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Different accounts for different requirementsThere are many types of accounts. Choose the type of account that best reflects your financial goals. |
Post office account
A post office account is suitable for everyday transactions. You can use the PostFinance Card to withdraw cash at post office cash dispensers free of charge. You can also use it as a debit card for cashless purchases in shops.
Personal account / Current account for ongoing expenditure
Use this account for day-to-day banking. Your wages are paid into it. You can also use it to pay bills and to manage your Maestro card and/or credit card. The interest rate on the personal account is characteristically low. This is because it is a working account and is not intended to be used to save money.
Savings account
The savings account offers a higher rate of interest than a personal account and is intended for long-term deposits and allowing money to "grow". Therefore, there are special regulations governing withdrawals, such as there is a limit on how much money you can withdraw (e.g. 50,000 francs). Larger amounts can be withdrawn only by prior arrangement.
Other accounts
Personal accounts and savings accounts are the classic accounts. Some banks offer variations on these, such as a personal account in a foreign currency, a young person's savings account or an interest band savings account to cover the various needs as effectively as possible.
Have you chosen a bank? Take the time to drop by and find out the accounts necessary and suitable for you. For various reasons, it may be useful to open a number of accounts instead of just one:
- Having multiple accounts essentially makes it easier to divide your finances and maintain an overview.
- You can separate your ongoing expenditure from the money that you want to save.
- If you are self-employed, you can separate business expenditure from personal expenditure.
- You benefit from better rates of interest.
- In the case of couples, it is advisable to have one joint and two separate accounts.
Account charges
If the credit on your account is above a fixed limit, you need to pay little or no charges for account management, regular bank statements, direct debits or standing orders. However, if you fall below the fixed credit level or avail special services, you have to bear the costs. The post office and the banks publish their charges in detail in pamphlets or on the Internet.
