As an American I was stripped of all my privileges I had with the bank. No credit card, no ebanking, no investments etc. No problem - I can get another credit card and the investments weren't doing too well anyway(

Question: Is it possible to have an ebanking account in the USA that would be used to pay our CH monthly expenses. Even though we are not here there are still bills to be paid such as Electric, phone, condo association fees etc...not to forget Switzerland taxes.

Would appreciate if anyone knows - I did send an email to a banker I know in the USA but he is on vacation.
Thanks
Monica

AFAIK, "no".

However, even if you could, you would have the problem of getting a Swiss vendor (utility company etc) to accept a check from a foreign bank. So, Check out Luxembourg or UK banks (HSBC), where you may be able to do a wire transfer inexpensively.

Best of all... per a recent thread here, an American resident in CH can open an account with PostFinance ... and with UBS (rather ironic, isn't it?).

Thanks
Monica

The kicker is that, if you don't already have a relationship with PostFinance, you will need to attend a branch in person to present your documents (residence permit, passport, etc). From the sounds of your original post, you have already left Switzerland, so opening an account may be a logistical nightmare.

No...Swiss Fiance will not take us. Apparently since Oct 1st they don't want Americans either

On the above mentioned thread, it says that someone was taken
with a valid Swiss resident permit and an American passport.

Odd; richardm posted here that he received an e-mail from PostFinance which stated "Thank you for your e-mail.We do not open accounts for U.S. citizens if they are living in the U.S. or abroad, but if your domicile is in Switzerland or in one of the neighbouring countries we will be glad to open an account for you." Perhaps you might ask him for a copy, and take it to the local PostFinance branch manager?

Alternatively (and I'm quite serious), does Switzerland have any laws that prohibit discrimination based on nationality? (France does, so it is not an idle question.)

Wouldn't help - my domicile is the good ole USA. I do not have residency here. I will figure it out someway.
Monica

Obviously no. Swiss car insurers were talking about charging drivers from the former Yugoslavia with higher premiums because of their nationality, based on the fact that statistically speaking they were dangerous drivers. That did not seem to cause any legal issue.

And while I was looking for an appartment to rent, I came across ads with "Nur CH" in them. This would be clearly illegal in France.

In a article a few months ago (in the magazine Bilan I think), the question was clearly asked : can swiss banks turn away US clients just because they are american. The conclusion was definitely yes.