From what assets do banks consider me wealthy?

According to Andreas Dietrich of the Luzern Hochschule, banks begin to consider customers as wealthy starting from the second classification group. At Swiss regional banks, the threshold for Private Banking (HNWI) is set at CHF 500,000, while pure private banks place the limit even higher. However, the exact threshold varies by institution. What matters is the investable assets, not the total assets.

Do properties count in the calculation of equity for bank classification?

No, as a rule, personally inhabited properties do not count as investable assets. A home you live in, even of considerable value, does not affect the bank classification. Only 'investable assets' count, i.e. the asset values available for financial investments — securities, deposits, liquidity on investment accounts. A real estate inheritance does not automatically move you up the ranks at the bank.

Should I invest in shares if I have assets of 100,000francs?

It depends on your time horizon and your risk appetite. Historically, over a 20-year investment period, the MSCI World Index recorded an average annual growth of 8.5 percent. During the 2007 financial crisis, those who remained invested benefited from the subsequent recovery. If your goal is long-term and you can tolerate price fluctuations, investing in stocks can be interesting; for short horizons, the risk is greater.

What changes if I move up in the banking category?

Moving to a higher category can offer significant advantages: lower wealth management fees, access to specialist advice, privileged deposit services and exclusive investment products. However, Dietrich points out that a classification based only on equity has limits: banks should also consider behavior, customer needs, and income to offer a truly personalized service.

If you have this money, the banks consider you wealthy (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 18 August 2026

Modern Swiss bank office with financial documents and wealth management desk setup

From regional banks to private institutions: discover the capital thresholds that classify clients and what advantages the change of category offers.

Context

In a nutshell

Starting from 117,816 francs of assets, you belong to the "upper half" of the Swiss company
At regional banks, the HNWI threshold (wealthy customers) starts from CHF 500,000
Only investable assets count for classification, not personally inhabited properties

Key facts

What: Classification of bank clients by assets and access to services
Who: Andreas Dietrich, banking expert at Hochschule Luzern
Where: Switzerland (national and international standard)
Upper half threshold: 117,816 francs of total assets
HNWI threshold (regional banks): CHF 500,000
Relevant equity: Only that which can be invested (securities, deposits), not real estate

How banks classify their customers

As of 117,816 francs of assets, people in Switzerland belong to the "upper half" of the company. For lenders, however, the welfare threshold is even lower. This is explained by Andreas Dietrich, banking expert at the Luzern Hochschule, who analyses how banks actually segment their customers.

Credit institutions divide their customers into distinct groups. Starting from the second group, you are considered wealthy by the bank, although real Private Banking only starts from the third level. This subdivision follows an international standard, although it may vary slightly depending on the bank and also the country.

At some regional banks

Operational details

The concrete benefits of segmentation

Not all clients benefit from personal banking advice in the same way. Some want regular contact with the bank advisor and want to hear their opinion on investment decisions. Others meet with their advisor once a year to define their investment strategy. However, there are also people who own millions of francs and want to manage their assets on their own, without needing a bank advisor.

The convenience of personal advice depends entirely on personal needs. For some, the added value of specialist advice is obvious; for others, it represents an unnecessary cost. That's why segmentation allows banks to offer differentiated services: from simple account management for mass clients to complex wealth advice for HNWI clients.

Who is most profitable for banks

According to Dietrich, customers with more money are usually the most profitable for banks, provided they actually invest this money. They are by far the most interesting when it comes to financial investments. But the Affluent segment — the one with assets from 100,000francs upwards — can also be very interesting for banks. These clients partly have a few hundred thousand francs of investable assets and therefore have investment needs

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

How to verify your banking category

If you possess investable assets and wish to optimize your financial situation, the first step is to verify how your bank currently classifies you. Most institutions provide this information in the online profile section, or you can contact your bank advisor directly. Do not hesitate to do so: banks are transparent about how they classify clients and what services they offer based on the category.

Once you have identified your category, explicitly ask which services and fees are associated with your level. Not all banks apply the same rates: in some cases, moving to a higher category can lead to significant reductions in asset management fees, access to more sophisticated investment tools, and specialized consulting. Compare offers before deciding; it might be worth changing institutions if your bank applies excessively high fees for your category.

Long-term investment strategies

Regarding stock investments, it is impossible to predict the future. Whether it is advantageous to invest in stocks depends on the investment time horizon and one's own risk capacity and propensity. Temporary price drops can always occur in the stock market. However, looking back, it would have been advantageous, for example during the 2007 financial crisis, to stay calm instead of selling stocks at a low.

Over a 20-year investment period, for example, the MSCI World index — which reflects the performance of over 1,000 companies in 23 countries — recorded an average annual growth of 8.5 percent. This historical data suggests that investors with a long time horizon have benefited from staying invested during market cycles. If your goal is long-term and you can tolerate price fluctuations, stock investments can represent an interesting component of your portfolio.

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Frequently Asked Questions

From what assets do banks consider me wealthy?: According to Andreas Dietrich of the Luzern Hochschule, banks begin to consider customers as wealthy starting from the second classification group. At Swiss regional banks, the threshold for Private Banking (HNWI) is set at CHF 500,000, while pure private banks place the limit even higher. However, the exact threshold varies by institution. What matters is the investable assets, not the total assets.
Do properties count in the calculation of equity for bank classification?: No, as a rule, personally inhabited properties do not count as investable assets. A home you live in, even of considerable value, does not affect the bank classification. Only 'investable assets' count, i.e. the asset values available for financial investments — securities, deposits, liquidity on investment accounts. A real estate inheritance does not automatically move you up the ranks at the bank.
Should I invest in shares if I have assets of 100,000francs?: It depends on your time horizon and your risk appetite. Historically, over a 20-year investment period, the MSCI World Index recorded an average annual growth of 8.5 percent. During the 2007 financial crisis, those who remained invested benefited from the subsequent recovery. If your goal is long-term and you can tolerate price fluctuations, investing in stocks can be interesting; for short horizons, the risk is greater.
What changes if I move up in the banking category?: Moving to a higher category can offer significant advantages: lower wealth management fees, access to specialist advice, privileged deposit services and exclusive investment products. However, Dietrich points out that a classification based only on equity has limits: banks should also consider behavior, customer needs, and income to offer a truly personalized service.
How do I know which category my bank assigns me?: Most banks provide this information in the profile section in the online banking service, or you can contact your bank advisor directly. Banks are transparent about how they classify customers. Ask explicitly: Not all banks charge the same rates for the same category, so it's worth checking to see if it's a good idea to switch.