Before you start

Registration confirmation from your commune
Residence permit or application receipt
Passport
Swiss address

Step-by-step

1
Register your address first
The Anmeldung confirmation is what most banks want as proof of residence. Trying to open an account before registering is the usual reason for a refusal.
In personWho: You
2
Choose between a cantonal bank, a big bank and a digital challenger
Zürcher Kantonalbank is the cantonal option and widely used; UBS is the remaining big bank after the Credit Suisse integration; Neon and Yuh are cheaper digital options.
OnlineWho: You
3
Apply with your documents
Some banks handle the whole process online with video identification; others require a branch appointment.
In personWho: You
4
Declare US person status if applicable
FATCA obligations lead a number of Swiss banks to decline US citizens and green-card holders, or to charge more. Ask before applying rather than being refused.
In personWho: You
5
Set up your salary and standing orders
Swiss payments run on QR-bills. Your employer needs your Swiss IBAN, and rent and insurance are usually paid by standing order or e-bill.
Mobile appWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Passport
Registration confirmation (Anmeldung)
Residence permit or receipt
Employment contract, sometimes requested

Things most newcomers don’t know

US citizens should ask about FATCA before applying anywhere.

The reporting burden leads a number of Swiss banks to decline US persons or restrict what they offer. It is far better to identify a bank that accepts US clients up front than to be refused after a formal application, which is awkward to explain later.

Source: Swiss banking practice under FATCA

Swiss banking is not free, unlike much of Europe.

Monthly account fees, card fees and per-transaction charges are normal. The digital banks are materially cheaper and are widely used by residents, not just newcomers.

Source: Swiss retail banking fee schedules

The Anmeldung, not the permit card, is what unlocks the account.

The physical permit takes weeks to arrive, but the registration confirmation is issued immediately and is generally sufficient. Newcomers wait unnecessarily for a card they don't need yet.

Source: community-reported, consistently

QR-bills are how Switzerland pays for things.

Rent, insurance and invoices arrive as QR-bills scanned in your banking app. It's efficient once set up, and unfamiliar enough that newcomers miss payment deadlines in their first months.

Source: Swiss payment standards