R
Rishi Roy· 8 years ago
Making finance and business topics easier to understand through practical, well-researched, and reliable insights.

How can an Indian open a bank account in Swiss Bank?

6
1.1K

Join this conversation

Sort By
Replying to the question above
Updated on05/22/26

An Indian citizen can open a bank account in a Swiss bank, but it is not as simple as opening a local account. First, they must choose a regulated Swiss financial institution and submit a formal application. Required documents include a valid passport, proof of address, source of income, and sometimes tax compliance documents from India. Swiss banks follow strict Know Your Customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering laws, so they carefully verify funds and background. Some banks may require a minimum deposit. Today, many accounts are opened through international banking services or private banking divisions rather than visiting Switzerland in person.

Must Read : Is there any difference between SBI and other banks?

V
Two decades of chartered accountancy — turning complex financial and business realities into writing that professionals and decision-makers can actually use.
View Profile

Ved Tiwari is a Chartered Accountant (CA) and finance writer with over 20 years of professional experience in taxation, auditing, financial planning, and business advisory. He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) — one of the most rigorous professional qualifications in Indian finance — and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com Honours) from Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), Delhi University. His content covers personal finance, corporate taxation, GST, investment strategy, business compliance, financial planning, and India's evolving regulatory and economic landscape. His work has appeared on platforms including Moneycontrol, The Economic Times Wealth, and CA Club India, where he writes for finance professionals, business owners, and informed readers who need content built on two decades of real-world financial practice — not surface-level commentary. Over 20 years, Ved has advised hundreds of businesses and individual clients on taxation, audit compliance, and financial restructuring. He has handled complex multi-crore audits, represented clients before tax authorities, and guided startups and established firms through India's regulatory environment. He has published 400+ articles on finance and business, spoken at ICAI seminars and industry finance conferences, and is a practising member of the ICAI Western Region chapter. Across all his writing, every figure is verified, every regulatory reference is current, and every recommendation reflects the same professional standard he applies to his clients — because in finance, accuracy is not optional.

0
Replying to the question above
Answered on05/15/18
In order to open an account in Swiss Bank, you have to go and show your passport, rest everything is as normal as opening any other bank account.
R
View Profile
4
Replying to the question above
Answered on03/30/18
Having a bank account in Switzerland (in Swiss Bank) is definitely prestigious. Before going further, I am sure you would want to pick a top bank in Switzerland for the highest level of security. And you would want maximum secrecy. In this case, two of the top banks you can go with are UBS and Credit Suisse Group (which are in Switzerland). And the bank account type you should pick is Numbered Account. Such bank account includes complete interactions with the customers in numbers; no names are involved. (It’s difficult to open numbered accounts though and it requires an initial deposit of at least $100,000. But this is a different topic altogether!)
Coming to your exact question, opening a Swiss bank account is fairly simple for Indians. You submit the form along with other required documents pertaining to your identity (including passport). The bank will do a background check on you with whatever capacity it has. If it finds that you are breaking or trying to break any Swiss regulations, your application will be rejected.
Remember, while these banks in Switzerland are popular to store your black money, these people have strict money laundering laws guarding their operations. So when submitting their applications, you must be extremely careful. Follow their guidelines devotedly. If everything goes well, you can have your account ready in as less as 2 weeks.
However, all being said, there are many watchful laws not just in Switzerland but also in India that prevents from depositing in international banks. Opening a bank account in institutes outside the country in Switzerland is not illegal. You just have to mention about this in your tax filing. But you are advised to let a professional do this for you. You don’t want to overstep FEMA and Anti-Money Laundering laws. It could call in for strict punishment for you. A professional can help you open Swiss bank account in Switzerland much swiftly.
Funds of Indians in Swiss banks jump over Rs 20,000 crore, highest in 13  years | Economy News | Zee News
4