Visitors - Prepaid cards / money

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
I have visitors coming to stay.

They are teenagers

I want to make sure they have money incase they need it.

If I were in the USA I would buy them a visa gift card with some money on it.

It's used like a credit card but has a limit so when the money is gone - it's gone.

I know I can get them cash, that is an option, but I like the idea of them having something like a credit card.

1) does Switzerland have anything like a visa gift card?

2) My bank is Migros, do they offer anything like this

3) One of the visitors has a debit card from the USA, does the debit card work in switzerland.

Thanks for the help.

2
Hi there - for sure prepaid cards exist here ... (takes seconds to find out on google). But they are not free (either up front fees or for charging and using)

- Migros Bank: https://www.migrosbank.ch/privatpers...paidkarte.html

- Others (for example): https://www.cornercard.ch/de/prepaidkarten/

[for example, at the K Kiosk, you can buy one for CHF 39 and then there are no other fees, I think]

- US Debit Card - depends what standard it is. If Visa/Mastercard should be no issue. If Discover or other, it should work but acceptance will vary ...

3
Can you set them up with something like Wise or Revolut? Don’t know if there is an age restriction.

4
So I went to Migros bank and discussed the option you mentioned. This really isn't an option.

I'd have to setup another account with Migros, then transfer funds into this, and each card would cost 30chf each.

I also checked out the "other" example you mentioned. If my memory is correct, each card costs 30ish chf.

I'll check on the US debit card but to be honest, I think I'll just get them cash and tell them to take what they need.

5
SBB used to have HalfFare card with pre-paid card enabled, if memory serves, service was from https://www.cornercard.ch/de/prepaidkarten/ , SBB seems to have stopped the service but cornercard still has the service.

Did you check Wise / Revolut suggested by others here as well? once account is setup you can get a digital card immediately which can be used with wallets on phone.

6
Teenagers most likely have limited experience of using cash, at least in the years since they got pocket money that was big to them, but not to an opportunist.

CH is pretty safe, but that does not mean teenagers looking slightly awkward finding right coins/bills won’t be a billboard for a pickpocket in eg HB. Lost cash is lost, a TW or Revolut card can be topped up with reasonable amount for a few days spending. Afaik it is pretty easy to get one and (not sure about this) you can possibly put same card on eg Applepay for all of them (if they aren’t 18) Good way to keep track of their spending msnmad:

I’ve seen near toddlers paying by blipping phones, am assuming not their personal Platinum card

7
I think it's time I do a bit of research on WISE / Revolut that's been mentioned.

It's next up on the list of things to check into.

8
Revolut has a a junior Account https://www.revolut.com/legal/revolut-junior

2. What is Revolut Junior?

Revolut Junior is designed for parents who want their children to gain financial skills and to learn how to use and manage money. If you use Revolut Junior for something else, you may breach the Junior Terms.

If you are the Lead Parent, a Revolut Junior account is a sub-account of your Revolut personal account that you allow a Junior to use. As it is a sub-account of your personal account, you are responsible for everything a Junior does using it as if you had done it yourself.

The Junior can view any transactions made on their Revolut Junior account using the Junior app. They will also be issued with a card linked to the account that they can use to spend and withdraw cash. They may be able to add it to Apple Pay or Google Pay as well. Juniors cannot make or receive transfers using the Junior app.

update: I can’t find the junior account option in my Revolut. Seems it currently only available to EU & US customers

Revolut Junior accounts can only be created by a parent or legal guardian residing in Europe, Australia or the US. Revolut Junior will be rolled out to more countries very soon, so stay tuned!