Mark Dambacher, how do you describe Incore's core competency to potential clients?

The term TechBank succinctly captures our essence: we are a high-performance, FINMA-regulated financial institution with extensive banking-specific IT expertise.

As a B2B transaction bank, Incore has built a solid foundation backed by years of experience. Banks, financial intermediaries, fintech firms, and other financial sector players benefit from our modular service offering.

Incore originated as a spin-off of a private bank and has long collaborated with Incore Technology, an ICT firm catering to the needs of banks. This partnership eventually led to the formation of the Incore Group. What tangible benefits does this fusion of banking services and IT expertise offer to clients?

Modern banking is defined by complex and costly IT infrastructure, a challenge that has grown exponentially. For many financial institutions, especially smaller banks and intermediaries, keeping up with regulatory-driven IT requirements is a significant burden.

«We are the B2B banking services provider on equal footing»

This is where Incore creates long-term opportunities by seamlessly integrating banking and IT expertise. As a sourcing partner, we speak the same language as our clients – bankers who deeply understand the industry. This enables us to swiftly translate challenges into effective solutions.

Moreover, as an execution-only bank, we do not compete with our clients’ B2C businesses, offering them an additional strategic advantage.

Incore’s widely used hashtag #TechBank is more than just branding – it defines our broad customer spectrum, from banks and securities firms to institutional investors and fintechs.

We deliver unparalleled banking and IT expertise from a single source, covering both traditional banking and digital assets. This combination is unique. Clients rightfully have high expectations of Incore as a TechBank, and we meet them from day one: new clients benefit from rapid integration into our ecosystem, ensuring a seamless transition.

«We deliver profound banking and IT expertise from a single source»

Onboarding duration naturally depends on various factors, but under optimal due diligence conditions, it can be exceptionally swift. From day one, new clients gain access to our extensive network of approximately 150 counterparties—an invaluable market advantage.

As a TechBank, innovation is a cornerstone of our identity. A prime example is Incore’s integration with Artex, the world’s first art-stock exchange, which we successfully completed in March 2024.

How important is Incore’s banking license?

Extremely important. Trust is the cornerstone of banking, and our license plays a central role. Without it, we would be limited – like many of our competitors – to business process outsourcing (BPO) and ICT services.

Compliance with strict regulatory requirements ensures that we operate as a fully audited institution, giving our clients confidence in our stability. This trust is reinforced by our robust capital base.

Incore is a key player in traditional banking services, but it also holds a pioneering role in digital assets.

Yes, we were among the first FINMA-regulated banks to offer brokerage and custody services for digital assets in 2019. The strong international demand from the outset underscores our unique positioning.

«IT and cyber security are at the core of our operations»

When blockchain technology emerged, some argued that banks would become obsolete in the digital asset space. However, today, trust remains a vital factor—our banking license provides precisely that assurance, making us a preferred partner for both fintech firms and traditional banking clients.

Security in digital finance is paramount – both from a technological and regulatory standpoint. What are the key pillars of Incore’s security philosophy?

We adhere to a zero-tolerance policy. IT and cyber security are at the heart of our operations, requiring substantial financial investment. As a regulated bank and service provider, we ensure that our clients – many of whom lack the internal capacity for such extensive security measures – benefit from our expertise.

This commitment, while increasing our cost base relative to unregulated competitors, is essential for safeguarding our clients’ interests.

How does Incore ensure compliance with evolving regulations?

Each year, we develop a Compliance Radar – a comprehensive framework that identifies and addresses all relevant regulatory changes. This process ensures seamless compliance adaptations for both Incore and our community of clients.

Additionally, we offer dedicated compliance support to our FINMA-regulated clients, including regular networking events where industry experts discuss regulatory developments in depth.

Incore’s growth trajectory is reflected in its expanding workforce. How many employees does the Incore Group currently have?

Around 180. If we conservatively estimate an average of 15 years of professional experience per employee, our team represents over 2,500 years of combined expertise – an invaluable resource for our clients.

Since Incore’s strategic rebranding in late 2024, all business units have been consolidated under the Incore Group umbrella. This move has significantly strengthened our market perception as a TechBank and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. The next phase involves further integration and operational consolidation.

«A key priority moving forward is international expansion»

We are actively pursuing global growth, with our new Corporate Services subsidiary in Spain marking a significant milestone. Additional international locations are in the pipeline as demand for our modular Swiss Banking services continues to rise worldwide.

Finally, we are enhancing our service offerings in response to market needs—particularly in embedded finance, where we see exciting opportunities. Our guiding principle remains clear: continuous innovation as a leading TechBank.

Mark Dambacher has been the CEO of Incore Bank since 2015. Before assuming this role, he held various senior positions in risk management, compliance, and relationship management. His career path includes nearly three years overseeing Compliance & Risk Control, Relationship Management, and Accounting at Incore Bank. Prior to joining Incore in 2006 as Head of Process Management, he worked extensively in risk management consulting, serving as a Senior Manager at PwC in Global Risk Management Services and as a Senior Consultant at KPMG in Financial Services. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering (M.Sc.) and is a Certified Information System Auditor (CISA). Additionally, he is a qualified banker (Bankkaufmann), bringing a robust combination of financial and technical expertise to his leadership role at Incore Bank.