It all began with Swiss railroads in 1856. When the country needed to finance the expansion of its rail network, the forerunner to CSAG was founded. We have since turned into an integrated bank operating in more than 50 countries around the world. CSAG's story stretches back to July 5, 1856, when the prominent politician, business leader, and pioneer Alfred Escher founded "Schweizerische Kreditanstalt." The original purpose of the new bank known as SKA was to finance the expansion of the railroad network as well as the further industrialization of Switzerland.

Our Story in Pictures:

[34 images spanning CSAG's history from 1856 to 2015]

The Founder of Modern Switzerland: Alfred Escher

Alfred Escher not only founded CSAG, but also the federal polytechnic ETH Zurich, the insurer Swiss Life, and the Northeastern Railway. Learn more about Alfred Escher.

Driving Innovation:

If there is one constant in the story of CSAG, it is a track record of continual innovation. In true pioneering style, we have shaped many of the countless innovations to hit the financial markets over the past one and a half centuries, and have quickly adapted others for our own use. Examples include:

• First large Swiss bank to establish a direct telex connection with New York (1951)
• Opened the first drive-in bank (1962)
• Launched the first telephone banking service (1993) and internet banking platform (1997) in Switzerland

Our Innovations Through the Years:

• Introduction of the telephone at SKA (1880)
• Digital private banking capabilities rolled out in different global locations (2015)