Top 10 Swiss Employers

1. UBS (Unit Bank Switzerland)

UBS are the largest banking institution and the second largest company in Switzerland. They rank at 31 on the fortune Global 500 list of companies and are the 20th largest bank in the industry. Their headquarters are based in Zurich and Basel. A staggering 34% of their 77,783 employees worldwide are based in Switzerland. UBS operate in private banking, investment banking, asset management and wealth management. They are the largest manager of private wealth assets in the world and are the market leader in retail and commercial banking in Switzerland.

2. Credit Suisse

Credit Suisse are the 2nd largest bank and the third largest company in Switzerland, with over 1.7 million retail, corporate and institutional clients in Switzerland. They rank 74th on the fortune Global 500 list of companies and they are the 31st largest bank in the industry. Credit Suisse operate in investment banking, private banking and asset management. They are one of the world’s largest private banking organisations in the world and are in a leading position in corporate and retail banking in Switzerland. Worldwide they employ 46,700. Their private banking comprises of wealth management and corporate and retail banking businesses.

3. Swiss Re

Swiss Re is the 2nd largest reinsurance company in the world and the fourteenth largest company in Switzerland. In the insurance industry Swiss Re hold the 10th position and are 398th on the Fortune Global 500 list. Their head office is based in Zurich. Asset management is their primary activity, which combines their reinsurance and capital markets businesses. Swiss Re provides reinsurance products and financial services for property and casualty and life and health clients/ brokers all around the world. They also offer a number of special lines which include agriculture, engineering, aviation and space, marine, nuclear energy and HMO Reinsurance. Swiss Re is a market leader in all of their core segments.

4. Julius Baer Group

Julius Baer Group is placed as the 19th largest company in Switzerland. In Switzerland Julius Baer Group concentrates exclusively on private banking and asset management. Their head office is based in Zurich. They employ over 4,000 staff in more than 20 countries and 40 locations. Julius Baer’s total client assets amounted to CHF 367 billion at the end of June 2009, with assets under management accounting for CHF 299 billion. Julius Baer Group is the leading dedicated wealth manager in Switzerland.

5. SCOR

SCOR is the 28th largest reinsurance company in the world. SCOR Holding Switzerland was acquired by French reinsurer SCOR in 2007. SCOR’s headquarters are in Zurich. SCOR Holding Switzerland Ltd operates as a multiline reinsurer worldwide. The company offers reinsurance products in the areas of accident and health, agribusiness, aviation and space, credit and surety, engineering, general third party liability, life, marine, motor, professional liability, property, and catastrophe in Switzerland and more than 60 countries throughout the world.

6. New Reinsurance

New Reinsurance (New Re) ranks 39th on the top global 150 reinsurance company lists. New Reinsurance became a part of the Munich Re Group in 1988, which is the largest reinsurance company in the world. They employ 130 employees in Switzerland alone, and are currently in the process of relocating their operations to Zurich. From there, New Re will be operating in life reinsurance from April 2009 and non-life reinsurance from October 2009. New Re’s business includes variable annuity life business, products for financial institutions, reinsurance for agricultural risks, and solvency-related products for insurance companies.

7. BVC Group

BVC is the second-largest cantonal bank in Switzerland, and one of the country's top five full-service banks. BVC group is also ranked 27th among the top companies in Switzerland. BVC Group offer services including personal banking, corporate banking, private banking and asset management. BCV's asset management business represents a relatively new area of expertise. BVC’s head office is based in Lausanne and they are one of Switzerland’s leading wealth management establishments.

8. Basler Kantonalbank

BKB Group is one of the largest banking groups in Switzerland and the country’s 28th largest company. Basler Kantonalbank has private banking branches in Basel, Riehaen, Zurich and Olten. Their head office is located in Basel. Basler Kantonalbank Services are provided for people and businesses in the north-west Switzerland region through a compact network of branches. They operate in private banking, personal banking, investment and business banking.

9. XL Re Company

XL Re Company is ranked 104th of the top reinsurance companies of the world. XLRe Company’s head office is located in Zurich, with operations across more than 12 countries worldwide, employing more than 350 people. In Switzerland, XL Re Company offers a range of reinsurance products including property, casualty, life, and loss and specialty reinsurance.

10. Luzerner Kantonalbank

Luzerner Kantonalbank is one of Switzerland’s ten largest banks. Luzerner Kantonalbank rank 41st on the list of the top 100 Switzerland companies, with total assets of over CHF 17 billion and a staff of more than 1,000 employees. In Switzerland Luzerner Kantonalbank operates in private banking, wealth management, and investment banking. Luzerner Kantonalbanks’ head office is located in Zurich and has 30 branches throughout the canton. This means that the Luzerner Kantonalbank has by far the densest banking network in the region.