Swisscard review

No. The annual fee is CHF 0 and the account is sold on a no annual fee model, so keeping the card open costs nothing across the year. Statements arrive monthly and ask for no top up, which keeps the running cost at CHF 0.

The currency conversion fee is 0%, so foreign spending carries no extra charge from the card side. For context, the typical conversion fee across cards here is 1%, which is where most issuers take a slice of every purchase made abroad.

It pays nothing back. The rewards type is none, so there is no cashback, points or travel scheme on the card. What the card offers instead is cost avoidance: an annual fee of CHF 0, a conversion fee of 0% and return protection insurance included.

Yes, and the app is where the card lives. A virtual card is available there right after approval, cardholder verification for online purchases runs in the same place, and the personal spending limit is adjustable. Bills arrive monthly with an annual fee of CHF 0.

The card prints no card number or verification code, a security by design choice, and cardholder verification for online payments happens in the app. The published benefits are Integrated Return Protection Insurance, 3 D Secure confirmation in the Swisscard app and Installment facility, which also covers the wallets and the installment facility.

It is a credit card that works with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, so the phone covers most checkouts. An installment facility is included, which spreads a large purchase across payments instead of landing the whole amount on one monthly statement.

Support runs on phone and help centre, meaning a phone line and a help centre, with no email or live chat in the mix. Swiss customer service is on hand around the clock in German, French, Italian and English, which helps if English is not your first language.

Swisscard is a Swiss operation: the legal entity behind the card is Swisscard AECS GmbH, the headquarters sit in Switzerland and the company dates back to 1998. That background explains the focus on local service, from the round the clock phone line to the adjustable in app spending limit.