Hello hello!
Ready to take things up a notch in your investing journey? Are you looking for a serious, ultra-complete platform, but… without blowing your budget on fees? Then get ready, because in this article I’m introducing you to Saxo Bank, a Swiss broker (yes, based in Zurich!) that literally had a glow-up in 2024.
Since revising their pricing, Saxo has become one of the most competitive brokers in Switzerland, while still offering a range of advanced tools you won’t find everywhere. And the cherry on top: their AutoInvest feature, an automatic ETF investment plan that lets you invest every month… without even having to think about it. 🙌
Today, I’ll explain how to open an account, how Saxo works, its advantages, its limitations, and above all how to set up your automatic ETF investment plan step by step. By the end of the article, you’ll know whether Saxo is right for you!
By using my affiliate link, you’ll receive CHF 200 in credits to trade commission-free:
https://refer.saxo/MONEYMADAM-ENCH
Why Saxo Bank deserves your attention
First of all: Saxo Bank is a Swiss bank, regulated by FINMA (super important), established in Switzerland for a long time (1992) – Saxo Bank was founded in 1992 in Denmark, and Saxo Bank Switzerland has existed on Swiss territory since 2008. That means banking security + funds deposited directly with Saxo (no third-party bank like some brokers).
Saxo Bank offers one of the best combinations of features + security + pricing.
Key info, express version:
| Feature | Detail |
| Custody fees | 0 CHF |
| Inactivity fees | 0 CHF |
| Fees for buying Swiss stocks & ETFs | 0,08 %, min. 3 CHF |
| Fees for buying US stocks & ETFs | 0,08 %, min. 1 USD |
| Currency exchange fees | 0,25% (EXCELLENT) |
| Customer service languages (the platform is available in over 20 languages) | French, English, German, Italian |
| Mobile & web app | Yes (and very clean) |
| Custodian | Saxo Bank |
| Founded | 1992 (Saxo Bank), 2008 (Saxo Bank Switzerland) |
| Swiss headquarters | Zürich |
| Global headquarters | Copenhagen |
In short: serious, solid, and not too expensive.
Exactly what we’re looking for as a long-term investor.
And when it comes to features, it’s honestly huge:
- Stocks & ETFs (including US ETFs, thank you!)
- Bonds
- Funds
- Options, futures, CFDs…
- Mobile app and web platform
- Available in FR/DE/EN/IT
In short, you won’t be short on choice.
But let’s be honest: 95% of investors only really need… ETFs. And that’s perfect, because Saxo truly excels in this area.
Fees: spoiler… Saxo made a GIFT
Since 2025, Saxo has eliminated custody fees.
Result: CHF 0 per year. Yes, zero.
And there are no inactivity fees either.
Note: no minimum deposit required when opening a Classic account (standard account level).
Trading fees:
- Swiss ETFs/stocks: 0.08%, min. CHF 3
- US stocks: 0.08%, min. USD 1
- European ETFs/stocks: 0.08%, min. EUR 2–3
👉 Excellent pricing for a Swiss broker.
👉 On certain exchanges, Saxo is even cheaper than Interactive Brokers.
Currency exchange fees?
Another great surprise: 0.25%.
That’s one of the lowest rates in Switzerland (Swissquote is at 0.95% for comparison).
And above all:
100% free electronic tax statements
→ When you file your tax return, you’re going to love me.
Opening an account with Saxo
Ultra simple.
Everything is done directly on their website in about 10 to 15 minutes.
You’ll need:
- your ID
- a webcam or your phone
- proof of address (often not required if your identity is confirmed via video)
No minimum deposit ✔
No hidden fees ✔
You can test it with a small amount ✔
The only thing that takes a bit of time:
➡ The first bank transfer (Saxo only accepts transfers from an account in your own name, for security reasons).
By using my affiliate link, you’ll receive CHF 200 in credits to trade commission-free:
https://refer.saxo/MONEYMADAM-ENCH
AutoInvest: your automatic ETF investment plan
Ok, now the part you’ve been waiting for:
How do you automate your ETF investments with Saxo?
Saxo launched AutoInvest in 2024, and honestly… it’s a really nice upgrade.
The principle:
- You create an AutoInvest sub-account.
- You select one or more ETFs (from their selection → I’ll talk about it right after).
- You define your monthly amount.
- Saxo automatically buys for you on the 5th of each month.
- With no purchase fees (!!!)
👉 Yes, purchase fees are waived within AutoInvest.
👉 You only pay Swiss stamp duty + currency exchange fees if the currency is different.
⚠️ Important downside
AutoInvest does not allow US ETFs or Vanguard ETFs.
You therefore need to select European UCITS ETFs.
It’s a trade-off:
If your portfolio is small (e.g. < CHF 20,000), the savings on purchase fees more than make up for this limitation.
If you absolutely want US ETFs (VT, VOO…), AutoInvest isn’t for you – but a manual portfolio at Saxo remains very competitive thanks to their ultra-low trading fees.
Steps to set up your AutoInvest at Saxo
1️⃣ Go to your menu and choose “Request AutoInvest”
Saxo will then create a dedicated sub-account.
You can give it a fun little name:
“Long-term ETFs”, “Financial freedom”, “FIRE 2035”… have fun! 😁
2️⃣ Open your AutoInvest portfolio
You can select your ETFs through three tabs:
- Popular ETFs
- All ETFs
- ETFs by theme (climate, tech, world, bonds…)
When you click on an ETF, you get access to all the key information.
3️⃣ Add them to your portfolio
For example, a classic portfolio:
- 80% World (e.g. iShares Core MSCI World)
- 20% Switzerland (e.g. CHSPI)
(If you want, I can suggest an optimal selection for AutoInvest.)
4️⃣ Choose your monthly amount
Example: CHF 500 / month.
Saxo immediately shows you:
- how much will actually be invested (since they only buy whole shares)
- the exact allocation according to your percentages
5️⃣ Review & confirm
You’ll then receive a summary page, followed by a QR code to transfer your funds.
And that’s it! You’re officially investing automatically in your future. 🚀
And then: track your portfolio
You can then see:
- your total amount invested
- the current value
- the date of the next investment
- performance
- allocations
You can adjust your plan whenever you want, but remember:
👉 The goal of an investment plan is to stay consistent. 😉
👍 The advantages of Saxo
✔ No custody fees
✔ Among the lowest purchase fees in Switzerland
✔ Super competitive FX fees (0.25%)
✔ Access to US ETFs (outside of AutoInvest)
✔ Free tax statements
✔ A real Swiss banking license (FINMA)
✔ A reliable platform, established since 1992
👎 Limitations to be aware of
- AutoInvest only accepts certain ETFs, no Vanguard or US ETFs
- You cannot register your shares in your own name in the share register
- No fractional purchases
Conclusion: is Saxo worth it?
If you’re looking for a reliable, comprehensive, affordable, and modern Swiss broker:
👉 Yes, Saxo Bank is an excellent option.
If you want to invest automatically in European ETFs:
👉 AutoInvest is perfect for you.
If you absolutely want US ETFs in an automatic plan:
👉 Saxo won’t be able to do it automatically, but it remains great for buying them manually.
Personally, I think Saxo strikes a rare balance:
the security of a Swiss bank + pricing that’s almost unmatched in Switzerland.
So, ready to shift your investments into the next gear? 🚀
If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave them under the article – I’ll be happy to reply.
Happy investing!
