Question 1

What is Clientis?

Accepted Answer

Clientis AG is the central organization and competence center for a group of 14 independent Swiss regional banks operating under a common umbrella brand. Founded in 2003 within the Entris Group, Clientis is not a single bank but rather a coordinating entity that provides shared services and infrastructure to its member banks. The group focuses on mortgage financing funded primarily by deposits, along with payments, investments, and retirement planning services for private individuals, SMEs, and institutions. Clientis AG itself had total assets of approximately CHF 399 million as of 2014 and holds a Baa2 credit rating from Moody's.

Question 2

When was Clientis founded?

Accepted Answer

The Clientis Group was founded in 2003 within the Entris Group structure. The member banks began operating under the common Clientis umbrella brand on January 1, 2004. Clientis AG was established as the central organization and service provider for the group. While Clientis as an organization is relatively young, many of its member banks have much longer histories, with some dating back to the 19th century, such as Clientis Sparcassa 1816.

Question 3

Where is Clientis headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Clientis AG is headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, at Bundesgasse 26, 3011 Bern. This central office serves as the coordination hub for the entire Clientis Group.

Question 4

Where does Clientis operate?

Accepted Answer

Clientis operates throughout Switzerland through its 14 member banks, which have a strong regional presence in their respective territories. The member banks include Clientis Bank Aareland AG, Clientis Bank im Thal AG, Clientis Bank Oberaargau AG, Clientis Bank Oberuzwil AG, Clientis Bank Thur Genossenschaft, Clientis Bank Toggenburg AG, Clientis Biene Bank im Rheintal Genossenschaft, Clientis BS Bank Schaffhausen AG, Clientis Caisse d'Epargne Courtelary SA, Clientis Entlebucher Bank AG, Clientis Spar- und Leihkasse Thayngen AG, Clientis Sparcassa 1816 Genossenschaft, Clientis Sparkasse Oftringen Genossenschaft, and Clientis Sparkasse Sense. Each bank maintains its autonomy and strong local ties while benefiting from the group's collective strength.

Question 5

What services does Clientis offer?

Accepted Answer

The Clientis Group offers a comprehensive range of retail banking services including current accounts, savings accounts, debit and credit cards with bonus programs and insurance, and e-banking and mobile app platforms. Core offerings include mortgage financing with fixed-rate, variable-rate, and SARON mortgages, personal loans, pension planning (Pillar 3a and 3b), investment services, wealth management consulting, and online trading. Business clients benefit from complete solutions for SMEs, farmers, and freelancers. Clientis AG provides centralized services to member banks including refinancing, IT infrastructure, market development, compliance, and business process optimization in payments, investments, and financing.

Question 6

What makes Clientis unique?

Accepted Answer

Clientis operates under a distinctive cooperative model that combines local independence with group strength. The group is structured as a contractual financial group (Vertragskonzern) based on contractual agreements rather than financial holdings, with member banks and Clientis AG forming a simple partnership (einfache Gesellschaft). Each member bank maintains its own legal form (stock corporation, cooperative, or municipal institution) and independent governance while accessing shared infrastructure and expertise through Clientis AG. This structure allows small regional banks to compete effectively by leveraging collective resources while maintaining deep local market knowledge and personalized service. Clientis banks consistently rank among the top in customer satisfaction surveys. Deposits up to 100,000 CHF are protected under the esisuisse Deposit Insurance scheme.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Clientis?

Accepted Answer

Clientis AG operates as a central coordinating organization (stock corporation/AG) for a group of regional banks (Regionalbanken) rather than being a bank itself. The member banks operate under various legal forms including stock corporations (AG), cooperatives (Genossenschaft), and one municipal institution (Gemeindeinstitut). The group is constituted as a financial group under Swiss banking law, with Clientis AG holding directive authority over member banks as prescribed by the Banking Act and Banking Ordinance. The member banks are independently authorized and supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). This federated structure represents a unique Swiss banking model that preserves regional banking independence while achieving economies of scale through cooperation.

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