Greetings smart forum members: Any recent reviews on Valiant bank? I understand they cater to we persona non-grata. I have just read many previous posts on the dreaded topic of Americans opening accounts in Switzerland. I am a dual-citizen American-Swiss non-resident trying to help family in Switzerland and an account would make life easier. Family has had bad experiences with UBS, BCV, and Credit Suisse and the "US Person" issue. Is Valiant an option for 2021? Many thanks in advance.
Last time I checked (late 2019), Valiant was opening accounts for non-residents, but was politely declining an account opening to most ordinary US tax residents (with rare exceptions only confirming the general rule). No idea, if a Swiss passport helps with that, since I mostly know US folks living here and struggling with bank accounts, but their problem goes away with unlocking of "Swiss citizenship" achievement.
Why, if I may ask, you need a local bank account - just for sending and managing money to your family, or there are some more complex tasks for it? A simple service like Wise or Revolut provides an essential current multi-currency account with IBAN, covers all international money transfers and currency conversions.
In Valiant's fee schedule, "Preise und Dienstleistungen" dated 1st April 2021, it says: Für Kunden mit Domizil im Ausland wird ein Zuschlag von CHF 40.00 pro Monat verrechnet. translation: Clients with their domicile abroad will be charged an surcharge of CHF 40.00 per month.
Thank you for this reply. I note that at that same website they list banks that have kicked out family members for having lived in the U.S. I wouldn't rely on it.
Thanks for all the responses to this thread - I had given up!
The bad experiences were being booted from longstanding accounts, and a decades-old family deposit box, with no options, not even the day it was to occur.