Name
Global FinTech Guide
Country _ Name
Switzerland
SectionTitle
Payment services
Body
FinTechs belonging to this category offer alternative payment services which are supposed to provide a faster and cheaper way for national, European, and international payments for private and business customers by using new technologies.

For example, payment service providers hereby offer solutions to easily integrate several payment services in online shops.

Some FinTechs furthermore provide real cash register systems and online-reservation solutions for restaurants and shops providing their own payment services or making use of the payment services of FinTechs described above.

Introduction

Attitude of the country towards modern payment services

Switzerland has a friendly climate towards modern payment services. The politics is supportive towards the FinTech sector including modern payment services and a number of recent legislative and regulatory initiatives shall strengthen Switzerland's position as a FinTech-Hub. According to a study of the Swiss National Bank ('SNB') of autumn 2022, the Swiss population has become increasingly aware and appreciative of innovations in the field of cashless payment methods. The use of payment methods continues to shift from cash to cashless payment methods – albeit at a slower pace than in previous years. The usage of mobile payment apps in terms of volume and value have doubled since 2020 to 11% (volume) and 8% (value), respectively according to the study of the SNB.

Legal affairs

Obligations and requirements to provide payment services or ancillary services described above

Payment service providers who are primarily active in the financial sector and on a professional basis accept deposits or crypto-based assets held in collective custody from more than 20 depositors or solicit deposits or crypto-based assets held in collective custody from the public (even if it receives less than 20 depositions or crypto-based assets held in collective custody as a result from soliciting) in principle need to have a full-fledged banking license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ('FINMA').

No banking license or a FinTech license is required (regulatory sandbox) if (a) a fintech company holds not more than CHF 1.0 million (approx. USD 1.0 million) as deposits or crypto-based assets held in collective custody, (b) does not engage in any interest rate differential transaction business and (c) does fulfil certain formal requirements. Likewise, no banking license is required if deposits (no limitations apply in regard to the amount) are held for less than 60 days on a settlement account.

Further, financial services providers may accept deposits or crypto-based assets from the public in an aggregate amount not exceeding CHF 100.0 million under a so-called FinTech license (which is a banking license light) if such deposits or crypto-based assets are neither re-invested by the services provider nor earn interest. Anti-money laundering law obligations only apply to financial intermediaries with a physical presence in Switzerland.

The costs, in particular for obtaining a banking or FinTech License and financial reserves depend on the individual case.

Additional comments regarding the legal situation for payment services or what FinTech’s must be aware of in this business area

Providers of payment services are often subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act ('AMLA'), including the obligations regarding identification and review of new and existing customers ('KYC'). However, these obligations do not apply if, for example, non-cash transactions are only used for the purchase of goods and services and no more than CHF 1,000 per transaction and no more than CHF 5,000 per person per year is transferred. Further, the due diligence obligations are reduced, for example, if no more than CHF 10,000 per month and person is transferred as a non-cash transaction and goods or services are involved.

Economic conditions

Market size for payment services and biggest payment service providers

While cash still remains the most frequently used method of payment for non-recurring payments in Switzerland, the share of touch-free debit card payments remained stable since 2020 after a significant increase in the previous years. Payment services have become more and more popular in Switzerland as well in the last few years. In particular mobile payment apps continued to grow since 2020. In 2022 the Swiss National Bank conducted a survey according to which mobile payment apps have a volume share of 11% and a value share of 8%.

The most prevalent solution for mobile payment apps is by far the Swiss app Twint with a share of 78% of all installed mobile payment apps. Twint can not only be used to buy goods and services at physical points of sale or remotely via online purchases, but also to settle P2P payments.

The major payment service providers for online shops in Switzerland are DataTrans, PostFinance E-Payment, Worldline (which includes the former SIX Payment Services), Payrexx as well as PayPal.

Additional comments regarding the economic situation for payment services or what FinTech’s must be aware of in this business area

According to the Swiss National Bank survey, conducted in 2020, Swiss households still made 36% of their payments with cash, 33% with debit cards, and 13% with credit cards, both of whose shares have remained stable since 2020.

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