Our History
Founded in 1816, Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) is the result of the merger between the Caisse d'Épargne de la République et Canton de Zürich, established in 1816, and the Banque Hypothécaire du Canton de Zürich, founded in 1847. This makes ZKB one of the oldest cantonal banks in Switzerland. The merger, finalized on January 1, 1994, was driven by increased competition and a crisis in the Swiss real estate market, aiming to pool resources and enhance efficiency. ZKB is a limited company under Swiss public law, with 72.6% of its capital held by Zürich public authorities (State of Zürich: 44.3%, City of Zürich: 20.9%, Zürich municipalities: 7.4%), and the remaining 27.4% traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
Our Mission
ZKB’s primary mission is to contribute to the economic development of Zürich and its region. As a universal and commercial bank, we offer a comprehensive range of banking services to individuals, businesses—from SMEs to multinationals—and institutions, fostering sustainable growth and innovation. Our commitment to respect, public interest, and responsibility defines us as a humane, universal, and evolving bank.
Our Business Model
ZKB operates as a universal bank with a diversified business model reflecting the dynamic Zürich economy. Our services include day-to-day banking, private banking, asset management, pension planning, mortgages, corporate and public authority financing, trading, financial engineering, corporate finance, and global commodity finance. Our strategic focus on organic and qualitative growth ensures steady financial performance and long-term value creation.
Our Presence
With over 800 employees and a network of 21 branches in Zürich, ZKB is deeply rooted in the canton while maintaining a strong international presence. We operate in Lausanne, Geneva, and Basel in Switzerland, as well as in Germany (Munich, Frankfurt), with representative offices in Dubai and Hong Kong. Our subsidiary, Zürcher Kantonalbank (Germany) SA, supports corporate and real estate financing, while our Synchrony funds and Zürich-based Loyal Finance AG specialize in asset management.