Which banking services offer the greatest savings if diversified?

Pillar 3a offers the most significant savings, saving between CHF 395 and CHF 740 per year. Credit cards also have the potential to save up to CHF 216, while savings account and card usage abroad can save up to CHF 180 and CHF 101 respectively.

Is it necessary to close the account at the main bank to save?

No, you don't have to. Ralf Beyeler of Moneyland.ch points out that you can keep some products at your main bank and choose cheaper suppliers for other specific services at the same time. The winning strategy is the diversification of suppliers based on the convenience of the individual product.

How much can you earn in total by diversifying suppliers?

According to the study by Moneyland.ch, if you choose the cheapest supplier on the market for each individual product, you not only cut costs, but you can achieve a positive balance of 229 francs per year, thanks to the combination of interest income and bonus programs that exceed the expenses incurred.

Banks: loyalty costs a lot, it's better to diversify (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 11 August 2026

Interior of a modern Swiss bank office with financial documents

A Moneyland.ch study reveals the hidden costs of bank loyalty: you save up to a thousand francs by diversifying services between various institutions.

Context

In Brief

Bank loyalty in Switzerland costs up to 1,000 Swiss francs per year.
Diversifying providers results in a positive balance of 229 Swiss francs.
Pillar 3a is the area with the greatest potential for annual savings.

Key Facts

What: Study on bank fees by Moneyland.ch
When: Published today
Where: Switzerland
Who: Moneyland.ch
Amount: 491 Swiss francs (minimum annual cost at Banca Migros)
Amount: 964 Swiss francs (maximum annual cost at UBS)

The Swiss tendency to keep all financial relationships with a single credit institution is proving to be a less-than-astute economic choice. A recent study published by the online comparator Moneyland.ch has analyzed the overall costs associated with managing a standard package of banking services at nine major Swiss institutions. The investigation considers a typical user profile that uses a private account with a debit card, a savings account, a credit card, international payment services, and a pension solution linked to Pillar 3a.

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Operational details

The analysis conducted by Moneyland.ch does not only compare banks as a whole, but suggests a diversification strategy that can turn a fixed cost into a potential gain. Dividing products among different specialized suppliers allows selecting the most economical option for each single category on the market. According to experts, adopting this strategy is not only possible to zero out commissions, but even to obtain a positive balance of 229 francs per year, thanks to the combined effect of higher active interest and bonus programs that exceed the management expenses incurred.

Useful planning tools

To estimate your pension strategy, use the pension planner and the pillar 3 simulator.

Key points

For those who want to optimize their financial situation, the first step is to accurately analyze the annual costs incurred for current banking services. Ralf Beyeler, financial expert at Moneyland.ch, points out that it is absolutely possible to keep some products at your main bank, while selecting cheaper partners for specific services where savings are higher. The recommended operating procedure is to draw up an inventory of the products owned — private account, credit cards, pillar 3a and savings accounts — and check, through online comparators, if there are alternatives that offer more advantageous conditions.

Operational checklist for bank savings

Before proceeding with any transfer of funds or closure of accounts, it is essential to follow a few key steps. Firstly, it is necessary to verify the conditions of withdrawal of existing contracts, in particular with regard to the social security plans of pillar 3a, which could present constraints or transfer costs between institutions. Secondly, it is advisable to compare the annual management fees of all credit cards in your possession, as these often represent the most flexible and reduction-prone item of expenditure. Finally, using a dedicated calcolatore can help simulate potential savings on an annual basis, allowing decisions to be made based on hard data

Source: laregione.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

Which banking services offer the greatest savings if diversified?: Pillar 3a offers the most significant savings, saving between CHF 395 and CHF 740 per year. Credit cards also have the potential to save up to CHF 216, while savings account and card usage abroad can save up to CHF 180 and CHF 101 respectively.
Is it necessary to close the account at the main bank to save?: No, you don't have to. Ralf Beyeler of Moneyland.ch points out that you can keep some products at your main bank and choose cheaper suppliers for other specific services at the same time. The winning strategy is the diversification of suppliers based on the convenience of the individual product.
How much can you earn in total by diversifying suppliers?: According to the study by Moneyland.ch, if you choose the cheapest supplier on the market for each individual product, you not only cut costs, but you can achieve a positive balance of 229 francs per year, thanks to the combination of interest income and bonus programs that exceed the expenses incurred.