Hi All, Is it possible to keep your Swiss bank account (say with Credit Suisse) with an address outside Switzerland (UK) when you eventually move back home.

Check with your bank. I was told no from UBS but that was because we moved back to the US.

Interestingly... I was told yes by the UBS.

yes, it is.. but they will charge you 40 chf a quarter to keep it. (unless you have over CHf 1million on deposit?)

Yes, you can and without any extra cherges (Basler Kantonal Bank).

For UBS (and possibly other banks) I understand it depends on where you move and possibly your nationality. They told me no to anyone (any passport) moving to US. This was a recent change just after the IRS case, so draw your own conclusions. Not moving to US, they are more flexible.

I left Switzerland about 2 years ago, I was banking with UBS. Recently they introduced a new charge for non-CH residents of CHF 30 per month unless you keep CHF 50,000 in the account. I told them no thanks.

YMMV

Can you not open a P O Box address?? Alot of Swiss has that..

If that is acceptable to the bank then I guess the next step is to redirect your mail to home address- but keeping the box and redirection may get expensive?

Why even bother to tell anyone? Just pay the landlord to forward the mail.

Or maybe that's illegal?

Why would it be illegal? for a fee the bank will even hold your mail. If you have online statements there will be very little mail in any case.

Since all the hassle the banks are recently getting from tax agencies all around the globe, thy claim it is not worth it to them to keep international clients with a ballance of less then 50000 CHf and will charge you 30-60CHf a month.

I personally think its a big disgrace thinking of when thy needed you, thy wanted your money and now people who have bankd with them for 20years plus minus just get a letter saying good bye !!

Since when? I never got charged, moved to Germany last September.

They started this about 3 months ago. I've no idea why you haven't heard about this, perhaps you have a different style account or a different balance level in your account, no idea. I only related my own personal experience with UBS and did actually note that your mileage may vary :-)


On the suggestion that you could just get your post forwarded even if not living in Switzerland, I wonder how long that might work: don't forget that when leaving the country you are required to de-register from the community. I would not be at all surprised if the banks run the occasional check. Swiss Post will however forward your mail to your new address for up to one year if you buy the forwarding service from them.

Why bother the landlord? Just ask the post.

Different banks, different rules.

All I know is that I never have been a resident in Switzerland, am an American citizen (the blackest of black sheep for Swiss banks) and have both a current account and a (prepaid) credit card with PostFinance. Cost of current account (online set) with my small balance is CHF 3.00 per month, waived for balances above CHF 7,500.

As I was told by UBS and CS you can keep the account but you will be charged additionally for the account being able to operate from abroad.
No limit whatsoever about money in the account

So I guess we have three options to consider: Landlord, post, bank. I wonder which forwarding would be cheapest... I guess it depends on landlords, post offices, and banks.

...of which you have no experience here in Switzerland.... right?

Exactly. Do I need any particular experience to comment on things? How much experience do I need?

Anyway since you do have the experience, would the post necessarily be cheaper than the bank or landlord? It would be nice to know for future reference.