“An accurate and useful comparison of alternative banks in Switzerland.”
– Heyneo.ch
Which is the best online bank to date in Switzerland? The precise criteria of this updated comparison allow you to evaluate the best options on the market to help you make an informed choice in all situations.
Open a free online account
💸 Having a free account is the No.1 promise of neo-banks. In 2024, it is the swiss made banks that offer a bank account with an individual CH IBAN:
Radicant ✘ does not handle international transfers and Yapeal ✘ does not allow transfers with its free plan.
Foreign IBAN
N26 offers an EUR account with a DE IBAN.
Wise offers a BE IBAN.
+1 point / Advantage: CSX, Neon, Yuh, Zak
Get a free bank card to pay online and abroad
The basic 💳 bank card is free with neo-banks to pay in Switzerland and abroad. However, some require a one-time fee for activation or a contribution to delivery.
CSX, Yuh and Zak offer a free physical bank card on opening:
Radicant 🌳 offers a free virtual bank card by default. The physical card is not included and costs CHF 10.
Alpian offers a sleek and elegant black metal VISA debit card (for a fee), and up to 5 free virtual cards.
● Neon charges CHF 10 for shipping.
● Revolut charges CHF 5.99 for shipping.
● Yapeal charges CHF 7 for activation.
+1 point / Advantage: CSX, Yuh, Zak
Security: what are the banking guarantees in neo-banks?
The real 🔒 security offered by neo-banks in Switzerland:
● Alpian is a Swiss bank authorized by FINMA 🇨🇭. It’s the only Swiss neo-bank that has its own banking license. Deposits are protected up to CHF 100,000 in case of bankruptcy.
● CSX, Neon, Radicant, Yuh and Zak, all rely on FINMA-approved banks 🇨🇭. Deposits are protected up to CHF 100,000 in case of bankruptcy.
● N26 only protects deposits from users in European Union states.
● Revolut does not have a Swiss banking license, but is registered in England as an e-money institution.
● Yapeal does not hold a banking license. Deposits are not covered by the Swiss deposit guarantee.
● Wise is not a bank, but a payment company regulated by the National Bank of Belgium.
+1 point / Advantage: ALPIAN, CSX, Neon, Radicant, Yuh, Zak
Neo-banks are regulated even without a banking license.
Visit the heyneo.ch reviews to find out about the actual guarantees offered by neo-banks.
Promo codes CSX, Neon, Yuh, Zak, Revolut…
● Alpian, receive 75 CHF with the code HEYALP 👉 install Alpian.
● CSX, receive CHF 25 with code JD8615 👉 install CSX.
● Zak, receive CHF 25 with code KNSGS6 👉 install Zak.
● Neon, receive your free Mastercard with the code VSWH3C 👉 install Neon.
● Yapeal, get CHF 30 with our promo link 👉 to install Yapeal.
● YUH, receive 500 SWQ (7.50 CHF) with code C9QK67 👉 install Yuh.
● Radicant, receive up to CHF 200 with code B99703 👉 install Radicant.
● Wise, get your free card with our promo link 👉 heyneo promo link.
● N26, get 20 EUR with code julienbd1769 👉 install N26.
+1 point / Advantage: Alpian, Radicant, Yapeal, CSX, Zak
Withdraw cash from an online bank
Most neo-banks offer a free base for cash withdrawals in Switzerland🇨🇭 :
● Neon 2 withdrawals/month
● N26 3 EUR withdrawals/month
● Radicant 12 withdrawals/year
● Revolut 5 withdrawals/month (up to CHF 200)
● Wise 2 withdrawals/month (up to CHF 200)
● Yuh 1 withdrawal/week
● Zak free withdrawals at Banque Cler ATMs
Other banks charge a fee for the first cash withdrawal:
● CSX ✘ 2 CHF /withdrawal
● Yapeal ✘ 2 CHF /withdrawal
● Alpian ✘ 2 CHF /withdrawal
Withdrawals :
– Yuh advantage in Switzerland
– Revolut advantage abroad (multiple withdrawals)
Alternative ways of withdrawing cash: some neo-banks offer alternative ways of withdrawing cash. Visit heyneo.ch to find out more.
Pay eBills and QR invoices in Switzerland 🇨🇭
CSX, Neon, Radicant, Yuh, Zak offer all the features for life in Switzerland 🇨🇭:
● eBill (electronic invoices) ✔︎
● Scan Swiss QR invoices (inpayment slips) ✔︎
● Create a standing order from a QR invoice ✔︎
Wise ✘ can process Swiss QR invoices, but not eBill or LSV direct debits.
N26 ✘, Revolut ✘, do not pay Swiss bills.
Radicant ✘ does not allow foreign transfers.
+1 point / Advantage: CSX, Neon, Radicant, Yuh, Zak
The best banks for paying while traveling abroad
For travel ✈️ neo-banks do not charge transaction fees, but currency conversion fees vary:
➔ To regularly use your card abroad
● Revolut ✔︎ offers the most advantageous rate on the market, except on weekends (+1% fee) and within the limit of 1250 CHF for the Standard plan. Variable depending on the currency, it is always clearly indicated. Free withdrawals: max. 200 CHF /month everywhere.
● Wise ✔︎ is very advantageous, it uses the interbank rate + a minimal fee for conversion of about 0.5% for common currencies. Wise is more advantageous than Revolut during weekends. Free withdrawals: 2 for max. 200 CHF /month everywhere.
● Neon ✔︎ and Yapeal ✔︎ are CHF accounts without transaction fees. They convert at the Mastercard / Visa reference rate without markup. Foreign withdrawal charges: 1.5%.
➔ To pay regularly in Europe
● N26 ✔︎ is a EUR account without transaction fees. It applies the Mastercard reference rate without markup. There are 3 free withdrawals in EUR /month in Europe. For other currencies, there is a 1.7% fee.
➔ For occasional travelers 🛸
● Yuh ✔︎ is a multi-currency account without transaction fees, but it converts currencies with a 0.95% markup on the real interbank rate.
Conversions are stopped during the weekend and foreign withdrawal fees are 4.90 CHF.
● Alpian ✔︎ is a multi-currency account without transaction fees, but applies a markup on the currency exchange rate of 0.2% and 0.5% on weekends.
● CSX ✘ and Zak ✘ have no transaction fees, but apply their own less advantageous “daily rate”. Withdrawal fees are 4.75 CHF + 0.25% for CSX and 5 CHF for Zak.
● Radicant ✘ has no transaction fees, but applies a 0.8% markup on the Visa reference rate, so 1.4% in total. Foreign withdrawal fees are 5 CHF.
+1 point / Advantage: Neon, Yuh, Revolut, Yapeal, Wise, N26
Multi-currency accounts such as Revolut, Wise and Yuh allow you to pay directly in the local currency if it’s funded (and therefore without transaction or conversion fees). Otherwise, conversion is automatic.
Which card should I use to rent a car?
Pay with TWINT
TWINT, Switzerland’s leading payment app, allows you to :
- Pay in stores
- Transfer money between friends
- Share a bill within a group (restaurant, outings, etc.)
- Pay parking meters
- Pay online and in train stations
CSX ✔︎, Radicant ✔︎, Yuh ✔︎ and Zak ✔︎ each have their own dedicated TWINT application.
Neon ✔︎, Alpian ✔︎ use the UBS TWINT app or TWINT Prepaid.
N26 ✘, Revolut ✘, Wise ✘ and Yapeal ✘ do not offer the option of using TWINT.
+1 point / Advantage: CSX, Radicant, Yuh, Zak
Use virtual sub-accounts to organize your budget
Neon ✔︎ offers Spaces to organize your budget and save.
Yuh ✔︎ lets you create project sub-accounts.
Zak ✔︎ lets you create shared pots free of charge.
N26 Smart (paying plan) offers spaces (also shared).
Revolut ✘ only offers a view called “Pockets” to categorize its recurring payments.
CSX ✘Wise ✘Radicant ✘, Alpian ✘ and Yapeal ✘ do not offer built-in functionality for making separate silver envelopes.
+1 point / Advantage: Neon, Yuh and Zak
Savings: which online bank offers the best interest rate?
Zak ✔︎ offers a rate of 0.3% up to an asset of CHF 100,000.
Radicant ✔︎ pays 0.1% interest on savings.
Yuh, Alpian, CSX, Neon, Wise, Yapeal and Revolut ✘ offer an interest rate of 0%.
+1 point / Advantage: Zak and Radicant
Mobile payments: pay with your phone or smartwatch
Neo-banks are mobile: pay with your smartphone or your watch ⌚️ Here’s how they work:
Alpian: Apple Pay / Google Pay
CSX: Apple Pay / Google Pay / Samsung Pay / SwatchPAY! / Garmin Pay / Fitbit Pay
Yuh, Yapeal, Zak: Apple Pay / Google Pay / Samsung Pay
Neon: Apple Pay / Google Pay / Samsung Pay / SwatchPAY! / Garmin Pay
Wise and Revolut: Apple Pay / Google Pay / Samsung Pay / Garmin Pay / Fitbit Pay
Radicant: Apple Pay / Google Pay
+1 point / Advantage: CSX, Neon, Wise and Revolut
Send money abroad without fees
Overall, domestic transfers in CHF are free. For international transfers, SEPA and others, some banks have an advantage:
Wise ✔︎✔︎✔︎ is the all-round champion for international transfers. SEPA is available, but its network provides by far the best transfers.
Neon ✔︎✔︎ SEPA transfers are not available, but the app directly integrates the Wise service which is more advantageous and faster with a 0.40% markup. It displays conversion fees in real-time.
Yuh ✔︎✔︎ SEPA in EUR is free, or CHF 4 for other currencies. The conversion rate of 0.95% is fixed.
Revolut ✔︎✔︎ SEPA accounts in EUR are free of charge. Outside SEPA, except for Ultra accounts, fees of between CHF 0.50 and CHF 700 are charged, depending on the amount, currency and type of account.
N26 ✔︎ uses the Wise service like Neon, but does not charge the 0.40% extra fee. As the account is in EUR, this may represent an additional conversion step.
Alpian ✔︎ SEPA transfers are free in EUR, GBP, and USD.
CSX ✘ SEPA in EUR are free in the EU, but based on the less advantageous Credit Suisse “du jour” exchange rate.
Zak ✘ SEPA in EUR and CHF are free of charge in the SEPA zone, but based on the less attractive Zak “du jour” exchange rate.
Radicant ✘✘ international transfers are not yet possible.
Yapeal ✘✘✘ (Loyalty, free) is the big loser. It does not even allow national transfers.
+1 point / Advantage: Neon, N26, Wise, Alpian, Revolut and Yuh
Customer service: the strength of neo-banks?
Swiss neo-banks are making customer satisfaction and service a strong argument against traditional banks. They focus on innovation and accessibility to deliver a smooth, personalized customer experience. However, the lack of direct human contact for some can be frustrating when dealing with complex issues. Here’s an overview of the contact points available with online banking services:
| Bank | Phone | Cat | Video Chat | Chatbot | In-app form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALPIAN | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✘ |
| NEON | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Radicant | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✔︎ |
| Zak | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| Yapeal | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔︎ |
| Revolut | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Wise | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔︎ |
| CSX | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| YUH | ✔︎ | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✔︎ |
| N26 | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✔︎ | ✘ | ✘ |
The quality of customer service remains an element to be monitored and compared before choosing a new bank. The quality and responsiveness of customer service can vary from one neo-bank to another. We discuss this in more detail in each of heyneo.ch’s individual reviews.
What are neo-banks doing for environmental protectors?
🌍 In 2024, users want to protect the planet. Some neo-banks have understood this and are developing a range of products and services designed to protect the environment. What can we expect?
● Radicant ✔︎✔︎ stands out for its sustainable approach. It offers a range of banking and investment services designed to meet the needs of customers concerned about the environment and the impact of their finances. Committed to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Radicant enables you to track the carbon impact of your payments and choose sustainable investments in areas such as clean water and sanitation, gender equality, social progress or climate stability.
● Neon ✔︎ Free is a carbon-neutral account with carbon offsetting from the outset.
Neon Green 🌱 goes further in sustainable values. Apart from the folksy wooden card, user purchases are matched with planted trees, and electronic devices can be repaired for an additional 3 years to avoid buying new ones too often.
● Zak Plus ✔︎ is the paying offer that gives access to the program Zak Green Impact. Zak donates 0.2% of the amount spent with the card to a climate protection project.
● Yuh ✔︎ highlights an ethical score for investing in responsible, sustainable stocks or ETFs.
● Revolut ✘ , N26 ✘, Wise ✘ and Yapeal ✘ do not offer environmentally-focused options.
+1 point / Advantage: Radicant, Neon, Zak and Yuh
What are neo-banks worth in the face of climate challenges?
We invite you to ask any questions you may have in the comments at the bottom of this review. We’ll answer them in detail.
Conclusion: what is the best online bank in Switzerland?
Conclusion: a neo-bank for every need
Your needs are unique, and choosing the best neo-bank depends on your priorities. Whether you’re looking for security, savings, practical features or ecological impact: take the time to define what’s really important to you.
The level of neo-banks in Switzerland is good, but remains variable depending on actual usage. Some of them do not offer the necessary features for daily life in Switzerland or other specific situations. What is certain is that neo-banks offer undeniable advantages to enjoy the latest features while saving on fees. After thoroughly exploring the offers of the best online banks in Switzerland for 2024, our verdict is in favor of the YUH bank when considering all points. But if one has certain needs, the balance may shift:
If the security of your money keeps you awake at night
If your priority is security, Alpian, CSX, Neon, Radicant, Yuh and Zak offer guaranteed deposits up to 100,000 CHF. This allows you to manage your money with peace of mind, without fear of unpleasant surprises.
To save without depriving yourself
For those wishing to avoid bank charges, Neon, Yuh and Zak are interesting options. These neo-banks offer free cards and virtually no management fees, which can mean significant savings on a day-to-day basis.
If you love practical gadgets
Managing your finances can be simplified with practical features. CSX, Neon, Radicant, Yuh and Zak make it easy to manage your eBills and QR invoices. This makes managing your payments smoother and saves you time.
If you’re still between planes
For frequent travelers, Wise is particularly advantageous for international transfers thanks to its minimal fees. Neon and N26 also offer efficient solutions by integrating Wise services for advantageous transfers worldwide.
If your life is a succession of projects
Managing your budget has never been easier with the sub-accounts of Neon, Yuh and Zak. You can separate your expenses, save for different projects, and keep an eye on your finances effortlessly.
If you want to save the planet and manage your money at the same time
For the environmentally conscious, Radicant, Neon Green and Zak Plus offer eco-responsible options. These banks offset your carbon footprint and finance sustainable projects, allowing your money to work for both you and the planet.
When you need quick answers
Good customer service is essential. Alpian, YUH, Neon, Radicant, and Zak offer various contact options to answer all your questions. You don’t need to waste time searching for online solutions or waiting on the phone; these banks are there to help you quickly and efficiently.
The Comparative Table of Online Banks in Switzerland in 2025
Scroll through the columns of the summary table to compare all neo-banks in Switzerland at a glance:
- Overview
- Review
- Online banking
- Bank card
- For who?
- Mobile payments
Which Neo-Banks Do You Recommend?
- Have You Tested Several Neo-Banks and Do You Have a Favorite?
- Which Neo-Bank Do You Recommend Based on Which User Profile?
- Have You Already Used the Investment Features of Neo-Banks?
- What Do You Like/Dislike About Your Neo-Bank’s App?
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