Financial year 2025
Strategy
BCF has progressively implemented the first phases of its 2025–27 strategic plan. The first initiatives and initial strategic projects have been realised. BCF continues to stand out through its proximity to its customers. Support for businesses in the Canton’s economic fabric remains a key element of its operations.
On the private customer side, solutions will be adapted more to the different segments expanding its advisory and investment offers.
Profitability
Operating profit reached CHF 187.8 million, a decrease of CHF 48.8 million.
Efficiency
Once again this year, BCF has been very economical with its resources. The cost/income ratio (the ratio between operating expenses and operating income after depreciation) stands at 45%.
A strong capital base
FINMA has defined a minimum capital ratio of 12% for category 3 banks such as BCF in order to ensure their solidity. With a CET1 ratio (core capital) of 18.02%, BCF fully complies with FINMA’s regulatory requirements.
Investments in the network
For BCF, personal ties and close contact with its clients is essential. That is why it continued to invest in its branch network in 2025, notably with renovation work in Bulle, Guin and Estavayer-le-Lac. In Siège, three floors were entirely renovated to provide our employees with modern and pleasant workplaces.
CHF 84 million allocated to the Canton
Thanks to its good 2025 results, BCF is paying the Canton the sum of CHF 75.5 million. Taking into account the taxes paid to the Canton, the municipalities and the parishes, a total of CHF 84.2 million is being paid to the Canton’s public authorities.
Human resources
With 602 employees, Banque Cantonale de Fribourg is one of the main employers in the Canton of Fribourg. It offers its employees a secure job in a successful company, attractive working conditions and top-quality training.
In 2025, BCF employees successfully completed 41 higher education courses, including 3 postgraduate diplomas, 2 HES-SO Bachelor’s degrees, 8 federal diplomas, 7 CYP, 11 diplomas or certificates, and 8 certifications 20 apprentices and five trainees are currently in training.
Support for businesses in Fribourg
BCF fulfils its mission by contributing to the support of the cantonal economy. The Corporate Clients division offers a comprehensive range of products and services as well as individualised service for the various economic players in the region. This division, essentially a “bank for business and entrepreneurs” actively provides expert advice to all types of companies. It supports the development of industrial, independent, and professional real estate entities as well as municipalities and public-law corporations by providing a wide range of products and services essential for their operational and financial activities. For example, BCF covers companies’ needs for working capital, financing, foreign exchange, and bank guarantees.
Launched in 2025, BCF Multibanking enables transparent and efficient payment and liquidity management with just one e-banking login for all accounts held by a company at different banks.
With advisors firmly rooted in the economic fabric of the region, BCF delivers pragmatic and appropriate solutions. The expertise and solid experience of the special financing team provides additional support to start-ups, complex financial arrangements, and corporate succession transactions. Corporate succession is a central, essential concern given that one out of every two business leaders is over the age of 50.
With its presence comprising 26 branches throughout the canton, BCF maintains and develops lasting relationships with its business clients by effectively determining viable proposals while understanding local constraints.
Advances to customers by business line
Real estate
Real estate prices rose again in 2025, with marked differences between the cost of apartments and single-family homes, as well as major location-related differences. In parallel, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) continued to reduce its key rate from 0.50% to 0.00%. The study of the property market in Fribourg confirms these trends. Population growth and the increase in the number of small households influenced demand, reducing the vacancy rate and pushing rents upwards. Despite an uncertain economic backdrop, property confirmed its robustness and appeal to investors.
As at 31 December 2025, the division dedicated to real estate companies and professionals had client receivables totalling more than CHF 13 billion.
BCF complies with the guidelines in effect issued by the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) that govern the review, evaluation and processing of loans secured by real estate pledges as well as the guidelines on minimum requirements for mortgage financing. Its rules governing the granting of mortgage loans are based on the principles of caution and thorough analysis. BCF’s methods are based, among other factors, on the client’s financial situation and the property being financed.
Wealth Management
The positive financial market momentum supported a strong progression in assets under management in 2025. High net worth private clients saw double-digit growth from net inflows with advisors as well as by market performance. Measures taken since 2023 are confirming their relevance and reinforcing the position of BCF in wealth management.
The Bank works with two major segments: high net worth private clients and institutional clients. With 19 expert advisors based in Fribourg, Bulle and Morat, it has the largest onsite presence in the Canton of Fribourg. Its approach is based on holistic advice integrating all the components of wealth, enabling the proposal of coherent solutions aligned with the personal and professional goals of each client.
The management mandates are based on an efficient and transparent approach. Mainly structured around ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), they were strengthened in 2025 by integrating more themes, qualitative filters and more precise tactical adjustments. These changes have enabled greater portfolio diversification and improved the Bank’s ability to capture market trends. BCF has stayed in the top performance quartile relative to its peers since 2022, a position once again confirmed in 2025 through rigorous and consistent management.
The mandates are also based on an approach combining local expertise and international perspectives. A team of ten experts assumes responsibility for the management from Fribourg on the basis of global financial research from the world’s biggest asset managers, guaranteeing investment decisions aligned with the best international practice.
The combined impact of proximity, transparency and open architecture reinforces the added value of the management mandates by offering personalised support, clear pricing plus independent and diversified portfolio construction.
The expertise of Wealth Planning completes this support. Comprising four Fribourg specialists, it favoured customised planning in 2025, based on the best software in the market and integrating in-depth analyses and sophisticated wealth management scenarios. It covers preparation for retirement, tax optimisation, succession planning, liquidity management, risk analysis, coordination between private and professional wealth as well as the modelling of financial scenarios, enabling a clear demarcation between short, medium and long-term solutions.
Serving the public
BCF is committed to serving the population of the Canton of Fribourg. The ‘Private Clients’ division accompanies individuals through every stage of their financial life, offering personalised advice and customised solutions.
Including the headquarters, BCF has a network of 26 branches spread across the seven districts of the Canton. Direct and local advice is a key priority for the Bank. It offers an extensive range of services mainly covering financing, wealth management, pension provision and financial planning. The division also ensures dedicated advice and follow-up for institutional clients as well as third-party managers to meet the complex needs of these segments with the same degree of quality and proximity.
Products and Services
Launch of the new BCF Banking application
The full range of e-banking applications has been made even easier to use with the new BCF Banking application launched in 2025. Checking your balance, paying a QR bill, issuing a stock market order or keeping track of spending: all these operations are now consolidated in one application, even more intuitive than before.
The main new features include a simplified login process fully integrated in the application as well as direct validation of new payments and new beneficiaries.
The application also offers the option of personalising the homepage, searches of all past transactions and a secure messaging channel for direct correspondence between client and advisor. It also offers the option of changing your telephone without having to order an activation letter.
Client migration to the new application started in the autumn of 2025 and runs until spring 2026.
Pro Senectute training courses and conferences
Fraud cases are continuing to grow significantly, affecting senior citizens in particular. As a result, collaboration is being reinforced between BCF and Pro Senectute to step up preventive actions for people at risk.
In addition, every Wednesday afternoon, personalised technical support is offered to customers on the topics of e-banking, mobile banking and TWINT. These sessions, which are very popular, illustrate the Bank’s sustained commitment to providing support and digital security.
This initiative will continue in 2026 with several conferences as well as training for Pro Senectute volunteers.
Real estate
The Bank is continuing its branch renovation programme as part of its development strategy. This approach aims to offer clients more welcoming, modern and functional premises. BCF aims to create an environment conducive to interaction by refitting its infrastructure, thus emphasising the quality of the welcome and service while meeting growing client expectations.
BCF thus continued its branch renovation programme in 2025. The work centred mainly on transforming the Avry Centre site and continuing the work started in Bulle and Guin at the end of 2024. These two sites have been fully redesigned and will be completed during the first half of 2026.
Moreover, the Ependes branch will be replaced by a new location in the heart of Marly. This site will be designed to offer a modern setting adapted to the needs of customers. By choosing this strategic location, we aim to improve accessibility and guarantee an optimum and local service. The work on the layout of the branch started in November 2025 and will be complete by the summer of 2026.
The transformation of the upper floors of the Bank’s headquarters is proceeding at a rapid pace. Three levels now provide employees with optimal working conditions to conduct their everyday business. The plans for the layout of the future main hall at the headquarters have been approved by Management. Work will begin during the first half of 2026.
BCF's Commitments
BCF’s commitment to the social, cultural and sporting life of the Canton reflects our desire to partner with the people who make Fribourg so vibrant.
In 2025, the Bank invested CHF 4.7 million in the development of culture, sports, education and social activities. The Bank aspires to long-term collaborations through renewable partnerships of generally three years. This allows its partner associations to benefit from stable financing so they can devote themselves fully to their activities. BCF has entered into more than 100 partnerships, thereby boosting its brand image and supporting the Bank’s business strategy. These partnerships create close contact with nearly 1,000 clubs, groups and affiliated organisations.
In 2025, BCF was proud of its commitments to:
Festival Textures
The 2025 “Textures – Rencontres littéraires” festival graced Fribourg from 19 to 23 February, offering more than 50 events dedicated to contemporary creative writing. Spread over various cultural venues in the town, the whole event facilitated dialogue among authors and the public through lectures, performances, discussions and exhibitions. The invitation to the Quebec literary scene added to what was a multilingual and open programme. Supported by solid institutional partnerships, the event strengthened its role as a platform for meeting and appreciating literature from Fribourg and elsewhere.
© Julien James Auzan
Seislermäss
Seislermäss 2025, which took place at Tafers from 14 to 18 May, transformed the heart of Singine into a veritable regional showcase. For five days, over 250 exhibitors presented their products, innovations and know-how, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. The festive ambiance, punctuated by varied animations, concerts and professional meetings, highlighted the energy and creativity of Singine’s economic fabric. BCF also profited from this major event to organise an evening for customers as well as its corporate evening.
© Marco Mischler
Passage Festival
Passage Festival – Point76, which took place on 24 and 25 May 2025 in Fribourg, brought in the crowds for 36 hours of electronic music and artistic performances at bluefactory and Fri‑Son. The event focused on involving young people with dedicated creative spaces and an inclusive programme mixing emerging artists and international talents. The festival provided a structured framework promoting discovery, active crowd participation and the appreciation of the next generation of artists in the Canton of Fribourg.
© Laetitia Schaller
Grue’Zik 2025
The 24th cantonal festival of Fribourg music Grue’Zik 2025 was held at Bulle from 27 May to 1 June 2025, with over 25,000 visitors in attendance. Over a week, 81 bands took part in the indoor competitions, processions and concerts organised around the Espace Gruyère exhibition centre, the focal point of the event. The 2025 edition underlined the importance of this event in showcasing the Canton’s music associations and promoting community life in Fribourg.
© Fred Betticher
RFI Kids
Organised from 12–15 June as part of the 50th anniversary of “Rencontres de Folklore Internationales”, RFI Kids saw more than 1,500 children attend spectacles, workshops and intercultural gatherings. Groups of children from six countries as well as from Fribourg livened up the Jardins de l’Université Miséricorde, the Aula at the Jolimont CO and the children’s parade, which had over 800 people. Thanks to the commitment of over 120 volunteers, RFI Kids provided the children with a dynamic immersion in traditions worldwide.
© Laetitia Schaller
Tir cantonal fribourgeois
The 31st “Tir cantonal fribourgeois” shooting event, which ran from 19 June to 6 July 2025, brought together several thousand participants from throughout the Canton, spanning three weekends of intense activity. Over 30 shooting clubs took part in different disciplines, mobilising a large network of volunteers and organisers. The event brought the districts of Glâne and Veveyse to life, as big crowds came to find out what it was all about and discover a tradition deeply rooted in the heritage of Fribourg. The event showcased the conviviality, precision and community spirit of recreational shooting in the region, confirming its important role in cantonal community life.
© Tir cantonal fribourgeois
