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Helvetia, one of Switzerland’s many insurers is a good example of the emergence of competition, pushing ahead with its vision of an integrated service provision in connection with residential properties. The company has its own online mortgage brokerage – Moneypark – which it wants to make the No. 1 in that business. The Zurich-based unit has added a series of services designed to help it achieve this target.

Other insurers and banks in particular are yet to offer an equally integrated offering, even as numerous others have made inroads, including Baloise, the insurer, Valiant, a Bern-based regional bank and also UBS. The biggest bank in Switzerland has added Immo-Check (a property valuation platform), Homegate.ch (a search engine), a tool to evaluate the financial sustainability of buying a particular property and a service platform in cooperation with architects designed to help with aspects relevant for the renovation of homes.

The Banking Leader

Raiffeisen, the No. 1 in the mortgage business, is still up there with the emerging competitors as a full-service provider. It has charged Raiffeisen Immo to provide customers with all the services they will likely have in connection with the purchase of a home. One of its focus is on heating and energy solutions, while Raiffeisen Casa covers aspects from finding a suitable home to buying it.

Previously, banks basically had one focus – it was making sure that clients served the mortgage on time. In the era of digital services, such a limited approach is no longer an option.