Financial investments

What distinguishes VZ’s securities account management?

As an investor with VZ Depository Bank, you keep more of your money:

• You save on securities account fees every year
• You buy and sell your securities more cost-effectively than with other providers
• You decide how you want to initiate transactions: online via VZ Finanzportal or by telephone
• All retrocessions are reimbursed to you

These savings directly improve your returns and are so large that it is definitely worth switching your existing securities account to VZ Depository Bank. Talk to us: we will make sure your transfer goes smoothly.

What does securities account management cost at VZ?

High fees eat away at your returns. Many investors do not pay enough attention to these. At VZ, you can choose between two fee models: VZ "Ticket fee" and VZ "Flat-fee". In either case, the potential for savings is enormous.

The VZ fee models in comparison
Stock exchange fees e-banking

What happens with retrocessions?

Following a decision by the Federal Supreme Court, financial institutions must pass on commissions – provided they came about in connection with investment products and within the scope of a portfolio management mandate. At VZ, we have always passed these retrocessions on to you. And we have been one of the only banks to do so if you manage your money yourself. Retrocessions are credited to you on a quarterly basis. It is even possible that the retrocessions are higher than the securities account fees. This means that as a customer of VZ Depository Bank, under certain circumstances you pay nothing for your securities account – perhaps even earning money from it.

How do I keep an eye on my securities account?

With our VZ Financial Portal e-banking solution, you can access your securities account from anywhere at all times. You benefit from first-class, continually updated equities analysis from theScreener. And if you wish to execute your transactions online, you have one of the most cost-effective solutions in Switzerland.

How do I issue a stock exchange order?

At VZ, you can choose from various different options:

• Online: the easiest, most secure and most cost-effective way is to issue an order via the VZ Financial Portal 
• By telephone: you can contact us on 058 411 82 11 from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• In writing: use the personalised transaction forms

VZ Depository Bank makes all reasonable efforts to achieve the best possible result when executing customer orders for financial instruments, taking into account all costs and risks.

Trading hours

What does our investment and securities account consultancy service offer you?

VZ helps you actively manage your securities account in a professional and self-determined manner.

• We will monitor your investments and contact you if any action needs to be taken.
• You will have an expert, independent point of contact, advising you without any conflicts of interest.
• Our investment experts will regularly send you specific investment and restructuring proposals.
• You can also discuss your own investment ideas with our experts at any time.
• Once a quarter, you will receive a detailed report on the performance of your securities account.
• You benefit from the favourable conditions offered by VZ Depository Bank and get free-of-charge access to our e-banking solution VZ Financial Portal, with the latest financial market information and wide-ranging equity analyses for 5,000 companies around the world.
• VZ will always keep an eye on your overall financial situation and advise you on any questions on related financial matters, such as tax optimisation, succession planning or property financing.

Who is the VZ investment and securities account consultancy service suitable for?

The VZ investment and securities account consultancy service is suitable for investors with the following needs:

• You wish to take responsibility for your own financial investments, but don’t want to have to monitor every single market development and the associated impact on your securities account.
• It’s reassuring to know that an investment professional is monitoring your portfolio and will contact you if any action needs to be taken.
• You often feel unsure about choosing the right financial investment.
• You would like an investment expert who regularly contacts you with attractive investment proposals and expertly answers your questions without any conflicts of interest.
• You are happy to receive an independent second opinion on your own investment ideas.
• You would like to have access to solid analyses from banks about certain investment themes or securities which you would not otherwise have known about.

What is the advantage of an independent consultation?

VZ does not have its own investment products (e.g. investment funds) and does act as a broker for third-party products. Unlike with many banks, this allows our investment and portfolio advisors to propose investments based solely on the interests of their customers.

How does saving and investing with ETFs work?

With an ETF or other index fund, investors buy a share of an entire stock market index, the SMI for example. The aim of an index fund is for it to replicate an index identically. If the index goes up, so does the value of the index fund. 

If you wish to regularly put aside money for a long-term financial goal, saving and investing with ETFs is the ideal solution. You decide when and how much you pay in and how your money should be spread across the various asset classes. VZ chooses the best ETFs and other index funds for you.

Saving and investing with ETFs (PDF)

When is the right time to invest?

You can start at any time, regardless of the current stock exchange climate. There are in principle good and bad times to start investing. Anybody who regularly invests an amount irrespective of the current price will get more for their money when prices are low and less when they are high. Over the years, the well and badly timed investments will cancel each other out and you will have got a good average price.

Saving and investing with ETFs (PDF)
Open a securities account now

How do I find the right ETF or other index fund?

VZ chooses the best ETFs and other index funds for you. As an independent financial services provider without our own products, we ensure that all securities are analysed and evaluated without any self-interest. An important criterion when selecting an index fund is the historical returns and fluctuation risks of the underlying index. 

The process is as follows: 

• Together with the investment specialists at VZ, you determine a strategy which defines what proportion of your money is to be invested in asset classes such as equities and bonds. The strategy is by far the most important factor in the success of an investment and must be tailored in line with your risk capacity and financial goals. 
• We then clarify in which market and which index you should invest, for example in the SMI Bluechip Index or the SNIM, the index for medium-sized enterprises. 
• Investors at VZ can adjust their investment strategy at any time in the e-banking solution VZ Finance Portal. You can change the weightings of the various asset classes and replace securities. These changes are free of charge as part of the weekly portfolio restructuring.

Saving and investing with ETFs (PDF)

How high are the fees for saving and investing with ETFs?

ETFs and other index funds are relatively cost-effective as they are passively managed. While actively managed funds deduct annual management fees of 1.25 to 2 percent, most index funds only charge 0.10 to 0.35 percent. 

At VZ, the annual fees for saving and investing with ETFs is only 0.55 percent. This all-in fee covers all services, such as account and securities account management, transactions, reporting, selection and monitoring the funds.

The cost benefits of index funds combined with a cost-effective provider pay off over the long term in the form of higher returns for you. This makes saving and investing with ETFs an attractive alternative to the frequently more expensive and less flexible fund savings plans.

Saving and investing with ETFs (PDF)

What are the advantages of saving and investing with ETFs at VZ?

• Independent: VZ analyses all ETFs and other index funds on an ongoing basis and selects the best for you. They are selected independently with no conflicts of interest as VZ does not offers its own financial products. 
• Cost-effective: the annual fee is 0.55 percent of the invested assets. This all-in fee covers all costs. There is then only the fees charged by the index funds, which amount to 0.10 to 0.35% per year on average. 
• Individual: at VZ, you can choose from numerous investment strategies. Experienced investors can also individually structure your portfolio in line with your needs.
• Flexible: you determine the amount and frequency of the payments. Payments made into your account are invested as soon as more than 500 francs has been received since the last investment. Withdrawals are possible free of charge on a weekly basis. 
• Transparent: you can log in to your securities account at any time and restructure your investments with just a few clicks or view your up-to-date net returns.

Saving and investing with ETFs (PDF)
Open a securities account now

How does trading with crypto-assets work?

VZ makes trading crypto-assets as easy and secure as possible. When you buy crypto-assets, they are credited directly to your bank securities account and the equivalent amount is deducted via your currency account. 

When selling the assets, the coins are not transferred to a crypto-exchange as is usually the case. This means that they are at all times owned by VZ Depository Bank, which ensures the highest level of security for you. If a broker or exchange goes bankrupt, you do not incur any losses.

What are the costs of safe-keeping and trading digital assets?

Standards and fees vary greatly due to the growing popularity of digital assets. At VZ, you benefit from the highest safety standards at fair conditions. 

What are the advantages of trading crypto-assets at VZ Depository Bank?

When you trade crypto-assets via VZ Depository Bank, you do not have to pay anything in advance. We take care of that for you. When you sell your crypto-assets, they are not transferred to a crypto-exchange as is usually the case, which ensures a high level of security at all times. If a broker or exchange goes bankrupt, our customers do not have to worry about incurring any losses or the expense of making any claims.

How can I trade crypto-assets?

You can place, adjust and delete orders at any time on the VZ Financial Portal or on any banking day between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. via the trading desk (phone +41 58 411 82 11).

At present, trades are settled using fiat currencies (CHF, USD, EUR) and crypto-currencies. The customary duties of care are observed in the process.

Is it possible to transfer crypto-assets?

In principle, deposits and withdrawals of the crypto-assets offered are possible. Before deposit, VZ Depository Bank carries out a check and assists you with the transfer.

Withdrawals are only permitted to wallets for which you are the beneficial owner. The consultants at VZ Depository Bank will gladly assist you.