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Has anyone had experience using a Swiss credit card while living outside of Switzerland? Which Swiss issuers still provide credit cards to Swiss citizens living abroad and which is the most affordable?
Hi there,
Swiss credit cards issuers generally provide credit cards to non-residents. However, if you have an existing relationship with a Swiss bank, the bank may allow you to continue using your credit cards.
As a non-resident you may pay special non-resident fees to maintain a banking relationship at many Swiss banks. You can find out more about these fees in the moneyland.ch guide to non-resident bank fees.
It is worth noting that, while some banks do not offer credit cards to non-residents, they may still allow you to maintain a private account or savings account with a debit card or ATM card. Withdrawing cash with a debit or ATM card or using a debit card to pay at terminals often works out cheaper than paying by credit card.
Because all Swiss credit cards charge foreign transaction fees and currency exchange spreads are generally wide, using a local currency credit card issued in the country you live in is generally a better financial decision. You can find out which Swiss credit cards are best suited to international use by selecting the "Abroad-only user" profile in the moneyland.ch credit card comparison.
Best regards from Moneyguru
More on this topic:
Using Swiss credit cards outside of Switzerland
Interactive credit card comparison
