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Cornèrtrader Experience 2025 - A comprehensive overview of the Swiss broker

Cornèrtrader describes itself as an all-in-one banking solution for investments. Specifically, it is a Swiss online broker that is backed by Corner Bank. Due to the comprehensive range of over 40,000 financial instruments, this provider is particularly suitable at first glance if you want to trade actively.

In this experience report you will get all Cornèrtrader experiences. We break down the different account models, show you the fees and how the platform works. This will help you decide whether this provider is worthwhile for your active trading and what possible alternatives there are for comparison.

Table of contents

What is Cornèrtrader?

Cornèrtrader (also spelt Cornertrader) is the online broker of Cornèr Bank, a private banking group founded in 1952.

Cornèrtrader was launched as an online platform in 2012 and offers traders access to 22 global stock exchanges. On the platform, you can not only trade shares and ETFs, but also other investment instruments such as options and CFDs.

Cornèr Bank is FINMA-regulated and is the custodian bank behind the broker. Your capital is also protected up to CHF 100,000 thanks to Swiss deposit protection.

Cornèrtrader experience 2025 - A comprehensive overview of the Swiss broker - visual selection

Account models at a glance

Cornèrtrader offers four account levels that are tailored to the different needs and investment sizes of clients. You don't have to choose anything; the appropriate model is automatically assigned to you depending on the transaction volume.

  1. ConsistencyEntry-level account from CHF 1,000, ideal for beginners.
  2. SolidityFrom CHF 100,000 for experienced investors.
  3. OpportunityMinimum investment of CHF 250,000 for professional investors.
  4. EnergyFrom CHF 500,000 for frequent traders with high volumes.

 

The main difference between the various models is the trading fees. The more you trade, the more favourable the transactions become.

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Cornèrtrader fees at a glance

The fee structure of Cornèrtrader is similar to that of other Swiss brokers. The platform also does not require Deposit feewhich makes long-term holding of securities more cost-effective. This means you can create a custody account free of charge and hold your securities for the long term without any problems.

Here are the most important Cornèrtrader costs for equity and ETF trading for the "Consistency" account, i.e. from CHF 1,000:

  • Swiss equities: 0.12 % of the transaction volume, minimum CHF 9.
  • US equities0.15 % with a minimum amount of USD 15.
  • Currency conversion fee0.5 % on every transaction in a foreign currency, e.g. if you buy shares in a currency other than CHF.
  • Stamp duty0.075 % for Swiss shares and 0.15 % for foreign shares.
  • The Annual tax statement for CHF 20 + VAT is mandatory - these are quasi hidden custody account fees.

 

If you want to trade infrequently and only small quantities, the minimum fees are relatively high. However, the lack of custody fees is a major advantage.

The platform also no longer charges any inactivity fees. This means you can safely leave your securities account untouched for some time without having to pay anything.

Opening an account with Cornèrtrader - How does it work?

The account opening process at Cornèrtrader is completely online and usually takes less than ten minutes. Once the required documents have been submitted, validation takes place, which can take a few days. The required documents include:

  • Personal information and contact details.
  • Information on knowledge and experience in the investment field.
  • Proof of identity and address.

 

The whole process is simple and user-friendly. If you've never used a broker before, it may take some getting used to, but it's doable.

Trading with Cornèrtrader - Which platform is right for you?

Cornèrtrader offers three trading platforms to meet the different needs of its clients:

  1. InvestFor beginners and passive investors looking for a simple and intuitive user interface.
  2. FlexibilityA mobile platform, ideal for investors who want to trade on the move.
  3. AdvancedFor experienced traders who need detailed tools and functions.

The platforms are designed in such a way that beginners and professionals benefit equally and do not feel overwhelmed by unnecessary functions. The "Invest" platform offers all the basic functions, while the "Advanced" platform offers more comprehensive tools for experienced investors.

Attention: In the past, Cornerbank relied on a purchased trading system. However, since the introduction of its own system, numerous customers complain. Historical data is sometimes missing and trading centres are not always displayed. 

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Advantages and disadvantages of Cornèrtrader at a glance

Advantages:

  • No custody account fees and no inactivity fees - ideal for long-term investments.
  • Transparent and attractive trading fees, especially for large amounts.
  • FINMA-regulated security in Switzerland.

Disadvantages:

  • The relatively high minimum fees for small transactions stand out in the Cornertrader test.
  • Mixed reputation in terms of customer service.
  • Currency conversion fee of 0.5 %, which can be a disadvantage for international investors.

Cornèrtrader Alternatives

Cornèrtrader is particularly attractive for investors in Switzerland who are looking for a cost-effective solution. Nevertheless, it is helpful to compare the broker with alternatives:

  • Saxo Bank: A Danish bank with a Swiss banking licence. Saxo scores with very low trading fees, free account management and even free ETF savings plans.
  • Swissquote: The largest Swiss broker, but with custody account fees and higher fees for currency conversions. Swissquote is particularly suitable for investors who value a comprehensive platform. In return, you pay CHF 20 to 50 in custody account fees per quarter and order fees for shares and ETFs from CHF 5.
  • Interactive Brokers: An international broker that offers no custody fees, very low trading fees and no stamp duty. IB can be significantly more favourable for investors who primarily trade in the USA. However, you will not receive Swiss deposit protection or support here.

 

Here you will find the best Swiss brokers in comparison contrasted.

Who is Cornèrtrader suitable for?

The Swiss broker is particularly suitable if you are looking for a trading platform based in Switzerland on which you can actively trade a large selection of trading instruments and have very high trading volumes. Cornèrtrader also generally performs better in terms of fees than its Swiss competitor Swissquote.

However, if you simply want to invest passively in an ETF or selected shares, Cornèrtrader is less suitable. This is because the platform is relatively complicated, especially for beginners, and offers many functions that you don't even need. In any case, be sure to compare the possible alternatives.

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Conclusion on the Cornèrtrader experience

Cornèrtrader offers a solid and cost-effective platform for investors in Switzerland, especially for larger investments and investors who prefer a Swiss bank. The abolition of inactivity fees in 2024 also makes Cornèrtrader more interesting for passive investors. This has a positive impact on the Cornertrader Review. However, the introduction of the new proprietary trading platform has annoyed and driven away many existing customers.

If you want to build up a large portfolio and manage securities in Switzerland, Cornèrtrader could be of interest to you. Alternatively, Cornèrtrader offers Saxo Bank or another provider in the Broker comparison even more favourable options and many exciting functions.

2 responses

  1. At that time I had chosen Cornertrader because of the 0 custody fees (and the dark mode). When things got dicey, they introduced these fees. So I left again, as there were no other advantages for me personally. I briefly used Flowbank, which still had software for Linux, but that no longer exists. Dark mode is now available with all brokers.
    The abolition of inactivity fees is certainly a positive point, but I still wouldn't go back. Transferring to another broker was a bit of a pincer movement in the beginning, and you had to threaten and make several phone calls.

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