BBVA

What BBVA does

BBVA Switzerland (legal entity BBVA SA) is a FINMA-supervised Swiss private banking institution and wholly-owned subsidiary of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA Group), headquartered at Selnaustrasse 32/36 in Zurich. Founded in 1974 as Banco Exterior (Suiza), the bank operates with a compact team of 123 professionals representing 14 nationalities and 8 languages, serving primarily high-net-worth individuals across Europe and Latin America. Its core offerings span BBVA Private Banking (advisory mandates, discretionary portfolio management, and wealth management), BBVA New Gen (a digital-first investment account with a CHF/EUR/USD 10,000 minimum and 15-minute online onboarding), and a Digital Assets service providing Bitcoin and Ethereum custody and trading — making it the first TIER1 bank in the Eurozone to launch institutional-grade crypto services, now backed by Metaco's Harmonize platform and Avaloq Crypto Assets integration.

The bank's underlying technology stack includes TLS 256-bit encrypted online banking, mobile applications on Google Play and the App Store, and an integrated custody infrastructure connecting crypto assets with traditional portfolio mandates. Its revenue model combines recurring fees from private banking mandates and the New Gen subscription-style account with transaction-based fees from digital asset trading and custody operations, distributed through a dual channel: relationship managers and expert bankers for HNW clients, and a fully digital self-service platform for New Gen investors. Marketing relies on a content-driven approach centered on the Panorama blog and the Blockchain to Go educational series.

BBVA Switzerland does not raise external capital — it is wholly backed by its publicly listed Spanish parent — and operates under Swiss banking regulation with esisuisse deposit protection and compliance with FATCA and CRS. In April 2026, the bank lost CEO Alfonso Gómez to HSBC Swiss Private Bank, creating a leadership transition risk against a backdrop of sustained product expansion in digital assets and institutional custody.

Name

BBVA

Legal name

BBVA SA

Website

https://bbva.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

BBVA Switzerland is a FINMA-supervised Swiss private banking subsidiary of BBVA Group, headquartered in Zurich, serving European and Latin American high-net-worth individuals with traditional wealth management, a digital-first investment account (New Gen), and institutional-grade Bitcoin and Ethereum custody services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Banking

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

BaaS Platforms & Sponsor Bank Enablement (FSAGALAA)

Keywords

• Private banking services
• Wealth management solutions
• Digital asset custody
• Investment advisory services
• Cryptocurrency trading

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Compliance, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Private Banking Services: Comprehensive private banking services including advisory mandates, discretionary portfolio management, and wealth management for high-net-worth individuals.
2. Digital Asset Trading: Bitcoin and Ethereum trading and custody services for eligible investors, generating fees from transaction execution and custody operations.
3. BBVA New Gen Investment Services: Digital investment platform offering access to traditional and digital assets with a minimum deposit of 10,000 EUR/USD/CHF.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BBVA Switzerland is a FINMA-supervised private banking subsidiary of BBVA Group, providing comprehensive wealth management, investment advisory, and discretionary portfolio management for high-net-worth individuals in Europe and Latin America. It also offers a digital investment account (BBVA New Gen) and a pioneering cryptocurrency custody and trading service for Bitcoin and Ethereum, becoming the first TIER1 bank in the Eurozone to launch such services.

Product overview

BBVA Switzerland operates as a private banking division of BBVA SA, offering a comprehensive suite of wealth management and investment services. The core offering centers on Private Banking with traditional assets, complemented by a Digital Assets Service for cryptocurrency (Bitcoin and Ethereum) custody and trading. BBVA New Gen provides a digital-first investment account targeting younger investors seeking diversified portfolios. The bank integrates AI and data science capabilities across its services, supported by digital platforms including mobile app and online banking, all under FINMA supervision.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BBVA New Gen: Digital investment service launched in 2021, offering accounts from 10,000 EUR/USD/CHF, focused on innovative investment sectors with a digital-first approach
• BBVA Private Banking
• BBVA Digital Assets

Products and services

• BBVA Private Banking Switzerland Full-service private banking offering wealth management, investment advisory, and discretionary portfolio management for high-net-worth clients in Switzerland with integration of traditional and digital assets in a single portfolio.
• BBVA New Gen Digital-first investment account enabling clients to invest in traditional and digital assets through a unified online platform, with account opening possible in 15 minutes and minimum deposit of 10,000 EUR/USD/CHF, targeting younger, digitally-savvy investors.
• Digital Assets Service Cryptocurrency trading and custody service for Bitcoin and Ethereum integrated with traditional investment portfolios, offered through Metaco's Harmonize institutional-grade custody platform; first TIER1 bank in the Eurozone to offer such services.
• BBVA Switzerland Mobile App Mobile banking application available on Google Play and App Store (Switzerland) enabling customers to access and manage their accounts, receive notifications, and conduct financial management from anywhere.
• Online Banking (e-banking) Secure online banking platform accessible at ebanking.bbva.ch with TLS 256-bit encryption and two-factor authentication for account access and transactions.

Quantifiable outcome

• First TIER1 bank in Eurozone to offer cryptocurrency custody and trading
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MetacocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023BBVA Switzerland migrated its digital asset custody service to Metaco's Harmonize platform, an institutional-grade custody solution offering greater operational agility, maximum security, and capability to extend services for private banking and institutional customers including fund managers and large companies.
• AvaloqcoreTechnology or IntegrationBBVA Switzerland integrated its digital asset transactions with Avaloq's Crypto Assets platform, enhancing security and flexibility for institutional clients.
• Association of Foreign Banks in SwitzerlandminorOthersAlfonso Gómez, CEO of BBVA Switzerland, serves as Vice President of this association representing foreign banks operating in Switzerland.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Julius Baer: One of Switzerland's largest pure-play private banks serving HNW clients globally. Comparable as a Swiss-domiciled private bank serving HNW segment, though with significantly broader scale and product portfolio than BBVA Switzerland.
• EFG International: Swiss private banking group with global HNW client base and significant presence in Europe and Latin America. Comparable geographic overlap and client segmentation, particularly relevant given BBVA Switzerland's Europe-LatAm focus.
• UBS Wealth Management: World's largest wealth manager with significant Swiss private banking franchise and growing digital asset capabilities. Comparable as the dominant Swiss private banking competitor now actively expanding crypto offerings that compete directly with BBVA Switzerland's positioning.
• Bank J. Safra Sarasin: Swiss private bank serving HNW individuals with wealth management and investment services. Comparable as a Swiss private bank focused on traditional wealth management with international HNW client base.
• Vontobel: Swiss private bank and asset manager offering wealth management services to HNW clients, with growing digital asset capabilities. Comparable as a Swiss private bank serving similar client segments with active digital asset strategy.
• Pictet Group: Swiss private bank and asset manager with strong HNW and institutional focus. Comparable as a major Swiss private banking institution with established digital asset initiatives serving a similar European HNW clientele.

Emerging players

• FalconX: Institutional digital asset prime broker offering custody, trading, and credit services. Comparable as a competing infrastructure provider for institutional digital asset exposure, though operating primarily outside Switzerland.
• Bitcoin Suisse: Swiss crypto financial services pioneer offering custody, trading, lending, and staking for institutional and HNW clients. Comparable as a Swiss crypto-focused financial services firm targeting institutional digital asset exposure, though operating as a non-bank.

Direct peers

• AMINA Bank (formerly SEBA Bank): Swiss FINMA-regulated bank specializing in digital assets and crypto custody for institutional and HNW clients. Directly comparable as a Swiss bank offering regulated crypto custody and trading with traditional banking services.
• Sygnum Bank: Swiss FINMA-regulated digital asset banking group offering institutional-grade crypto custody, trading, and tokenization services. Closely comparable to BBVA Switzerland as another regulated Swiss bank bridging traditional and digital assets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bbvaswitzerland
• Facebookfacebook.com/BBVA-New-Gen-100994318627005

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BBVA