?st=RELATED&si=42855
- https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/nam/en/insights/wealth-planning/euromoney-declares-jp-morgan-is-the-best-private-bank-in-the-world
- https://www.londondaily.news/why-do-people-put-money-in-swiss-bank-accounts/
- https://www.nab.com.au/help-support/personal-banking/manage-online-banking/hide-accounts
- https://www.ceauthority.com/StudyGuideContent/FAQS/AML%20glossary_0205.pdf
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/7-bank-stocks-least-likely-192442317.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/id/26182063
- https://www.checksforless.com/business-checks-ordering-guide/personal-check-limits.aspx
- https://www.expattaxonline.com/swiss-bank-account/
- https://www.quora.com/How-much-cash-can-be-deposited-into-a-savings-bank-account-per-year-without-being-taxed-by-the-Internal-Revenue-Service-IRS
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/buying-stocks/articles/where-do-billionaires-keep-their-money/
- https://www.moneyland.ch/en/swiss-bank-accounts-for-foreigners
- https://www.lawyersswitzerland.com/opening-a-bank-account-in-switzerland
- https://blakeharrislaw.com/blog/challenges-for-foreign-banking-for-u-s-citizens
- https://cybernews.com/resources/the-ultimate-guide-to-safe-and-anonymous-online-payment-methods/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/where-millionaires-keep-money-070638027.html
- https://www.wellsfargo.com/financial-education/basic-finances/manage-money/options/fdic/
- https://www.goldinglawyers.com/how-do-irs-agents-find-foreign-bank-accounts-in-2019-5-examples/
- https://www.hdfcbank.com/personal/resources/learning-centre/save/what-is-a-zero-balance-savings-account
- https://gfmag.com/banking/worlds-safest-banks-2023-global-100/
- https://www.offshorecorporation.com/advantages/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/why-bank-closed-my-account-what-to-do/
- https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/irs/audits-and-tax-notices/can-the-irs-get-my-financial-information/
- https://www.zellepay.com/faq/does-zelle-report-how-much-money-i-receive-irs
- https://air-corporate.com/blog/countries-for-offshore-bank-accounts/
- https://www.centralbank.ie/consumer-hub/explainers/what-is-shadow-banking
- https://www.helpwithmybank.gov/help-topics/bank-accounts/fdic-deposit-insurance/deposit-limit.html
- https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/largest-banks-in-the-us
- https://www.financialexpress.com/business/investing-abroad-swiss-bank-account-secrecy-laws-facts-requirements-explained-3350915/
- https://npscu.ca/knowledgebase/make-it-untouchable/
- https://www.consumercredit.com/about-us/news-press-releases/2017/checking-account-vs-savings-accounts-the-pros-and-cons/
- https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/where-do-millionaires-keep-their-money
- https://www.bitdegree.org/crypto/tutorials/most-secure-vault-in-the-world
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banks_in_Switzerland
- https://www.moneyland.ch/en/swiss-bank-fees-abroad
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/safest-banks-in-the-us/
- https://www.expatica.com/ch/finance/money-management/why-is-switzerland-so-rich-1068261/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_secrecy
- https://internationalwealth.info/en/foreign-bank-accounts-en/what-countries-allow-anonymous-bank-accounts/
- https://aliantlaw.com/freezing-of-swiss-bank-account-and-now/
- https://www.moneyland.ch/en/cash-withdrawals-guide
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/perception-swiss-banks-holding-black-money-justified-t1kvf
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/pros-and-cons-of-savings-accounts/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/08/swiss-bank-account.asp
- https://smartasset.com/investing/where-do-billionaires-keep-their-money
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/irs-tax-return/taxable-income-vs-nontaxable-income-what-you-should-know/L0h4j5DZQ
- https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/21/switzerland-becomes-first-major-economy-to-cut-interest-rates-in-surprise-move.html
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/10-worst-banks-america-karen-e-peyton-
- https://thepoorswiss.com/swiss-deposit-insurance/
- https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/banking/largest-banks-in-the-us/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/102915/tax-implications-opening-foreign-bank-account.asp
- https://www.moneyland.ch/en/best-interest-rates-switzerland
- https://irstaxtrouble.com/the-irss-ability-to-collect-foreign-assets/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bankrun.asp
- https://www.wikihow.com/Send-Money-Anonymously
- https://blakeharrislaw.com/blog/swiss-bank-accounts-for-us-citizens
- https://www.quora.com/Which-bank-is-recommended-for-expats-living-in-Switzerland
- https://www.kundrataxlaw.com/blog/2018/03/can-the-irs-take-money-from-an-international-bank-account/
- https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/banks-most-at-risk-morningstar
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/122315/worlds-top-10-banks-jpm-wfc.asp
- https://www.globalcitizensolutions.com/best-banks-in-the-world/
- https://studyinginswitzerland.com/swiss-bank-accounts/
- https://www.fdic.gov/resources/resolutions/bank-failures/failed-bank-list/
- https://wise.com/us/blog/opening-a-bank-account-in-switzerland
- https://www.cimbanque.com/en/online-account-opening/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/060716/why-switzerland-considered-tax-haven.asp
- https://wise.com/gb/swift-codes/countries/switzerland/jpmorgan-chase-bank-n-a
- https://studyinginswitzerland.com/best-swiss-banks-all-features-and-prices/
- https://silverbird.com/blog/articles/how-to-open-a-swiss-bank-account-for-business
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/heres-what-happens-if-you-deposit-more-than-$10000-in-cash-into-your-bank-account
- https://medium.com/@Pravin1989/why-do-millionaires-put-their-money-in-swiss-bank-904e2efe0310
- https://apnews.com/article/switzerland-money-laundering-risk-controls-d68d9668268126f3aee60e23934cd8fc
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-open-ghost-bank-account-secrecy-2024-aquilaresources-l5rke
- https://www.lgt.com/ch-en/market-assessments/market-view/snb-increases-minimum-reserve-requirements-europe-s-stock-markets-cautiously-optimistic--210886
- https://xinvestigations.com/2023/04/04/can-a-private-investigator-find-hidden-bank-accounts/
- https://coincodex.com/article/33788/worst-banks-in-america/
- https://www.expatica.com/ch/finance/banking/how-to-open-a-swiss-bank-account-102298/
- https://www.pewresearch.org/short-read/2023/04/11/most-u-s-bank-failures-have-come-in-a-few-big-waves/
- https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/swiss-private-bank-banque-pictet-admits-conspiring-us-taxpayers-hide-assets-and-income