{"id":17339,"date":"2026-09-11T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vapa.ch\/?p=17339"},"modified":"2026-08-18T06:28:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T04:28:51","slug":"hnwi-account-options-switzerland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vapa.ch\/de\/hnwi-account-options-switzerland\/","title":{"rendered":"HNWI-Kontenoptionen in der Schweiz im Vergleich"},"content":{"rendered":"

You have crossed the threshold \u2014 liquid assets somewhere north of a million \u2014 and want a banking setup that matches. But when you try to compare HNWI account options<\/strong> in Switzerland, the market is deliberately opaque: minimums are “on request”, fees are “bespoke”, and everyone claims to be exclusive. Here is the comparison, with the numbers.<\/p>\n

What an “HNWI account” actually is<\/h2>\n

There is no legal category called an HNWI account. In practice it describes a banking relationship built for clients with roughly USD 1\u201330 million in bankable assets. Above that you are in a different service model \u2014 see UHNWI vs. HNWI<\/a>. The label covers four quite different setups.<\/p>\n

The four options<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nRealistic minimum<\/th>\nTypical all-in cost<\/th>\nAm besten f\u00fcr<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Private bank relationship<\/strong><\/td>\nCHF 1m (often 2\u20135m for non-residents)<\/td>\n1.5 \u2013 2.5%<\/td>\nCredit needs, brand, one-stop service<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Premium tier of a universal bank<\/strong><\/td>\nCHF 250k \u2013 1m<\/td>\n1.0 \u2013 1.8%<\/td>\nSwiss residents, simplicity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Custody account + independent manager<\/strong><\/td>\nCHF 0.5 \u2013 1m<\/td>\n0.9 \u2013 1.5%<\/td>\nCost and alignment optimisers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Digital-first \/ execution-only custody<\/strong><\/td>\nNiedrig<\/td>\n0.2 \u2013 0.6% + your time<\/td>\nSelf-directed investors<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The structural insight newcomers miss: the account and the management are separable<\/strong>. You can hold assets at a strong custodian bank while a FINMA-licensed independent manager runs the portfolio under a limited power of attorney. That is institutional-style open architecture at materially lower cost, and it is the model behind roughly CHF 900 billion of Swiss client assets. Background in banks vs. EAMs<\/a> und private banking alternatives in Switzerland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Can you open one online?<\/h2>\n

Partially. Swiss providers have digitised identification, document upload and risk profiling. But for a genuine HNWI relationship expect at least one substantive conversation, and for cross-border clients frequently an in-person meeting. Fully online openings in minutes exist only at the execution-only end. Whatever the channel, the substance of onboarding is identical: identification, source of wealth, source of funds \u2014 see the evolution of KYC in Swiss wealth management<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The criteria that actually differ<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. All-in cost in writing.<\/strong> Management fee, custody, transactions, product costs and FX margins. FX margins alone range from 0.05% to over 1%, and are where a “cheap” offer earns its money back.<\/li>\n
  2. Retrocession policy.<\/strong> Rebated to you, or retained? Get it in the contract, not in conversation.<\/li>\n
  3. Open architecture.<\/strong> Can they buy any provider’s instruments, or does the house shelf come first? See offene Architektur in der Verm\u00f6gensverwaltung<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  4. Custody flexibility.<\/strong> Can you add a second custodian later under the same management? Multibanking is standard practice above a few million.<\/li>\n
  5. Reporting.<\/strong> Consolidated across banks, and tax-ready for your country of residence.<\/li>\n
  6. Who serves you.<\/strong> A named senior adviser, or a rotating team? Ask how many client relationships that person carries.<\/li>\n
  7. Protection.<\/strong> Securities are segregated assets in a Swiss bankruptcy; cash is protected to CHF 100,000 per bank \u2014 another argument against concentrating cash in one place.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The opening process, step by step<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Shortlist two or three setups<\/strong> across different models \u2014 for instance one private bank and one independent manager plus custodian combination.<\/li>\n
    2. Prepare your file:<\/strong> passport, proof of address, tax identification number, and a one-page source-of-wealth summary with supporting documents.<\/li>\n
    3. Request written fee schedules<\/strong> with all-in projections at your asset level. Let them compete.<\/li>\n
    4. Negotiate.<\/strong> Custody and management fees move from about CHF 1 million, and move meaningfully from CHF 5 million.<\/li>\n
    5. Fund from your own account<\/strong> at a recognised bank. Phasing the transfer lets you test service quality first.<\/li>\n
    6. Review after twelve months:<\/strong> performance net of every fee against a passive benchmark, and the quality of proactive contact.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Common mistakes<\/h2>\n