Interest rate slump on Swiss personal accounts: Where savers can still find returns
While interest rates in other asset classes remain in motion, Swiss personal accounts are experiencing widespread stagnation. A current comparison (February 2026) shows that the vast majority of banks currently offer 0.00% interest. Nevertheless, there are a few individual institutions that stand out from the crowd with minimal interest rates. In a sense, they are the needle in the haystack…
Swiss personal accounts at zero-interest levels
Those who park their money in a classic Swiss personal account will, in most cases, come away empty-handed. A look at our personal account interest rate comparison on Nexano.ch makes it clear that the “zero-interest level” for everyday payment accounts seems firmly cemented. Almost all major players—including UBS, Postfinance, Raiffeisen, and most cantonal banks—currently maintain their personal accounts with an interest rate of 0.00%.
The exceptions in comparison
Despite the general zero-interest policy, there are a few institutions that credit their customers with at least a symbolic interest rate. At the top of the providers examined are:
- Zak (by Bank Cler): With 0.05%, the smartphone bank currently offers one of the “highest” interest rates in the personal account sector.
- Bank CIC: Here, customers still receive 0.03%.
- Appenzeller Kantonalbank: With 0.02%, it positions itself as one of the few cantonal banks above the zero mark.
- BBO Bank Brienz Oberhasli as well as the Clientis Group (e.g., Bank im Thal, Sparkasse Sense): These institutions still grant 0.01%.
Personal account vs. savings account
Experts emphasize that personal accounts are primarily intended for payment transactions and not for wealth accumulation. Those looking for returns must necessarily switch to savings accounts, medium-term notes, or Pillar 3a, where interest rates can be more attractive. Nevertheless, it is worth looking at the fee structures: since interest income is near zero almost everywhere, account management and transaction fees become the decisive factor for the actual cost of an account.
Security remains high
Regardless of the interest rate, an important security aspect remains: balances in Swiss personal accounts are protected by deposit insurance. In the event of a bank bankruptcy, amounts up to CHF 100,000 per customer and bank are legally secured.
Conclusion
Switching a personal account solely because of the interest rate is currently only worthwhile in the rarest of cases. Rather, customers should pay attention to the overall package of fees, app functionality, and additional services. However, those who want to increase their savings should not leave the money in a personal account but should consider other forms of investment.
