Financial Centre Geneva

Geneva is, alongside Zurich, one of Switzerland’s two financial centres, each focusing on its own strengths and complementing the other. Geneva’s focus is on the management of private assets and is characterised by commercial banks and a high density of foreign institutions.

The worst expectations after the removal of banking secrecy for foreign clients were not confirmed as a rethink towards Fintech promotion, the financing of commodity trading and sustainable asset management has taken place and new sources of income have been tapped. Although the number of banks fell slightly, Geneva is still home to more than 100 banks from all over the world and more than 6,000 companies make up the financial structure of the city, totalling about 35,600 highly qualified employees. This structure includes major banks such as Credit Suisse, UBS, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas and asset managers such as Edmond de Rothschild, Geneva Capital Mangement, Notz Stucki & Cie, Banque Degroof Petercram and Union Bancaire Privée.

The financial centre is characterized by commodity trading, business with international organizations and a regional focus on the Middle East as well as the French-speaking world. Due to its monetary and political stability, Geneva, and Switzerland as a whole, are generally regarded as “safe havens” in the financial world.

Thanks to its international infrastructure and multicultural tradition, Geneva offers a favourable environment for financial activities, as evidenced by the establishment of 140 multinational companies, 36 international institutions and more than 300 non-governmental organisations. In addition, Geneva was ranked 8th most worth living city in the prestigious Mercer study in 2018.