Important information:
The customer portal and web access to the card account were discontinued on 10 April 2024. Please download the Swiss Bankers App to continue to have unrestricted access to all services.
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Life is the prepaid credit card from Swiss Bankers for everyday use. With our prepaid card, you alone determine what your budget is. You can add credit as needed, pay securely worldwide and always have your expenses and budget under control.
Outlets
You can use the reloadable Mastercard like a credit card to pay at more than 40 million merchant locations and to inexpensively withdraw cash from about 2 million ATMs worldwide. In many shops you can make convenient contactless payments.
The card is accepted by all online shops: Ideal for people who do not have a credit card or prefer not to use it online.
The reloadable Mastercard gives you full control over your expenses: You can only spend the amount you have loaded onto your card.
The card is very easy to obtain at your bank. Load funds from your giro account onto the card, and when they are spent, simply reload your card. The amount is credited to your card account within an hour so that you can make secure payments worldwide and online and withdraw cash from ATMs at once.
No fees are charged for loading your card. Neither are any fees charged by Swiss Bankers for payments in shops or online. Only cash withdrawals at ATMs are charged EUR, USD, or CHF 2%, min. 5,00 per transaction (depending on card currency). For the card service, an annual fee of only EUR, USD, or CHF 45,00 (depending on card currency) is charged in addition to the load amount when loading the card for the first time and deducted from your card balance every subsequent year.
The card is issued by Swiss Bankers Prepaid Services (Liechtenstein) Ltd, a subsidiary wholly owned by Swiss Bankers Prepaid Services Ltd. Swiss Bankers Prepaid Services Ltd holds a banking license and is the leading issuer of reloadable credit cards in Switzerland. Your card balance is protected. If lost or stolen, your card and your credit balance will immediately be replaced.
Swiss Bankers charges no fees for payments in shops or online.
An ATM withdrawal costs EUR, USD or CHF 2%, min. 5,00 (depending on card currency).
The annual fee is only EUR/USD/CHF 45,00 (depending on card currency and distribution partner) and is charged in addition to the load amount when the card is loaded for the first time. In the following years, the annual fee is charged to the card account directly.
Within Germany, replacement cards are issued and delivered free of charge. Outside Germany, a fee of EUR/USD/CHF 50,00 is charged.
In some cases, ATM operators or vendors of goods and services charge fees on cash withdrawals or payments, respectively. Swiss Bankers has no influence on these fees, which are not only charged on the reloadable Mastercard but on all credit cards, prepaid credit cards and Maestro cards of any card issuer.
The latest security technologies protect against misuse. You can optionally block and reactivate your card for Internet purchases, contactless payment or certain countries.
Compare
Card fee
Annual fee: CHF 45
None
Annual fee: CHF 45
Monthly fee: CHF 2.90
None
None
Annual fee: CHF 45
Top-up fee
None
Fast charge by credit card/debit card (approx. 15min): 1.5%.
Charge with PostFinance card: CHF 6.
Tip: It’s free to top up your card via online banking, and your credit is generally available in one working day.
1.5%1, for cards obtained via outlets
Fast charging by credit card/debit card (approx. 15min): Additional costs of 1.5% (on charging amount with charging fee).
Charging with PostFinance card: Additional costs of CHF 6.
Tip: When you top up your card via online banking, your credit is generally available in one working day. There are no further costs in addition to the top-up fee.
None, for cards obtained from Swiss Bankers
None, for cards obtained via outlets
Fast charge by credit card/debit card (approx. 15min): 1.5%.
Charge with PostFinance card: CHF 6.
Tip: It’s free to top up your card via online banking, and your credit is generally available in one working day1.
None
Fast charge by credit card/debit card (approx. 15min): 1.5%.
Charge with PostFinance card: CHF 6.
Tip: It’s free to top up your card via online banking, and your credit is generally available in one working day.
1.5 %1
Fast charging by credit card/debit card (approx. 15min): Additional costs of 1.5% (on charging amount with charging fee).
Charging with PostFinance card: Additional costs of CHF 6.
Tip: When you top up your card via online banking, your credit is generally available in one working day. There are no further costs in addition to the top-up fee.
Subject to conditions1
None
Fast charge by credit card/debit card (approx. 15min): 1.5%.
Charge with PostFinance card: CHF 6.
Tip: It’s free to top up your card via online banking, and your credit is generally available in one working day.
Ways to top up your card
- Bank transfer/e-banking
- Credit card/debit card/PostFinance card
- Outlets
Tip: To find your personal payment details, open the Swiss Bankers app and select “Top-up.”
- Bank transfer/e-banking
- Credit card/debit card/PostFinance card
- Outlets
Tip: To find your personal payment details, open the Swiss Bankers app and select “Top-up.”
- Bank transfer/e-banking
- Credit card/debit card/PostFinance card
- Outlets
Tip: To find your personal payment details, open the Swiss Bankers app and select “Top-up.”
- Bank transfer/e-banking
- Credit card/debit card/PostFinance card
- Outlets
Tip: To find your personal payment details, open the Swiss Bankers app and select “Top-up.”
- Bank transfer/e-banking
- Credit card/debit card/PostFinance card
- Outlets
Tip: To find your personal payment details, open the Swiss Bankers app and select “Top-up.”
- Bank transfer/e-banking
- Credit card/debit card/PostFinance card
- Outlets
Tip: To find your personal payment details, open the Swiss Bankers app and select “Top-up.”
Charge per payment
None
CHF 1 / EUR 1 / USD 1
None
None
CHF 1 / EUR 1 / USD 1
None
None
Processing fee currency exchange
0.95%
None
0.95%
0.95%
None
None
0.95%
Cash withdrawal fee in Switzerland
2%, min. CHF 5
2%, min. CHF/EUR/USD 2
2%, min. CHF 5
2%, min. CHF 5
2%, min. CHF 2
Subject to conditions
2%, min. CHF 5
Cash withdrawal fee outside of Switzerland
2%, min. CHF 5
2%, min. CHF/EUR/USD 7.50
2%, min. CHF 5
2%, min. CHF 5
2%, min. CHF 7.50
Subject to conditions
2%, min. CHF 5
Replacement card
Replacement in case of loss or theft including remaining card value for a fee of CHF 20.00 in Germany and CHF 50.00 outside Germany. Replacement of digital cards within one working day.
Free replacement worldwide in case of loss or theft, usually within three working days, including the remaining card balance. Replacement of digital cards within one working day.
Replacement in case of loss or theft, including the remaining card balance, for a fee of CHF 20.00 in Switzerland and CHF 50.00 abroad. Replacement of digital cards within one working day.
Replacement of digital cards within one working day in case of loss or theft, including the remaining card balance, for a fee of CHF 20.00.
Free replacement worldwide in case of loss or theft, usually within three working days, including the remaining card balance. Replacement of digital cards within one working day.
Subject to conditions
Replacement in case of loss or theft including remaining card value for a fee of CHF 20.00 in Germany and CHF 50.00 outside Germany. Replacement of digital cards within one working day.
Card top-up
Min. CHF 100
Max. CHF 10 000
Min. CHF 100 / EUR 100 / USD 100
Max. CHF 10 000 / EUR 10 000 / USD 10 000
Min. CHF 100
Max. CHF 10 000
Min. CHF 100
Max. CHF 10 000
Min. CHF 100 / EUR 100 / USD 100
Max. CHF 20 000 / EUR 20 000 / USD 20 000
Subject to conditions
Min. CHF 100
Max. CHF 10 000
Card currencies
CHF
CHF / EUR / USD
CHF
CHF
CHF / EUR / USD
CHF / EUR / USD
CHF
Use options
- ATM
- Payment terminals / machines
- Contactless payment
- Internet / online payments
- ATM
- Payment terminals / machines
- Contactless payment
- Internet / online payments
- ATM
- Payment terminals / machines
- Contactless payment
- Internet / online payments
- Payment terminals / machines
- Contactless payment
- Internet / online payments
- ATM
- Payment terminals / machines
- Contactless payment
- Internet / online payments
- ATM
- Payment terminals / machines
- Contactless payment
- Internet / online payments
- ATM
- Payment terminals / machines
- Contactless payment
- Internet / online payments
Mobile payment
-
- Apple Pay
- Samsung Pay
- Google Pay
- Garmin Pay, Fitbit Pay, SwatchPAY!
- Apple Pay
- Samsung Pay
- Google Pay
- Garmin Pay, Fitbit Pay, SwatchPAY!
- Apple Pay
- Samsung Pay
- Google Pay
- Garmin Pay, Fitbit Pay, SwatchPAY!
- Apple Pay
- Samsung Pay
- Google Pay
- Garmin Pay, Fitbit Pay, SwatchPAY!
- Apple Pay
- Samsung Pay
- Google Pay
- Garmin Pay, Fitbit Pay, SwatchPAY!
-
Availability
Maximum number of cards per person
One card directly from Swiss Bankers
Five cards via our outlets
Five cards via our outlets
One card directly from Swiss Bankers
Five cards via our outlets
1 card
5 cards
-
One card directly from Swiss Bankers
Five cards via our outlets
Swiss Bankers App Features
– Block your card
– Geo-blocking
– Spending overview
– Many other features
– Top up your card
– Block your card
– Geo-blocking
– Spending overview
– Many other features
– Top up your card
– Block your card
– Geo-blocking
– Spending overview
– Many other features
– Top up your card
– Block your card
– Geo-blocking
– Spending overview
– Many other features
– Top up your card
– Block your card
– Geo-blocking
– Spending overview
– Many other features
– Block your card
– Geo-blocking
– Spending overview
– Many other features
– Block your card
– Geo-blocking
– Spending overview
– Many other features
1 Top-up fee may vary depending on the distribution partner
What is a digital credit card?
A purely digital credit card is similar to a classic plastic card, but no physical card is produced. All the information of the digital card, i.e. card number, expiration date and card verification number (CVC), can be seen in the Swiss Bankers app. Basically, the only difference between a digital card and a physical card is that you can hold the latter in your hands.
Swiss Bankers offers the Life Digital, a digital prepaid credit card. You can order a Life Digital without a credit check within a few minutes and use it immediately after loading.
Why order a prepaid card from Swiss Bankers?
Swiss Bankers is the market leader for prepaid credit cards in Switzerland. With decades of experience, we are and will remain an innovation driver in the field of secure payment solutions. As one of the first providers in Switzerland, Swiss Bankers enables worldwide cashless money transfers to Mastercard cards. Swiss Bankers prepaid cards can be used digitally for mobile payments, with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Garmin Pay, Swatch Pay and Fitbit Pay.
What are the advantages of a Mastercard prepaid credit card?
Prepaid credit cards from Swiss Bankers are based on Mastercard technology. Swiss Bankers uses the innovative and secure Mastercard payment system to offer you the latest payment features. In Switzerland alone, there are more than 100,000 acceptance points for our cards. Worldwide, there are over 70 million.
How long is my Mastercard card valid?
You can see the validity period on the card. As a rule, the cards are valid for three years after issuance. The credit will not be lost even if the validity expires. In this case you can transfer the balance to a new card.
Is the Life card also available as a digital credit card?
We offer the Life card in two forms: as a conventional plastic card or as a purely digital prepaid credit card, which you can order online here. For all those who often shop on the Internet and use mobile payments, Life Digital is the perfect choice.
What are the advantages of the digital Mastercard Life Digital from Swiss Bankers?
A purely digital prepaid credit card (or online credit card) cannot be physically stolen or lost. It therefore offers a particularly high level of security. Nevertheless, it is important to ensure maximum protection for the digital card with the numerous security features in the Swiss Bankers app.
Another advantage is that you can order and use the digital credit card online in just a few minutes. You don’t have to wait for delivery by the post office, as the card is immediately available on your smartphone. Via quick top-up using a credit card or PostFinance card, the Life Digital is loaded in no time and can be used immediately.
You can get the Life Digital card for CHF 2.90 per month.
Other advantages of the Swiss Bankers Life and Life Digital prepaid credit cards at a glance:
Who is a digital credit card suitable for?
A digital credit card is particularly suitable for those who often shop online and therefore do not need a physical card. You can also use it to pay in all stores that offer contactless payment. Withdrawing money is only possible at ATMs that support contactless NFC function. So far, only a few ATMs are equipped with it.
Who can apply for a Life or Life Digital prepaid credit card?
Anyone 16 years of age or older can apply for a Life prepaid credit card without a legal guardian. Persons 12 years of age and older require the authorisation of a legal representative.
Is a credit check performed?
Swiss Bankers only offers prepaid credit cards, therefore no credit check is required. Regardless of creditworthiness or an entry in the debt collection statement, anyone can apply for a prepaid card at Swiss Bankers. Likewise, no proof of regular income is required.
Applying for a prepaid credit card: What do I need?
To apply for a prepaid credit card, you need either a valid Swiss identity card or passport, or a valid residence permit for Switzerland. First you need to register with Swiss Bankers, then you will enter the order and identification process, where we will verify your information.
Can I apply for a credit card without a credit check?
You want to apply for a prepaid credit card at Swiss Bankers and you are not sure if a credit check is necessary? Swiss Bankers does not perform a credit check for the application for a prepaid credit card. Even if you do not have a sufficient credit rating, you will receive your prepaid credit card easily and quickly.
Can I use the credit card immediately if I order it online?
You can order and use the Life Digital from Swiss Bankers online in just a few minutes. If you load the Life Digital by credit card or PostFinance card, the credit will be available to you within a few minutes. If you load your Life Digital by bank transfer (via e-banking), it usually takes one working day to credit the card with the amount you have loaded: make the transfer in the morning and pay with the card in the afternoon.
© Swiss Bankers 2024
