ZKB is now offering a free basic banking account https://www.zkb.ch/de/private/konten…vergleich.html . As far as I know, it’s the only cantonal bank that offers this.
I’m thinking of moving my main account there from CS (or now UBS-CS). I’m not a sophisticated client. I use:
- private CHF account with a debit card
- standing orders
- QR invoice and CHF payments
- occasional ATM withdrawals in Switzerland
is more or less all I need. I’m not a US person or PEP.
For occasional payments in other currencies/EUR account I use Wise.
I called the ZKB general number and it seems that customer support is available in English and documents can be sent in English too. I’m not sure if eBanking itself has an English UI, but in worst case I can navigate a German UI.
Can any existing ZKB customers here chime in with their experiences? I know it’s going to be anecdotal, but still…
So far the only small downside I see is that I have to go to Zurich branch to finalize opening of an account (I don’t live in canton ZH anymore). However, I imagine almost everything else can be done remotely?