Topping up a prepaid card: What do you need to bear in mind?

Contents:

• What are the options for topping up a Swiss Bankers card?

• How quickly is the credit available?

• What fees and limits apply when topping up?

• What should you bear in mind when topping up your prepaid card?

• Frequently asked questions about topping up a prepaid card

• Conclusion: Top up easily and stay flexible

What are the options for topping up a Swiss Bankers card?

Whether you’re at home or on the move, Swiss Bankers offers you various ways to top up your prepaid card. The following options are available for the Travel and Life cards:

• Via the Swiss Bankers app: Top up your card conveniently using a credit card, debit card or PostFinance card. With this ‘quick top-up’, the credit is usually available to you within around 15 minutes.

• Via e-banking: Transfer the desired amount from your bank account to your prepaid card. You’ll find the necessary payment details in the Swiss Bankers app.

• At a sales outlet: If you obtained your card from a sales partner, you may also be able to top it up there, depending on the provider.

• From card to card: Transfer credit to another Swiss Bankers card. Further information on any applicable fees can be found in the Swiss Bankers FAQs.

Good to know: Top-up options vary depending on the card type. The Life Digital card can also be topped up via the app or through e-banking. The Prime card, on the other hand, is topped up via the relevant private bank, whilst the Value card can only be topped up by the issuing company or institution.

How quickly is the credit available?

Whether it’s a spur-of-the-moment purchase or a last-minute top-up before your holiday – how quickly the credit is available on your prepaid card depends on the top-up method you choose. Whilst quick top-ups via the Swiss Bankers app are particularly fast, you should allow a little more time for bank transfers.

The following overview shows you how long each top-up method usually takes.

What fees and limits apply when topping up?

The costs and top-up limits depend on the card type and the chosen payment method. It is therefore worth checking the terms and conditions before each top-up.

What top-up fees apply?

• Travel Card: The standard top-up fee is 1.5% of the top-up amount. For a quick top-up using a credit or debit card, a further 1.5% is added. This is calculated on the top-up amount, including the standard top-up fee. A top-up using the PostFinance card incurs an additional CHF 6.

• Life and Life Digital: Top-ups via e-banking are free of charge. For express top-ups using a credit or debit card, a fee of 1.5 per cent of the top-up amount applies; when using a PostFinance card, a fee of CHF 6 applies.

Different terms and conditions may apply depending on the distribution partner.

An example: For a quick top-up of the Travel Card with a top-up amount of CHF 500, the standard top-up fee is CHF 7.50. The additional quick top-up fee is calculated on CHF 507.50 and amounts to CHF 7.61. This results in total fees of CHF 15.11.

What are the top-up limits? The minimum top-up amount is CHF 100; for the Travel Card, this is alternatively EUR or USD 100. The maximum card balance is CHF 10,000 or EUR or USD 10,000. This takes into account any existing balance. With Life Digital, lower limits may apply depending on the extent of the identity verification carried out.

As at October 2026. All information is provided without guarantee. Fees, limits and terms and conditions are subject to change. You can find the latest information in the Swiss Bankers card comparison.

What should you bear in mind when topping up your pay-as-you-go card?

An incorrectly entered reference number, insufficient credit or unexpected charges can quickly cause problems. By taking a few simple precautions, you can avoid unnecessary costs and unpleasant surprises.

• Check your personal reference number: When topping up via e-banking, use the correct payment details and your personal reference number from the Swiss Bankers app so that your transfer can be clearly identified.

• Ensure you have sufficient credit: It’s advisable to keep a small reserve, particularly when travelling. Hotels and automated petrol stations may temporarily reserve higher amounts, which will be unavailable to you during this time.

• Check your card balance regularly: Check your available balance and your transactions in the Swiss Bankers app. This will allow you to spot in good time when you need to top up again.

• Only use official top-up channels: Use only the Swiss Bankers app, your own e-banking service or authorised sales outlets. Be wary of suspicious payment links and never disclose your PIN, passwords or confirmation codes.

• Choose the right top-up method: If you’re not in a hurry, e-banking is usually cheaper – and with Life and Life Digital, it’s even free. If you need the credit at short notice, the quick top-up via the Swiss Bankers app is the best option.

Frequently asked questions about topping up a prepaid card

• Can I top up my Swiss Bankers card whilst abroad? Yes, you can use the Swiss Bankers app to top up your Travel, Life or Life Digital card even whilst on holiday. All you need is an internet connection and a supported payment method.
• Can I top up my prepaid card regularly? Yes, you can set up a standing order via your online banking to transfer a fixed amount to your card at regular intervals. Please note the applicable top-up limits and fees.

• What should I do if the topped-up balance doesn’t appear? First, check whether the payment was processed successfully and allow for the usual processing time. If the credit still hasn’t appeared, please contact Swiss Bankers Customer Service with your payment details.

• What happens if I have topped up my prepaid card with too much money? You can request a refund of the card balance. For refunds requested via the form for amounts exceeding CHF, EUR or USD 50, a processing fee of 20 units of the respective currency applies. A free balance withdrawal via the Swiss Bankers app is possible if the card is cancelled at the same time.

• Can I transfer credit from one card to another? Yes, you can transfer credit to another Swiss Bankers card via the Swiss Bankers app. The transfer itself is free of charge. However, depending on the card type, top-up or transaction fees may apply. Further information can be found in the Swiss Bankers FAQs.

Conclusion: Simply top up and stay flexible

Whether via e-banking or quick top-up via the app – with the right top-up method, your prepaid card is ready to use at any time. Be aware of fees, limits and processing times so that you can remain flexible in everyday life and whilst travelling.

Need more credit? Open the Swiss Bankers app and top up your card with ease.

Don’t have a prepaid card yet? Discover the different options in the Swiss Bankers card comparison.