is there a way to get a credit card, in Switzerland, that is using EUR as primary currency? (so I don't get the exchange rate fees when I am shopping in EU)
Also, it should be a credit card, with a billing address in Switzerland.
Any tips?
Hi,
If you have a EUR account with your bank in Switzerland, I am sure they can issue you a EUR denominated crdit card.
I must admit I haven't got one myself, but there is a German bank (DKB) who allow customers to open a Euro account with a Swiss address, I would think you could also then apply for a CC.
Yes you can get one in EUR and USD both. I would certainly recommend that you visit www.cornercard.ch and/or call them. Here you don't have to have any bank accounts.
I am with them since 1999 and I would say they are the best for Quality and Service.
Indeed Corner is a good option but talk to your credit card company as they might have Euro cards too. The big banks possibly do.
I ́ve been using dkb.de for a long time now. They open accounts for residents of Switzerland without much hassle.
You can then transfer funds from your CHF-account in Switzerland to your EUR-account in Germany using currencyfair.com (or any of the other online-fx-brokers), which will allow you to get decent rates. You can then use your EURs 1:1 throughout the EUR-zone.
Happy shopping/travels!
Ok, this is good. What I need, however, is EUR-denominated credit card where the billing address is in Switzerland. This I am not sure that dkb.de can provide (perhaps they can, as you are living in Switzerland).
The reason I want this is that I could order goods (from e.g. Amazon) and get VAT back if my billing address (i.e. CC being used) is outside EU. I can do that if I order it to e.g. LAS Burg in Weil-am-Rhein, and then stamp the invoice on the border. But I don't want to use CC that is based on CHF, since I get exchange rate fee plus fee for using it abroad.
I use my SBB Visa card to buy stuff online in EUR - and have never get charged an exchange rate fee.....not sure how the exchange rates compare to a EUR account, but they don't seem too bad.
DKB will give you a credit card with Swiss billing address.
The billing address on Amazon can be anything you want it to be. It doesn't have to be the same as the credit card address (but can be).
So you're good to order on Amazon in any case!
The cheapest thing is to open an account with DKB (a German bank) online. You need to go by the post office in e.g. Switzerland to prove you are you and send some forms. Account is free and Visa card is free.
One thing I forgot: you don't need any special permit as far as I know to open the account and DKB is probably as safe as the banks in Switzerland.