Alternative Bank Schweiz AG products, services and reviews

About Alternative Bank Schweiz AG

Alternative Bank Schweiz AG (ABS) is a Swiss bank founded in 1990 and headquartered in Olten, supervised by FINMA and participating in the esisuisse deposit insurance scheme (statutory protection up to CHF 100,000 per client). The institution operates with an explicit sustainable-finance mandate that uses exclusion and positive criteria and discloses material information about its lending portfolio, including sector allocation and project purposes, on its website. Core services cover retail and SME banking such as CHF payment accounts, savings and term deposits, debit cards and credit cards via partners, e-banking, mortgages and loans with an emphasis on residential properties, cooperative housing, social institutions and renewable or ecological projects, as well as sustainability-screened investment products; the bank has issued participation certificates that trade on Swiss OTC platforms. ABS maintains a limited physical footprint with advisory offices rather than a broad branch network, and most interactions are handled through digital channels, mail or phone; customer service is primarily offered in German and French. Fees are set out in a published tariff and typically include account maintenance and card charges; interest conditions vary by product and balance and are adjusted in line with market rates set by the Swiss National Bank. Account opening focuses on clients domiciled in Switzerland, with enhanced due diligence and possible restrictions for cross-border applicants; cash services are comparatively limited. Payments follow Swiss standards, including IBAN/QR-bill processing, eBill and SEPA for euro transfers, subject to cut-off times and standard execution windows. Risk, capital and sustainability reporting are provided in annual reports; the balance sheet is small relative to universal banks and is concentrated in mortgages and social/environmental project finance, which can result in sector and interest-rate exposures that differ from diversified peers. Clients seeking an extensive branch network, broad investment universes or high-volume cash handling will find fewer options than at full-service institutions; those prioritizing transparent use of deposits and defined sustainability criteria will note that these elements are embedded in ABS’s mandate. Terms, eligibility and features can change; consult the latest public reports and tariff.