Record growth and bold innovation

Marc Bürki: It was the best year in Swissquote’s history, with record levels of revenue and profits. Our net new monies, which is so important for a growth company, also reached a record high of CHF 8.3 billion. Our financial performance in 2024 marked another milestone in our growth journey, building on several strong years. Our diversified business model and adaptability were key to sustaining momentum. A favourable environment, with positive interest rates and a recovery in trading activity, significantly contributed to our strong results. 

M.B.: In addition to the record level of net new money, new client growth was also a key driver. It represents the real growth that comes with new clients joining and bringing assets and financial securities to the company. Other factors include Swissquote’s ability to capitalise on market conditions and disciplined cost management.

M.B.: Among our innovative products that helped drive growth was the crypto exchange we had developed previously and to which we added a number of functionalities for our users in 2024. It is the only crypto exchange in Switzerland and the only one operated by a bank. It was particularly important in the last quarter after the U.S. elections, where there was high volatility in crypto securities and crypto stocks. We also launched the Swissquote Saving Plan to provide an easy, automated way for clients to invest regularly, while fractional trading made global markets more accessible. Additionally, investments in digital transformation and automation enhanced efficiency and further improved the client experience. These diverse investment offerings and initiatives enabled us to respond effectively to rising demand for digital banking and self-directed investing.

Markus Dennler: AI remains a key focus for the future, and Swissquote is well-prepared to support our customers with innovative AI-driven projects such as our new AI-powered sentiment tool, for example. We firmly believe that technology will drive significant transformation and we are committed to leveraging its potential to enhance our services.

M.B.: I’m not sure that AI will impact them. We are using AI to improve the customer experience, for example, in fraud detection to fight against the many scams that are out there. When you look at an area like coding, AI can build small basic software but humans are very much needed for more complicated development. Where it helps is in performing many of the repetitive tasks of coding that are not very exciting for engineers and developers. Also, because our clients make their own investments in stocks and securities, we don’t have any advisors or asset managers that AI could replace. Instead, we can develop an intelligent AI agent that can help clients improve their trading performance. So, rather than eliminating jobs, AI is more of a help to employees, allowing them to focus on higher-value work while enabling us to offer more services to our clients.

M.D.: AI raises ethical challenges such as data privacy, transparency, and accountability. At Swissquote, we mitigate these risks through strict data protection measures, continuous monitoring for fairness, and human oversight in critical processes. We ensure that AI-driven decisions are fair, responsible, and aligned with regulatory standards.  

M.B.: It was not an easy year, with interest rates receding from the previous year and unfavourable volatility on the markets, until we reached the fourth quarter. But, even in a year with such challenging market conditions, we managed to improve our top and bottom line, achieving record levels of income and profitability and demonstrating the strong resilience of our business model.  

M.D.: Swissquote stands out from competitors through a unique combination of Swiss reliability, cutting-edge technology, and a strong culture of innovation. This commitment underlies the stability, security, and top-tier quality of everything we do. With innovation in our DNA, we meet the evolving needs of our customers, who increasingly look to Swissquote for all their banking needs. Our strong tech base enables a seamless digital experience, while our broad product range offers a wealth of investment opportunities. This blend of trust, technology, and innovation makes Swissquote the preferred partner for modern investors.

M.B.: Swissquote’s international expansion is built on Swiss quality, ensuring reliability, security, and excellence in all our services. Our country is small but complicated, with four languages and an investment community that looks to opportunities outside Switzerland’s relatively small stock market. We built a complete system that offers a full range of financial instruments and operates in multiple languages. This has helped us scale effectively and bring our technology and execution platform to different markets, including elsewhere in Europe and in Asia, backed by a strong parent company, and our financial stability and expertise.  

M.B.: We are shifting our business model from being a trading and execution platform for financial instruments to being a full bank offering one-stop shopping for our customers by adding more classic banking services, but always with a tech edge. As we continue this transition, we want to stay ahead of developments and further strengthen our position as pioneers in digital banking. Technological disruption is happening constantly and we know that we can continue to outperform legacy banks by being agile, fast and tech-driven. There's new disruption coming in the form of AI and we are ready. We see great potential in AI and expect to see a massive boost in the area of automated wealth management. A kind of digital financial coach is one of our ideas in this area. 

M.D.: Swissquote integrates sustainability through responsible investment, eco-friendly operations, and corporate governance. We offer a range of ESG investment tools and options, enabling clients to align their portfolios with sustainable values. Operationally, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint by leveraging renewable energy and optimising energy efficiency. At Swissquote, governance is essential to our operations, ensuring transparency, accountability and ethical decision-making. 

M.B.: There is a strong demand to improve on legacy web-based applications. The new generation that is coming to the market wants to use the new tools and systems, and has a high expectation that everything they can do on the web, they should be able to do on their phone. We have seen double-digit growth in the use of our mobile app. Additionally, clients value transparency, cost efficiency, and advanced technology, driving us to continuously enhance our platform and services to meet evolving expectations, such as the smart financial coach in your pocket, which will happen in the next three to five years.

M.B.: Fintechs and traditional banks are expanding their online offerings, while demand for cost-efficient, technology-driven, and diversified investment solutions continues to rise. We see a lot of competitors entering the zero-fee market although it is more difficult to have the same business model in Europe, because it is so strictly regulated. Swissquote stays ahead by leveraging its strong tech foundation, Swiss quality, and innovation-driven approach. We make sure we are clearly explaining our business model to our clients and being transparent on pricing. We continuously enhance our platform, expand our product range and optimise user experience to remain the leader in digital banking and investing.

M.D.: Absolutely. Our strategy is fully aligned with this vision. We are committed to technological innovation, continuously enhancing our platform and expanding our product range to meet evolving client needs. At the same time, we are strengthening our sustainable investment offerings, ensuring responsible growth. Delivering an exceptional customer experience remains a top priority, supported by our Swiss quality standards and strong tech foundation. With these pillars, Swissquote is well-positioned to establish itself as a global leader in digital financial services over the next five years.