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If you live in Switzerland but regularly transfer euros – whether for rent in Germany, a subscription in France, or salaries to employees abroad – there is an easy solution: SEPA.
With a SEPA transfer, euro payments within Europe can be processed quickly, cheaply, and in a standardised way. Provided you have the right account. A multi-currency account with euro functionality, like the one offered by Alpian, helps minimise effort and save on fees.
Table of Contents
- What exactly is a SEPA transfer?
- What are the requirements for SEPA payments from Switzerland?
- What are the advantages of a SEPA transfer compared to other international payments?
- What fees are associated with a SEPA transfer?
- How do SEPA and SWIFT differ?
- Multi-currency account: The smart solution for SEPA & more
- Multi-currency account: The smart solution for SEPA & more
- How does Alpian specifically support SEPA payments?
- How do I send or receive euros with Alpian?
- Conclusion: When does SEPA make sense – and why is Alpian a practical solution for it?
What exactly is a SEPA transfer?
SEPA stands for “Single Euro Payments Area” – a payment system that simplifies cross-border euro transfers within Europe. Switzerland is part of this area, even though it is not part of the EU. This means that euros can be transferred easily and cost-effectively via SEPA from a Swiss account.
SEPA currently covers 36 countries – including not only EU member states but also countries such as Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Liechtenstein. However, transfers are only possible in euros, even if the destination country uses a different national currency (e.g., CHF, NOK, GBP). The IBAN is sufficient for the transfer.
What are the requirements for SEPA payments from Switzerland?
To send or receive SEPA payments, you need an account that supports euro transactions – either a separate EUR account or a multi-currency account. Your bank must participate in the SEPA scheme (which most Swiss banks do).
Things to note:
Currency: Only euros
IBAN required: The full IBAN of the recipient is mandatory
Electronic order: Best done via e-banking or app
Fee sharing: "SHA" fee rule is standard
The IBAN of a recipient always begins with two letters, indicating the country where the account is located (e.g., DE for Germany, FR for France, CH for Switzerland). This way, you can see at a glance whether a SEPA payment is possible.
If you only have a CHF account, the amount will be converted with each transfer – often with surcharges hidden in the exchange rate. Many Swiss banks don’t show exchange rate costs as separate fees but instead include them in the rate itself. This often leads to unnoticed additional costs, which can be much higher than the interbank rate.
What are the advantages of a SEPA transfer compared to other international payments?
A SEPA transfer is usually the cheapest, fastest, and easiest solution for euro payments within Europe. Compared to traditional international transfers (e.g., via SWIFT), SEPA stands out with low fees, clear rules, and high reliability.
Key benefits at a glance:
Low or no costs: Within the EU, SEPA payments cannot be more expensive than national transfers. Many Swiss banks offer them for free or at very low cost, especially for online orders.
Fast execution: Generally, the money is with the recipient by the next banking day at the latest – often even on the same day.
Uniform standards: Across the entire SEPA area, the same technical requirements apply. Providing the IBAN is enough, and BIC is usually not needed. This reduces the risk of errors and makes processing easier.
Security and transparency: SEPA payments are regulated, traceable, and subject to strict security requirements. The “SHA” fee rule ensures that each party only pays their own bank fees – no surprises.
No hidden fees through intermediary banks: Unlike SWIFT transfers, the amount is generally transferred without deductions by third parties. The recipient receives the full amount of the transfer – provided their bank doesn’t charge its own credit fees.
Those who regularly send or receive euros within Europe will find SEPA not only cheaper but also safer and more convenient than traditional international transfers.
What fees are associated with a SEPA transfer?
Within the EU, SEPA transfers are legally capped – they cannot cost more than a national transfer. While Switzerland does not have this requirement, many banks still charge little or nothing at all.
However, be mindful of hidden fees through currency conversion if your bank transfers euros from a CHF account. The exchange rate applied can differ significantly from the actual market value. Better yet: use an account that holds euros directly.
How do SEPA and SWIFT differ?
SEPA is ideal for euro transfers within Europe. SWIFT, on the other hand, is used for all other international payments – i.e., transfers in foreign currencies or to countries outside the SEPA area.
Tip: For euro payments within Europe, SEPA is almost always cheaper and faster.
Multi-currency account: The smart solution for SEPA & more
A classic CHF account often brings unnecessary additional costs with euro payments – due to exchange rate surcharges, fees, or poor predictability. A multi-currency account allows you to hold and use euros directly.
Everyday benefits:
No automatic conversion when receiving payments
Transparent exchange rates when converting CHF to EUR
Sending and receiving euros like with an EU account
Only one IBAN for multiple currencies
This solution is particularly relevant for expats who are new to Switzerland and need an account that meets their international needs. Those who receive their salary in euros, make payments abroad, or need to manage different currencies simultaneously should familiarise themselves early on with the available banking options.
A comprehensive comparison of the best Swiss bank accounts for expats can be found in this article: Which Swiss bank accounts are best for expats?
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Open your free Alpian account now – and access exclusive premium benefits.
Multi-currency account: The smart solution for SEPA & more
A classic CHF account often brings unnecessary additional costs with euro payments – due to exchange rate surcharges, fees, or poor predictability. A multi-currency account allows you to hold and use euros directly.
Everyday benefits:
No automatic conversion when receiving payments
Transparent exchange rates when converting CHF to EUR
Sending and receiving euros like with an EU account
Only one IBAN for multiple currencies
This solution is particularly relevant for expats who are new to Switzerland and need an account that meets their international needs. Those who receive their salary in euros, make payments abroad, or need to manage different currencies simultaneously should familiarise themselves early on with the available banking options.
A comprehensive comparison of the best Swiss bank accounts for expats can be found in this article: Which Swiss bank accounts are best for expats?
How does Alpian specifically support SEPA payments?
Alpian offers a modern multi-currency account that supports CHF, EUR, USD, and GBP as standard – with just one IBAN. Euro transfers can be made directly and free of charge via SEPA – both in the app and through advisory services.
What Alpian offers:
No fees for SEPA payments (incoming and outgoing): Transparent exchange rates: Only 0.2% markup on weekdays, 0.5% on weekends – well below the Swiss average of 1.69%
Only one IBAN for all currencies: Visa card or virtual cards that automatically charge from the appropriate currency account
User-friendly app with personal advisory service on request
Curious about the current rate? Use Alpian’s currency converter to check it yourself.
How do I send or receive euros with Alpian?
Once you’ve opened an account with Alpian, you can exchange, send, or receive euros with just a few clicks – all without paperwork.
Step by step:
Open an account: Free, fully digital via the app – you’ll receive an IBAN that works for multiple currencies.
Deposit CHF or transfer EUR directly to your euro account: You can either deposit Swiss francs or, if available, transfer euros directly to your EUR account at Alpian. In this case, the next step is not needed.
Exchange the amount to EUR: If you deposit CHF: Simply exchange in the app at the desired time, at a fair rate – transparent, cheap, and flexible.
Execute the SEPA payment: Enter the recipient's IBAN, confirm the amount – and the SEPA payment will be made directly from your euro balance.
Receive euros: Provide your IBAN and receive euro payments – for example, from an employer, a tenant, or family members abroad in the EU. The money will be credited in euros without conversion – fee-free.
Conclusion: When does SEPA make sense – and why is Alpian a practical solution for it?
With SEPA, euro transfers within Europe have taken a huge step forward – also for customers in Switzerland. Euro transfers today are as easy, fast, and affordable as they’ve ever been. Expats, internationally active professionals, and anyone who regularly pays or receives payments in euros benefit from the uniform SEPA standards. However, to fully leverage the benefits, you need the right account. This is where multi-currency accounts like Alpian’s come into play: they allow you to hold CHF and EUR in one account simultaneously, with fair exchange rates and no unnecessary fees. With this, you can make euro payments within Europe as if you had an account in a euro country – but with the convenience and security of a Swiss bank.
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