It starts with the delays. Then come the excuses. Then the underwriter you never met torpedoes your deal because they “don’t get the structure.” By the time they say no, the opportunity’s gone. You’re left wondering why you still put yourself in that position.

This is the quiet moment where most accredited investors make a shift.

• They stop chasing approvals.
• They start building infrastructure.
• They don’t ask for capital anymore. They become the platform that controls it.

Two Ways Serious Accredited Investors Are Building Capital Control in Switzerland

If you’ve got $10 million or more, you have two serious, fully legal, FINMA-compliant options.

Neither involves trying to become the next big bank. Both involve operating like one—strategically, privately, and on your terms.

Option 1: Build a Swiss Private Lending Platform (No Banking License Required)

This is the preferred model for accredited investors who want to act like a lender but stay agile.

Here’s what you do:

• Set up a Swiss AG, the gold standard of corporate structures in Europe.
• Register under a recognized Swiss SRO like SO-FIT or VQF to stay AML/KYC compliant.
• Open a custody account in Switzerland to hold capital or liquid securities.
• Deploy that capital into real-world deals—real estate, receivables, life insurance, standby letters of credit—using enforceable, asset-backed structures.
• Run transactions through a Luxembourg or Delaware SPV for added protection.

No deposit-taking. No need for a full banking license. Just a clean, quiet, compliant way to turn $10 million into a lending engine.

“You’re not a banker. You’re the partner with liquidity everyone else is looking for.”

Option 2: Apply for a Swiss Banking or FinTech License

You want the full platform?

Switzerland has one of the clearest regulatory paths to securing either a full banking license or a FinTech (limited activity) license. You’ll need:

• A minimum of CHF 10 million in paid-in capital
• Swiss-based board members and compliance professionals
• A credible, risk-managed business plan
• An IT and risk infrastructure that meets FINMA standards
• Legal representation familiar with financial market law and regulatory submissions

Once approved, you can:

• Offer custody and settlement services
• Issue credit facilities or letters of credit
• Provide structured lending programs to qualified clients
• Access SWIFT, correspondent banks, and international payment systems

“It’s not about branding yourself as a bank. It’s about building permanent capital infrastructure that puts you in control of the flow of money.”

Why Switzerland?

You could build this somewhere else. But Switzerland offers three things that matter.

1. Credibility – Swiss financial entities are globally respected.
2. Stability – The country’s legal and political neutrality makes it one of the safest places in the world to structure capital.
3. Clarity – The path to setup is clear. You know what it takes, how long it takes, and how to stay compliant.

For an accredited investor who’s done the work to build capital and is now looking to deploy it smartly, Switzerland isn’t just the best option. It’s the obvious one.

Why This Is Happening Now

In the last five years, private credit has exploded. Demand for capital hasn’t shrunk—it’s just shifted. Traditional banks are slower, more risk-averse, and tied up in red tape. Middle-market companies, growth-stage projects, and even family offices need liquidity—and they can’t always get it from the institutions they’ve relied on.

That creates a space. And if you have capital and structure, you can step into it.

“This isn’t a trend. This is a structural shift.”

Accredited investors who act now are building credit platforms that will quietly produce yield for years—without begging banks to play along.

What We Do (and What We Don’t)

AltFunds Global is not a bank. We don’t offer custody or financial intermediation.

What we do is help accredited investors like you:

• Structure a compliant Swiss AG or financial services entity
• Understand which licenses or registrations apply based on your goals
• Set up operating entities, SPVs, and legal frameworks
• Partner with Swiss counsel, compliance teams, and core infrastructure providers
• Build an operating system where you control capital without regulatory surprises

“You’ve got the capital. We help you build the engine.”

Book a Strategy Call

If you’re ready to stop asking for capital and start structuring how it moves, we’ll walk you through the right model based on your goals, timeline, and regulatory posture.

Book a private call

See our tools and templates

We’ve helped accredited investors structure lending entities in Switzerland, secure SRO registrations, and acquire licensed financial institutions globally. If it makes sense, we’ll help you do the same.

Regulatory Disclaimer

AltFunds Global is not a licensed bank, financial intermediary, or investment advisor. All information in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. All strategies discussed must comply with Swiss financial market law and may require authorization from FINMA or oversight by a recognized Swiss SRO. Please consult your legal, tax, and compliance advisors before engaging in any financial activity in Switzerland or other jurisdictions.