Basler Kantonalbank products, services and reviews

About Basler Kantonalbank

Basler Kantonalbank (BKB) is a Swiss cantonal bank headquartered in Basel and majority-owned by the Canton of Basel-Stadt; under cantonal law the parent bank benefits from an explicit state guarantee covering its liabilities, which does not extend to subsidiaries. BKB operates as the core entity of BKB Group alongside Bank Cler AG, a nationwide retail bank that continues to run its own channels, including a mobile-only offering; both institutions are supervised by FINMA and are members of the Swiss deposit protection scheme (esisuisse), which secures up to CHF 100,000 per client per bank. The group’s business model is centered on retail and corporate banking, with a balance sheet heavily weighted toward Swiss mortgages and other collateralized real estate lending, complemented by payment services, transaction accounts, savings products, investment advisory and asset management, custody and brokerage, and services for institutional clients. Distribution combines a regional branch network in Basel and nearby areas with e-banking and mobile apps; Bank Cler provides additional geographic reach through branches in other cantons and digital onboarding, while card issuing and some consumer credit services are provided via partners; TWINT and standard Swiss payments (eBill, QR-bill, SEPA/SWIFT) are supported. Customer eligibility typically focuses on Swiss residents and cross-border commuters in the tri-border region; services for non-residents and U.S. persons are restricted or subject to enhanced requirements. Funding is primarily from customer deposits, supplemented by covered funding via Swiss Pfandbrief institutions and by senior unsecured and bail-in eligible instruments; capital and liquidity ratios are managed under Basel III rules and have historically been reported above regulatory minima. Long-term issuer ratings are in the high AA/Aa range at major agencies, reflecting the cantonal support framework and conservative risk profile common to the sector. Pricing follows Swiss market practice, with account packages that may carry maintenance fees, tiered custody and advisory charges for investments, mortgage rates differentiated by term and loan-to-value, and standard fees or FX margins on cards and cross-border transfers; conditions differ between BKB and Bank Cler. Key risk factors are interest-rate and real estate concentration risk; credit risk is mitigated by collateral and underwriting standards, and the group maintains resolution planning and risk governance in line with Swiss requirements. The bank has previously been subject to regulatory enforcement related to asset management conduct and historical cross-border tax matters; remediation measures, client compensation where applicable, and governance changes were implemented under FINMA oversight. Investor relations materials, including annual and interim reports, are published by the group; BKB has participation certificates listed on SIX Swiss Exchange.