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I have been using deposit slips (Einzahlungsscheine) from the Swiss post office to make payments for many years now, but I only recently came across outpayment slips (Auszahlungsscheine). From what I understand, these can be used something like cash checks. Do you have more information about OSR slips and how they can be used?
Hi there,
The outpayment (OSR) service from Postfinance is provided to business account holders. This service makes it possible for businesses to allow third parties to draw on their Postfinance account in cash using outpayment slips.
As with checks, the recipient's bank details are not required. Only a full legal name and address are necessary. The recipient can present the OSR slip and their ID at a Swiss Post Office to withdraw the money from your account in cash. Up to 10,000 francs can be transacted using one OSR slip, but amounts in excess of 300 francs can only be withdrawn at the post office corresponding to the muncipality in which the recipient is resident.
Breakdowns of OSR transactions for accounting purposes are included in E-Finance or available through the Filetransfer service. This makes using OSR slips to make payments as convenient as bank transfers, from an accounting perspective.
OSR slips provide a practical solutions for making payments to employees, other businesses and customers who prefer to collect cash or do not have a Swiss bank account. They can only be drawn by the stated recipient, making them a secure payment solution which can safely be sent by mail.
However it is important to note that the fees are relatively high. Postfinance charges CHF 4.20 for OSR transactions of up to CHF 100, CHF 4.40 for transactions up to CHF 500, and CHF 4.60 for withdrawals of up to CHF 1000. Every additional CHF 1000 increment adds a CHF 0.70 fee. OSR slips are not provided free of charge by post offices. You must order these from third-party printers and cover the cost of printing yourself (typically CHF 20-30 per 1000 slips).
If intended recipients have Swiss banks accounts, then it is worth noting that Postfinance and many other Swiss banks do not charge fees for electronic transfers to Swiss bank accounts.
Swiss banks (including Postfinance) do not charge for cash withdrawals at in-network ATMs, so withdrawing cash and making payments directly when convenient is cheaper than making payments using OSR slips.
Best regards from Moneyguru
More on this topic:
Guide to using checks in Switzerland
