We will be moving to Switzerland in about a month. Could you recommend a bank , preferably English-friendly? (I mean the language) Would the big guys like UBS or Credit Suisse be the best option? We are after just regular banking routines and may be some investment management.

Thanks

Either or is good.

Just remember that you have to complete your home registration with the authorities before you can open a bank account.

From there, you can opt to have all your bank correspondence in English.

I opened my bank account with Credit Suisse. they are quite flexible especially if you are new in the room. They opened mine for me and I supplied the necessary documents as I received them. The important thing is have your employment contract and passport with you and voila. It is opened for you. At least that was all I had to open with Credit Suisse at a branch in Baden.

Best of luck

Oh least I forget, the main answer to your question, they are very ENglish friendly unlike Kantonal bank - long story, but lets just say all my documents were sent in German. Did not know which from which.

I have my account with Credit Suisse.
All the correspondence is sent to me in English.
They're always very helpful when I ring up, but then they should be as I seem to be paying more for them to manage my little bit of money than I receive as interest.

That would depends from what you expect from a bank; Switzerland being trilingual, English is often added as a fourth option (as documents are not produced usually in Rumantsch).

I have accounts both with UBS and BCV; very similar excellent advice; I prefer the internet banking User interface by UBS (and find it marginally more secure). I also have an account with Raffheisen - a local bank; it is smaller and closer to customers.

I know in many situations, expats prefer UBS as it has a bigger international presence, and you will be able to bank in many countries; biggest exception of course being the US (

I'll second that.
I like UBS, everything in English, even all card transactions come up as English, must be on the chip or something.
Also great customer service (in my experience anyway).
Internet banking is very easy and easy to set up payments etc.