Hello Forum

Another quick question from me. Having just hit the ground, I need to open a bank account (so that I can get paid). Any steers on which banks are attractive froman expat perspective. I don't need anything funky initially - just a current account, cards, etc. I can get inventive when I've settled down a bit. Really I'm just looking for ease of set up and speed at this point...

Any thoughts welcomed.

L

Post finance is one that is worth looking at.

Post finance, USB and Credit Suisse all have decent e-banking, but I think fees are lower with Post finance than the other 2.

I've just opened a PostFinance account. An online one but with a card to access cash at ATMs. Easy to organise, do the app online, they post papers, you get ID'd at your local PO and you are in business. And I did that bit with limited German so really no drama altogether. Costs CHF3 a month to run. It's not fancy but easy and cheap to get you started off.

All I need to do now is transfer some money over!

Thanks guys. Do I need to have registered with the local authorities first? I assume I would?

L

Well it depends.. When I opened my account all they wanted was a copy of my employment contract and when my sister opened hers they wanted a copy of her permit. Perhaps give the branch you will go to a call.

By the way.. Are you in Zurich?

I didn't even need to do that, which would have been tricky as I don't have a job. I have a British passport so if you are EU you should be OK.

I had been to see the authorities re registration and was told by them that I had 3 months to look for work (which could also be extended) so didn't need to register now. So in short, no, PostFinance was happy with passport ID. I haven't even put a penny into the account yet either but it is up and running and ready to go.

UBS is offering online banking, Maestro card, 2 credit cards and a few other perks free for the first year for new clients. All their online banking is in english too.

Thanks all.

Meisie - yep, am in Zurich.

L

For PostFinance, no. I am non-resident, and have a PostFinance account with a US mailing address.

But in 2008 I was given a lot of conflicting information, much of it false, at post offices. If you are not yet registered with the authorities I would suggest a trip to the local PostFinance office, rather than a standard post office.

Credit card may well be a problem until you are registered.

So, UBS just refused my attempt on the basis that I'm registered at my work address, because I'm living in a hotel whilst trying to find an apartment. They don't accept hotel or work addresses apparently. Anyone else had this experience?

I'll give PostDirect a go.

I suggest you ask your employer to recommend you to whoever/whatever bank they are with? Probably that would grease the process.

You can always change later when you are established if you want to, in fact, some swiss employers specify the bank that you must use for their salary payments.

ubs was easy. i took my passport, work contract and my work address and they set it up for me. no problems with work address.

Postfinance I would say, don't do UBS, you will regret it. you pay them through the nose for anything.

You need to be from the right country.
I am from the US and couldn't set up an account whereas my wife who is from the UK walked in and had one for the asking. Nice.

Also, I can tell you that Credit Suisse charges 40chf per card for the Maestro chip and pin debit cards and I think that there is an annual charge or 40chf as well for the privilege of having the account. Having said that, they do offer unlimited online banking and you can do IBAN transactions for no fees as well.

So as long as you know what you are getting and understand what you are paying for it, it doesn't come out that bad at all.

Good Luck.

__________________
Many men, of course, became extremely rich, but this was perfectly natural, and nothing to be ashamed of, because no one was really poor -- at least no one worth speaking of. - Douglas Adams

You can have online banking in English with the Poste as well. And I've always found excellent English speaking help on their helpline.

I have said it once but will say it again, free for the first year at UBS for a Maestro card, 2 credit cards, online banking and other features.

Singles:

http://www.ubs.com/1/e/ubs_ch/private/individual.html

Families and couples:

http://www.ubs.com/1/e/ubs_ch/privat...s_couples.html

Even if you use it for the first year only and then move on, it is a great deal.

Not sure about the address rules though!

PS I do not work for them, just saw it recently, compared with other offerings and it is an excellent deal.

On line banking for CS is in english as well.

We were steered away from UBS in 2008 as they weren't playing nicely with US citizens at the time. Oh, well...

New to Switzerland too, just getting set up....

Post Finance was recommended to me too, going to try open an a/c this week.

All seems pretty positive for Post Finance here, anyone had any issues with them??

I have one question regading account for famillies in UBS. If we do not want joint account and open two separate accounts with maestro cards can we have add-on cards to one another? Anyone has experinece with this?

So basicly one person will have two cards on its name but one will be main card and another will be suplementary card and vice versa. I had that option im my bank and home.