Switzerland, a land of majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and world-class cities, is known for its efficiency and high standard of living. Whether you’re skiing in the Swiss Alps, exploring the cultural hubs of Zurich and Geneva, or enjoying a scenic train ride on the Glacier Express, understanding how to handle payments is essential. While Switzerland is largely cashless, with widespread card and mobile payment acceptance, cash is still useful in rural areas and for small transactions. This guide covers everything you need to know about cash and ATMs in Switzerland, including withdrawal fees, transaction limits, exchange rates, and card acceptance, ensuring a hassle-free visit.
Where to find ATMs in Switzerland?
Urban Areas: Cities such as Zurich, Geneva, and Bern have a dense network of ATMs, particularly in city centers, shopping areas, and near bank branches. Major banks like Credit Suisse and UBS provide ATM locators to help users find the nearest machines.
Tourist Spots: Popular destinations like the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Lake Geneva, and the Jungfrau region have ATMs nearby, often within or near tourist facilities.
Rural Areas: In smaller villages and remote regions, ATM availability may be limited. It’s recommended to withdraw cash in larger towns before traveling to these areas.
Best ATMs to use in Switzerland for foreigners
The best ATMs for foreigners to use in Switzerland are those owned by popular banks such as:
- UBS AG
- Credt Suisse
- Raiffeisen
- Kantonalbank
- Post Finance
There are other banks with ATMs that also accept international debit and credit cards.
There are no known Global ATM Alliance member banks or All Points network banks in Switzerland.
Don’t accept conversion at ATMs and withdraw only in local currency
In Switzerland, some ATMs may ask – Debit in CHF (or Debit in your home currency), Accept Conversion OR Decline Conversion (also known as With or Without Conversion).
- If you ‘Accept’ (Debit in your Home Currency) – ATM converts your money at ATM’s set exchange rate. You pay an extra % fee to the ATM for currency conversion.
- If you Decline (Debit in CHF) – the ATM will convert at exchange rate of the bank/card logo (Visa, Master, etc.).
So, to avoid extra fees, select ‘Decline/Without’ Conversion or ‘Debit in CHF’.
Can I use a foreign debit or credit card at an ATM in Switzerland?
Yes, majority of the foreign debit and credit cards are widely accepted at ATMs in Switzerland.
Types of cards accepted at ATMs
ATMs commonly all major types of cards – Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Plus, Cirrus, American Express, JCB, UnionPay, Diners cards. Others like Discover and Rupay cards are generally not accepted.
What are the ATM opening hours
Most ATMs operate 24/7.
What are ATMs called
ATMs in Switzerland are usually found by a signage of word Words ‘ATM’, ‘Bancomat’, ‘Geldautomat’, and ‘distributeur automatique’.
Language options at ATMs
ATMs show you an initial welcome screen with 4 languages including English but soon as the ATM detects is a foreign card, the ATM screen will in in English for the entire transaction.
What currencies can I withdraw from ATMs in Switzerland?
ATMs in Switzerland dispense cash in Swiss Francs (CHF), and some also offer Euros (EUR).
ATM withdrawal limits in Switzerland?
ATMs in Switzerland have a maximum withdrawal limit per transaction of CHF 1,000 (Swiss Francs). One ATM allows up to CH 2,000 per transaction and one ATM allows to withdraw as much as the card’s withdrawal limit, in one transaction.
ATM Fees in Switzerland
There are many fee-free ATMs in Switzerland. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Switzerland do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders. There is one bank that charges CHF 5 per transaction (Swiss Franc). So, there are many fee-free ATMs you can use in Switzerland as a foreign cardholder!
Apart from ATM Access Fees, there can be other potential charges to withdraw cash in Switzerland. These are:
1. Currency Conversion Fees (Accept or Decline Conversion)
2. Your Bank’s currency conversion fee – Some banks charge the card holder a fee to use the card abroad. Cross check with your bank on what the charges are.
How to avoid high fees when withdrawing cash in Switzerland
- Use the lower fee ATMs in the country.
- Use the ATM Fee Saver app to find fee-free or low-fee ATMs.
- Opt for “Decline Conversion” or “Without Conversion” during ATM transactions.
- Consider getting fee-free cards from your home country.
- Avoid using ATMs at the airports, sometimes they have higher fees
Ways to find fee-free ATMs in Switzerland?
Discover fee-free and low-fee ATMs in Switzerland on the ATM Fee Saver mobile app for iOS and Android. This app provides ATM PINs and details of leading bank ATMs such as ATM fees and withdrawal limits for foreign cardholders at ATMs in Switzerland. Moreover, its simple fee calculator helps you determine exact withdrawal charges. You can also find cash tips and tricks on the app for 160+ countries including Switzerland.
Safety at ATMs
Switzerland is known for its low crime rate, making it a safe destination for travelers. ATMs are widely available throughout the country, especially in urban areas. However, there has been a noted increase in ATM attacks involving explosives, particularly in smaller towns near borders. Banks have implemented enhanced security measures, such as relocating ATMs indoors and installing protective metal curtains, to mitigate these risks. Despite these incidents, violent crime remains rare. It’s advisable to use ATMs located in well-lit, populated areas or within bank premises to minimize potential risks.
FAQs
What to do if an ATM takes your card?
If an ATM in Switzerland takes your card, contact the bank (if you used an ATM inside a bank branch), they may retreive your card if you have proof of identity. You can also contact the bank’s helpline but they usually retreive and resend new cards only for their own customers. If so, you’ll need to contact your own bank and ask them to deliver a new card at home or abroad.
Fee-free ATMs and possible to withdraw cash free of cost at ATMs in Switzerland?
Yes, its possible. There are many fee-free ATMs in Switzerland. Majority of the Bank ATMs in Switzerland do not charge any ATM Access Fees per transaction to foreign card holders.
Foreign cards from US, UK, India, China, Europe, Australia accepted?
Absolutely yes! You can usually use cards from the US, UK, Europe, Australia, and other countries at ATMs in Switzerland
Bitcoin ATMs
Switzerland has a significant number of Bitcoin ATMs, with approximately 139 machines installed nationwide. These ATMs are primarily located in major cities such as Zurich, Geneva, and Basel.
Foreign bank ATMs’ presence in Switzerland
Bank of America: No, there are no Bank of America ATMs here.
Citibank: Yes but only for corporate customers, no ATMs.
Barclays: Yes but only for corporate customers, no ATMs.
HSBC: Yes but only for corporate customers, no ATMs.
Standard Chartered: Yes but only for corporate customers, no ATMs.
