Published 2 June 2026
Credit Suisse bars after the UBS merger, the factual position
Credit Suisse stopped existing as a standalone bank in 2023, when it was taken over by UBS in a deal arranged with Swiss financial regulators. The bank had outsourced the actual refining of its branded gold bars to PAMP and Valcambi for many years, so the Credit Suisse name on a bar is a brand, not a refinery in its own right. After the merger, the Credit Suisse-branded bars already in circulation remain LBMA recognised and continue to trade in the secondary market on their own terms. New bars are no longer being struck under the Credit Suisse brand.
For sellers this is good news. The bars retain their wholesale market acceptance. The serial chain still works. The XRF reading still confirms purity. Nothing about the merger affects what you get paid for a genuine Credit Suisse bar today.
How a Credit Suisse bar looks
A Credit Suisse bar shows the bank wordmark on the obverse along with the weight, purity and serial number stamped clearly into a smooth field. The reverse is typically plain with a repeating Credit Suisse pattern. Bars are sealed in a tamper-evident assay card with the serial printed on the card to match the bar stamp. Older bars may come in a flat plastic capsule with a paper certificate instead.
Identification rules and red flags
A genuine Credit Suisse bar weighs precisely what the stamp says, to within a fraction of a gram. The serial number on the bar matches the serial on the card. The XRF reading shows .9999 fine gold content. The bar is not magnetic. The stamp letters are crisp and the surface around the stamp is undamaged.
How an offer is calculated
Final offers depend on inspection, item weight, purity, hallmarks, stones, non-gold components, condition and the live precious-metal market. For Credit Suisse bars the inputs are weight, XRF reading, card condition and serial match. A sealed bar with matching card sells closest to wholesale. A broken-out bar sells slightly under. A bar with damaged stamping sells under that because the downstream buyer may require re-assay.
Posting a Credit Suisse bar
- WhatsApp photos of both faces of the bar, the serial number and the assay card to 07763 741067.
- Wait for the shape-of-offer reply and prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label.
- Do not break the assay card seal yourself.
- Wrap the card in bubble wrap or padded sleeve and place inside a rigid mailer.
- Drop off at a Post Office counter and keep the receipt.
- Forward the tracking number to us on WhatsApp.
Insurance, decline and payment
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. Larger bars may exceed that cap and need a different arrangement. Tell us before you ship. Accept the written valuation and Faster Payments leaves the same working day. Decline and the bar goes back to you by tracked post at our cost.
Common questions
Are Credit Suisse bars still worth buying after the UBS merger?
Yes. The brand is discontinued but the existing bars remain LBMA recognised and trade normally.
How do you verify a Credit Suisse bar?
XRF, scale weight, serial match and visual inspection.
What if the card is damaged?
The bar is still saleable. The offer reflects the extra verification work.
Is my bar insured in the post?
Your parcel is insured up to £2,500 via Royal Mail Special Delivery. Larger bars need a separate arrangement.
Do you buy fractional Credit Suisse bars?
Yes. All sizes from 1 gram up to one kilo.
When am I paid?
On the working day you accept, by Faster Payments.
Do I need to visit a shop?
No. We are postal-only, UK-wide.
What if the bar turns out to be fake?
We tell you and post it back at our cost. No fee.