Hello,

Due to various things I was to be paid into my husband's account but this has not worked. I was wondering if i could open an account just with my passport as I have no ausweiss yet. I also have no receipt or anything to say that i have registered. So if anyone knows of a bank that just requires passport i would be greatful, or any other suggestions!

Yes, you can open a bank account with just your passport. I did it at PostFinance the other day.

That will be no problem since you are from Britain.

hmm you would think but according to post- who my husband banks with I cannot be on his account until i have an ausweiss nor can I open my own!

That is simply wrong. Did you get that from Post Finance customer service or from hearsay?

I was able to open an account (Luzern Kantonalbank) with my passport (visa with stamp from the gemeinde) and a copy of my work contract. May have had a copy of the letter from immigration also, but I don't remember.

The bank would not put both names on the account, so husband and I have separate accounts, but we do have permission for each other's account.

My husband opened ours - we have work contract, passport and lease document, which all helped. We also both got cards from the Kreisburo when we registered, to show that we are registered and our address here...not sure if everyone gets those...

Incidentally, he went with his employer to open the account, with the employer translating. Then when he went back to follow it up he found that it was actually much easier just getting a staff member who spoke English..there were plenty.

In fact, after the first week of being here, and feeling very lost, I have discovered that 90% of people speak enough english for me to have a conversation, and I usually just say "I'm sorry, I don't speak German" and they are 99% of the time very considerate.

I'd say, just go with all your documents (whatever you have so far) and turn up at the bank, and do it yourself...I'm sure you will find someone who works there who has enough English to be able to explain.

He chose the Kantonal bank because it's closest to home, which we now regret - would have been better to choose somewhere closest to the workplace since then he can go there in his lunch break...

Yes I went to post because they told me that as i was British i could not open a bank with only passport. If i was German etc i could. So anyway she said i could have my husband sign something and i could have money with his permission- which i thought ok as long as i can have my salary paid in, its ok. So when pay day came- no money arrived so i went again, turns out its not possible unless the money ( MY PAY) Is in his name, so who knows! She said (the post) woman that I had to have an ausweiss to be joint or open an account. that is why i wanted to know if anyone else had managed to get a bank account only using their passport so i could do that and get paid! So anyway if anyone has managed to open a different one or knows of what i could do about it as basically i cant get money until i get my ausweiss and who knows ehrn that will be!

No, you can't get paid into someone else's account. Only if your name is on the account.

Go to another Post. You should be able to open one there. What's the difference if you are German or British? Did they tell you?

You say you are waiting on your permit, you should have a letter saying this, no?

JW - Try Swissquote, I have heard from various no residents that they have been able to open an a/c with min fuss.
http://swissquote.ch/index_e.html

Your mileage may vary when you try to open an account.
Permit? American? Job? Raining outside? Bad hair day? etc etc

There are a few threads here on the problems folk have had.

Safest bet in Zurich is UBS at Glattbrugg or CS at Uetlihof.
They are used to foreigners wandering in and asking for bank accounts.

Otherwise, pick your nearest one (any bank) and try them...

Personally...
The Post Office were quite rude to SWMBO when she tried... she tried them because UBS had imposed restrictions.
UBS Kloten also argued with here about how our UK bank accounts worked

On the other hand, I had no problems at all with UBS Glattbrugg...

Hi,

I just got married to a Swiss guy (I'm English) a week ago and we're going to see if we can open a joint post account or if I can just be added to his.
I'm going to take my British passport (which has my old surname on it) and our marriage certificate. Do you think this will be enough? We haven't been to the council yet to update our details and I don't have a Swiss ID card or visa yet. I'm still on a tourist visa. Will this be a problem?

Thanks
Julie