Exactly one hundred years ago today, Bank Julius Bär relocated to Bahnhofstrasse 36. The building, located at the corner of St. Peterstrasse, had been used by the Swiss National Bank until 1922, when it moved into its newly constructed headquarters at Börsenstrasse 15, where it still resides today.

An advertisement in the NZZ dated September 11, 1925, announced: «We have the honor of informing you that, as of September 16, our office will be located in our new banking premises at Bahnhofstrasse 36. On Tuesday, September 15, our offices and counters will be closed due to the move.»

The move was a short one: the bank's previous headquarters had been at Bahnhofstrasse 85. That location had already housed Julius Bär, Hirschhorn & Grob, founded in 1980, the predecessor of today's Julius Bär.

Swiss Private Banking in 1966: Offices at Bahnhofstrasse 36. (Image: Bank Bär)

The purchase price of the new property in 1924 was 1.3 million Swiss francs, showing that Bahnhofstrasse was already considered a prime location a century ago.

Even back then, construction projects in Zurich were no easy matter. Renovation work had to be completed before the move, requiring approval from the City of Zurich, which was granted on January 22, 1925.

Fewer than 30 Employees

The reason for the move was the rapid growth of Julius Bär's business and its staff, which at the time still numbered fewer than 30 employees, according to a article on the bank's website.

The bank also pays tribute to the architect of the building - constructed between 1872 and 1874 in the so-called Palladian style (a variation of classicism): Zurich's ETH professor of architecture Georg Lasius, wo is also regarded as a pioneer in the field of energy efficiency.

Congratulations from Competitors

The relocation of the headquarters toward the lake - into the more prestigious part of Bahnhofstrasse - went ahead as planned, a move that did not go unnoticed in the industry. «Numerous congratulatory telegrams from other banks and financial institutions were received, wishing Julius Baer all the best as it embarked on this new chapter,» the website states.

finews.ch can no longer send a telegram today, we nonetheless wish Julius Bär nothing but the best for the next 100 years at Bahnhofstrasse 36.