Mischt Yuh mit dem Gemeinschaftskonto den Markt auf?

Yuh, the most widely used Swiss neobank, has just launched Yuh & Me, a joint account for two people. Both of the account holders have to share the same household. Each account holder receives a virtual debit card by default, with plastic cards being available on request. The account does not have a basic, ongoing account fee.

The Yuh app lets both users switch between their personal account and the joint account. Both account holders receive alerts linked to the joint account. You can also use saving pots, eBill services and Twint with the joint account. In the future, Yuh wants to add joint investment solutions as well.

Families, couples, and in some cases flatmates can use the joint account to manage their household expenses. Examples include rent payments, grocery shopping, the cost of home Internet, and power bills.

How is Yuh & Me different from other joint bank accounts?

Nearly all conventional Swiss banks offer joint bank accounts. But Swiss neobanks, on the other hand, hardly offer this service. Up until now, Neon was the only neobank to provide joint accounts, after launching the service in 2024. No Yuh has begun offering this service as well.

The main differences between Yuh’s offer and the joint accounts from many of its competitors are:

• The joint account from Yuh is a completely separate product. The joint accounts from many established Swiss banks are simply regular bank accounts with added co-signers. 
• The joint account from Yuh does not have basic account fees. Only a few Swiss banks do not charge monthly or annual fees for a comparable joint account with two debit cards.

But there are other aspects in which Yuh’s solution is identical to joint accounts from other banks. The joint account has its own IBAN, and both account holders can access the account and track transactions.

Comparison with other banks

Neon, the second-largest Swiss neobank, has offered the Neon Duo joint account for around two years now. There is a basic monthly account fee of three francs per account holder. For an account with two holders, that basic account fee adds up to 72 francs per year. Yuh’s joint account does not have any basic account fees.

The fees for joint accounts from established Swiss banks vary broadly between banks. Some banks, like Bank WIR, the Berner Kantonalbank, and the Zürcher Kantonalbank do not charge any basic monthly or annual fees for a joint account with two debit cards. But other banks do charge ongoing fees for accounts and/or debit cards.

Evaluation by moneyland.ch personal finance expert Ralf Beyeler

I am impressed with the new joint account from Yuh. The product fits perfectly into Yuh’s service lineup. Yuh markets the joint account as a modern, stand-alone product. The properties and benefits are clearly communicated.

That contrasts with many established banks that provide very little information about their joint account services. Most banks do not actively market joint accounts at all, with the service often being curtly mentioned in fine print.

It will be interesting to see how Neon responds to Yuh’s joint account offensive. It would not surprise me if Neon ends up rethinking its pricing for joint accounts. 

I find it a shame, though, that Yuh’s joint accounts are limited to just two people. That is especially true because Yuh could, otherwise, be an interesting solution for shared homes with more than two flatmates.