Custody Account & Broker Comparison Switzerland

What is a custody account and why do I need a broker

A custody account is an account where your securities such as stocks, ETFs, funds or bonds are held. The broker is the provider that gives you access to exchanges and executes your buy and sell orders.

Without a broker, stock market trading is not possible. Depending on the provider, cost structures, trading venues, digital features and service levels differ significantly. This is exactly where our Swiss broker comparison comes in.

Swiss Banks Comparison traditional bank or online broker Switzerland

Traditional Swiss banks
Traditional banks usually operate branch networks and offer additional banking services alongside custody accounts, sometimes including personal advice. For some investors this can be an advantage, especially when several financial topics are bundled with one provider. In a Swiss custody account comparison, however, traditional banks often stand out due to higher custody fees, higher minimum fees and more expensive transactions.

Online brokers Switzerland and online banks
Online brokers in Switzerland and purely digital banks operate fully online and do not maintain branch networks. This allows them to keep cost structures lean and often pass these advantages on through lower fees. They offer modern platforms, transparent pricing models and easy usability. Especially for regular investments or smaller order sizes, this can make a noticeable difference.

Our Swiss broker comparison clearly shows whether a provider operates in a traditional or purely digital manner so that you can choose the solution that best fits your investment behavior.

Estimate costs quickly how to use the Swiss custody account comparison correctly

Many investors compare brokers only based on a single figure, such as the custody fee. In practice, however, the total cost burden consists of several cost factors.

Three questions help with a realistic assessment:

• How often do you trade per year
  Those who invest regularly should pay close attention to transaction costs.
• How large are your typical orders 
  For smaller amounts, minimum fees have a particularly strong effect and significantly increase effective costs.
• Do you trade in foreign currencies 
  If so, foreign exchange fees play a central role, especially for US stocks or international ETFs.
• A simple rule of thumb for comparison: 
  Fixed costs arise from the annual custody fee including any minimum fee. Variable costs result from the number of trades per year multiplied by transaction costs per trade.

Additional costs arise from foreign exchange fees when trading in foreign currencies. One time costs may occur for security transfers if you change providers.

Using this logic, our comparison table can be directly applied to your personal situation.

These criteria are compared in the Swiss custody account comparison

FINMA deposit protection
Client cash balances in Switzerland are protected up to CHF 100,000 per client and bank. This protection primarily applies to uninvested cash. Our Swiss broker comparison shows which providers are subject to this protection and how it should be assessed.

Securities such as stocks or ETFs are generally treated as segregated assets and are separated from the bank’s own assets.

Custody fee per year excl VAT
The custody fee represents the annual cost for maintaining the custody account. Some providers charge percentage based fees on the portfolio value, others charge flat fees or no custody fee at all. A possible minimum fee is particularly important, as it can have a significant impact on smaller portfolios.

Transaction costs Switzerland Europe and USA 
In the Swiss broker comparison, transaction costs are compared uniformly based on an order amount of CHF 1,000. This makes providers comparable despite different pricing models. In addition to percentage based fees, a possible minimum fee is decisive, as it can significantly increase effective costs for smaller orders.

Foreign exchange fees
When trading in foreign currencies, foreign exchange fees apply. These are often less visible than classic trading fees but directly affect returns. Especially for regular purchases or US securities, these costs accumulate significantly over time.

Trading on major exchanges
Access to major exchanges such as SIX, Xetra, Paris, LSE, Nasdaq or NYSE allows a broader selection of securities, better liquidity and often tighter spreads. This leads to more efficient execution and better prices. Our comparison transparently shows which exchanges are available.

Which products can I trade
A central criterion in the Swiss stock custody account comparison is the product offering. We check whether the following asset classes are available:

• Stocks
• ETFs
• Funds
• Bonds
• Derivatives
• Crypto

Not every broker covers all asset classes. Anyone who wants broad diversification or flexibility should carefully compare these differences.

Electronic tax statements and cash interest
For many investors, simple tax reporting is crucial. Electronic tax statements enable a digital and accurate transfer of data into the tax return and significantly reduce administrative effort. Our Swiss custody account comparison shows whether electronic tax statements are available and whether fees apply. 

In addition, we compare interest on uninvested cash. Depending on the provider, cash balances may earn interest or remain non interest bearing. This factor also affects long term results.

Costs for securities transfers
Changing a custody account can be worthwhile if fees are too high or features are missing. Many providers charge fees per position for transferring securities. These costs can add up quickly when holding multiple positions. Our Swiss broker comparison transparently shows which transfer costs may apply.

Taxes and reporting in Switzerland concise and practical
In Switzerland, there is no automatic capital gains tax. Dividends and interest must however be declared as income in the tax return. The effective tax burden depends on the place of residence and total income. 

A major advantage for private investors is that capital gains from private assets are generally tax free. Profits from selling stocks, ETFs or funds are usually not taxed, as long as no professional securities trading classification applies.

Depending on the origin of dividends, withholding taxes may apply. Well prepared tax documents and electronic tax statements greatly facilitate correct reporting. This is why this point is an important selection criterion in the Swiss broker comparison.

Best trading platform Switzerland what really matters

The best trading platform in Switzerland is not defined by design alone. Decisive factors are stable execution, clear cost transparency, intuitive usability and a clear portfolio overview. Whether long term investing or active trading, a reliable platform saves time and reduces errors.

What determines which broker in Switzerland is the best

The best broker in Switzerland is always individual. Important factors include investment amount, trading frequency, focus on long term investing or active trading, preference for low fees or additional service and the use of a modern platform. 

An online broker comparison Switzerland helps identify not just the cheapest provider but the one that best fits your long term investment strategy