Frequently asked questions

Within the currency zone, transactions in CHF, USD, and GBP are free.

Outside the currency zone, transactions in CHF, USD, and GBP incur a fee of 7 CHF for a CHF transaction, 7 USD for a USD transaction, or 7 GBP for a GBP transaction.

You can view our full fee brochure here.

Just 0.20% on weekdays. On weekends, a 0.50% markup applies.

To open an account with Alpian, begin by downloading the app, available for both iOS and Android devices. During the sign-up process, you will be asked to provide some personal information and complete a quick ID verification to ensure security and compliance.

Activating your account: The final step to activate your account involves making a deposit that must come from a bank account registered in your name at a licensed bank located either in Switzerland or a FATF country. There is no minimum amount required to open an account. However, this initial transaction is necessary to activate the account.

Important: Because of FINMA regulations, funds transfers from companies like Revolut, PayPal, or Wise are not accepted.

To see where you stand in the application process, please go to the initial page of the app where your progress is displayed. For further details, feel free to contact our support team via chat or schedule a call here.

To activate your account, the first transfer must meet specific criteria mandated by the Swiss regulator FINMA for banks accepting clients through digital channels:

• Source of transfer: The transfer must originate from an account held in your name. Transfers from third-party or company accounts are not accepted.

• Due to compliance reasons, Revolut, N26, Wise, and PayPal are currently not accepted.

• Bank location: The transfer must be from a bank located in a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) member country. These countries adhere to stringent guidelines regarding customer due diligence and wire transfers, ensuring a higher level of regulatory compliance.

FATF-compliant countries include: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong (China), Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and USA.

Please ensure that your initial transfer conforms to these criteria. Once your account is activated, you can perform all standard banking transactions normally.

Our multi-currency account allows you to hold the four most commonly used currencies—CHF, EUR, USD, and GBP—under a single IBAN. This feature enables you to hold, transfer, pay, save, and receive money in these currencies without the need for multiple bank accounts.

Funds are credited in the currency they are received in. For example, if you receive 100€, it will be credited and stored in euros. This is perfect for frequent travelers and expats, as it allows you to manage your finances without commissions or high exchange rates.

Your IBAN can be easily found with just a few clicks. To locate it: Open your Alpian app > Click on the Accounts menu (second menu from the left) > Click on the Details icon on the right.

Open your Alpian app > Click on your profile icon at the top right > Select Documents > Select My Uploads > Click on the +.

Open your Alpian app > Click on your profile icon at the top right > Documents > Statements.

To change your phone number, please contact our support team via the live chat or by scheduling a video call with a wealth advisor. You will be required to verify your new phone number as part of the process to ensure the security of your account.

Open your Alpian app > Click on your profile icon at the top right > Select Personal Details > Change address here.

High fees for paying and withdrawing money abroad can be frustrating. Alpian puts an end to exorbitant commissions and unfavourable rates by offering foreign exchange capabilities at one of the lowest fees in the Swiss market: 0,20% on weekdays, on weekends, a 0,50% markup applies. This fee isn't about making a profit; it simply covers the exchange process. At Alpian, we're committed to transparency in pricing, we only charge you when a service demands our expert touch.

Yes, Alpian does not charge commission fees on transactions abroad, offering highly competitive exchange rates.

Additionally, create virtual cards directly within the app for secure online and in-store payments.

Yes. Your Alpian virtual card has a PIN, which allows you to withdraw cash at any ATM with a contactless reader.

Here's how:

• Add your Alpian virtual card to Apple Pay or Google Pay

• At the ATM, hold your phone near the contactless reader

• Enter your PIN when prompted

Note: This only works at ATMs equipped with a contactless terminal. Standard chip-and-PIN ATMs are not compatible with virtual cards.

The physical metal Visa debit card costs CHF 60 upon first order or replacement. There is no annual fee. Additionally, you can create up to five virtual cards free of charge within the Alpian app. The card is valid for 5 years.

To receive your debit card, you must first manually order it via the Alpian app following these steps:

• Tap on the top right icon of the app and then select Cards Management from the menu.

• Request your physical debit card.

The debit card typically takes between 5 and 7 business days to arrive. Always ensure that you have used the correct address and that your name is clearly labeled on your mailbox. If there are any discrepancies, please contact us.

While waiting for your card, you can use your Alpian account by creating virtual cards, digital debit cards that you can use for payments when added to your e-wallet or for online shopping.

Activating your Alpian Metal debit card is a straightforward two-step process:

Step 1: Activate it within the app

• Open the Alpian app on your device.

• Tap on the icon at the top right corner to access your profile options.

• Navigate to the Cards Management section.

• Tap on Activate Card to enable it for online payments.

Note: If you see a code in your card package, it is not your PIN. Please ignore it.

Step 2: Activate it with a transaction

• Insert your card into a Swiss merchant terminal or at a restaurant.

• Perform one transaction with your card to fully activate it for contactless payments.

For virtual and metal cards:

• Open your Alpian app

• Click on your profile icon at the top right

• Select the Cards Management tab

• Select the card

• Click on PIN.

For the metal card only: If you need to change your PIN, you can do so at any ATM across Switzerland. Please note that only 4-digit PINs are supported.

Open your Alpian app > Click on your profile icon at the top right > Select the Cards Management tab > Select the card > Click on the "eye" icon at the bottom left of the card > Enter your Alpian app access code.

Yes, you can. Your Alpian card works in any supported currency, even if you don’t hold that currency in your account. In such cases, Alpian will automatically convert the payment by using funds from your available balances. The conversion follows a predefined logic that cannot be adjusted manually.

If you’d like to benefit from a specific exchange rate, we recommend converting currencies within the app before making your purchase. For more details, feel free to contact our support team.

No, Alpian is not a robo-advisor. While we use technology to automate parts of the investment process and deliver a personalized experience, our portfolios are designed and managed by a team of investment experts. They craft strategies, select products, and continuously monitor performance to ensure your investments align with your goals.

Alpian offers more flexibility and depth than before. Within our discretionary portfolios (starting from 2’000 CHF), you can choose from a range of strategies beyond ESG, including Swiss-focused, international, and even portfolios that include digital assets. For clients seeking more personalization, our Premium Mandates (starting from 30'000 CHF) allow you to tailor your portfolio, while our investment team actively implements their market views on your behalf.

If you prefer to stay in control, we also provide advisory portfolios (starting from 10'000 CHF), where you make your own investment decisions while benefiting from our guidance and expertise.

Alpian offers a cost-efficient investment solution with transparent pricing across all tiers:

• 0,75% starting fee*

• up to 0,50% for Signature clients:

  • Up to CHF 300'000: 0,69% management fee, plus an average product TER of 0,25%*

  • CHF 300'000–CHF 500'000: 0,60% management fee, plus an average product TER of 0,25%*

  • Above CHF 500'000: 0,50% management fee, plus an average product TER of 0,25%*

*Please note: additional costs such as stamp duties and market-related fees may apply.

Yes. Alpian integrates everyday banking with investment services in one app. Once you open an account, it serves as a hub for both your banking and investing needs, simplifying your financial management.

Investing with Alpian is straightforward and fully digital, allowing you to begin quickly without any paperwork or office visits. After you’ve downloaded Alpian and created your account, here's how you can start:

1) Open the Alpian app and tap the Investments tab, located as the third icon from the left on your screen.

2) Tap Start Now to select the investment mandate that best fits your style:

• Managed Premium (discretionary mandate): Hands-off wealth management.

• Managed Essentials (discretionary mandate): Located inside the 'Managed Premium' mandate, wealth management for small budgets.

• Guided Premium (advisory mandate): Investing with the recommendation of investment professionals.

3) After you select the right mandate, complete a 10-minute questionnaire to provide information about your financial knowledge, situation, investment objectives, and risk tolerance. This assists us in tailoring an investment strategy specifically for you. You will also have the opportunity to set preferences for geographical areas and asset classes to include or exclude, and your desired impact level.

4) Once you finished the questionnaire, we have crafted your strategy that you can now review. Here is all you can check before actually committing to invest:

• Portfolio allocation: You’ll see a detailed breakdown of how your funds would be allocated across fixed income, equities, and alternative investments. Modifications are possible at this stage.

• Risk/return projections: You’ll understand the potential risks and expected returns of your strategy.

• Impact score: You can assess the social and environmental impact of your portfolio. Here you have the option to increase or decrease the impact level.

• Risk level: You can see how your strategy compares to others at Alpian based on your risk profile.

• Historical performance: You can review the past performance of your selected strategy to understand how it would perform if you go for it.

• Exposure: You can examine the countries and sectors your investments will touch.

5) If you agree with the proposed strategy, it’s now time to accept the proposal.

6) Finally, you need to sign the contract to get you started and transfer funds to your investment account.

7) Congratulations, you are now investing!

Alpian provides three tailored investment solutions to cater to various investor needs and preferences:

Managed Premium: Ideal for clients preferring a hands-off approach, this solution starts with CHF 30,000. Our experts manage your investments, focusing on crafting a strategy that maximises returns aligned with your long-term financial objectives.

Managed Essentials: Start investing with as little as CHF 2,000. Choose from one of four pre-designed ETF savings plans managed by our experts, providing a simple and effective way to start growing your wealth.

Guided Premium: Perfect for clients who want more involvement in their investment decisions with a starting point of CHF 10,000. This option offers the flexibility of making your own investment choices with the added benefit of receiving real-time, professional guidance.

The "Guided Premium" investment mandate involves crafting a personalised investment strategy aligned with your specific goals and needs, which you execute. Our experts provide consistent advice and recommendations anchored in your strategy and in response to market developments. Just like with "Managed Premium" you can access wealth advisors through in-app video consultations.

This excludes the Total Expense Ratio (TER) of the underlying products, which varies by selection but averages around 0.25% for a diversified portfolio, as well as stamp duties and market-related costs such as foreign exchange charges and bid-ask spreads

The "Managed Premium" investment mandate involves crafting a personalised investment strategy aligned with your specific goals and needs, executed and managed day-to-day by a seasoned team of experts. You'll also receive regular updates to keep you informed about market-related portfolio changes, with the added convenience of direct contact with our wealth advisors via in-app video consultations.

This excludes the Total Expense Ratio (TER) of the underlying products, which varies by selection but averages around 0.25% for a diversified portfolio, as well as stamp duties and market-related costs such as foreign exchange charges and bid-ask spreads.

Once you deposit funds into your Alpian account, the investment process depends on the mandate you have chosen:

• Managed Premium and Managed Essentials: Your funds are typically invested at the next rebalancing session, which occurs every weekday morning when financial markets are open. Please note that rebalancing does not occur on weekends or public holidays.

• Guided Premium: After depositing funds, you need to submit your investment orders yourself. These orders are processed at the next investment cut-off, with all transactions being grouped and executed around midday.

Unlike traditional and private banks, which often involve cumbersome paperwork and in-person meetings, our streamlined approach makes it easy for you to get started.

Our management mandates are based on ETFs. To select the ETFs included in our portfolios, we followed a rigorous selection process across 4 sub-asset classes: Fixed income, equities, commodities, and digital assets. Learn more

At Alpian, you have the freedom to book unlimited, free sessions with our wealth advisors. We understand the importance of readily available financial guidance, so our advisors are available to you whenever you need them. There is no fee for wealth advisory meetings at Alpian. This service is available for all Alpian account holders, regardless of whether they are currently investing or not. For more information, please visit our pricing page.

Your investments are held in your name with our custodian, Interactive Brokers. This means the securities (such as ETFs) are legally yours. In the unlikely event of a bank or custodian insolvency, these assets do not form part of their estate and remain protected for you. For 3A assets, the custodian is Reyl – Intesa SanPaolo. Alpian, as a bank supervised by FINMA, offers the suite of protections and safeguards inherent to Swiss banks. The protection of your wealth and personal information is our utmost priority.

Yes, our portfolios are primarily hedged in Swiss francs as a default position to reduce currency risk and provide greater stability for Swiss investors. However, this is not systematic: the investment team may take tactical currency views when deemed appropriate. Additionally, for certain asset classes, hedging is not possible. Unlike many competitors whose performance can fluctuate significantly with currency movements, such as euro volatility, our approach aims to deliver a more stable investment experience while retaining flexibility for strategic decisions

Our daily investment cycle ensures that your orders are processed every business day when markets are open, so your money starts working without unnecessary delay. Orders for both advisory and discretionary mandates are grouped and executed once per day at a defined cut-off time. This aggregation allows us to eliminate transaction fees, a key advantage for you.

In exceptional circumstances, such as system interruptions or market disruptions, processing may take up to three days. For full details, please refer to our Best Execution Policy.

Orders may take up to one hour to appear after execution. Please check back later to see it reflected in your app.

Settlement takes 2 working days to process. For "Managed Premium" investments, funds are credited to your current account two working days after the order execution.

For "Guided Premium" investments, funds are credited to the cash bucket of the mandate two working days after the order is executed.

Absolutely, there are no lock-in periods with your investments at Alpian. You can access your funds anytime, with liquidation typically occurring within two working days after your request.

When you request a withdrawal or close an investment mandate:

• For Managed Premium / Managed Essentials mandates: Orders are executed during the next rebalancing.

• For Guided Premium: Orders are executed at the next investment cut-off (around midday) after you submit them.

Please note that it takes 2 working days for trades to settle (the exchange of the instrument for cash with our broker). Once settled, the cash will be available to you.

It is not possible to create two investment mandates of the same type. However, you can have both a "Managed Premium" mandate and a "Guided Premium" mandate.

At Alpian, we recognise the importance of keeping you informed about your investments’ performance. That’s why we provide multiple ways to stay up-to-date:

Continuous updates: Through the Alpian app, your portfolio’s performance is refreshed nearly every hour. This gives you the flexibility to monitor progress whenever you choose.

Monthly journal (Managed Premium mandate clients only): Premium clients benefit from a detailed monthly report summarising portfolio performance, including any changes made and the rationale behind them.

Market newsletter: All clients receive our regular newsletter with insights and updates on market trends, helping you stay connected to the bigger picture.

You can automate investments directly from your CHF account to any active Managed Essentials or Managed Premium mandate with zero setup fees.

1. Setup

• How to do it: Go to your mandate's "Overview" (recurring investment section) or tap the "Invest" button (choose "recurring investment").

• Frequency: Set it up weekly, monthly, or yearly, with optional start and end dates.

• Minimums: There is no minimum amount.

• Modifications: You can cancel at any time. To change the amount or frequency, simply cancel the current plan and create a new one.

• Insufficient funds: If your Swiss franc (CHF) account lacks funds, the transfer will not go through. You will receive a warning notification the day before so you can top up

2. How funds are invested

Depending on your portfolio size, funds may not be invested instantly.

As soon as your transferred cash exceeds your strategy's defined cash allocation threshold, it will automatically be invested in accordance with portfolio management guidelines.

Tracking: View your history in the transaction list under Overview or Payments.

You can cancel your recurring investment at any time. To change the amount or frequency, cancel your current recurring investment and create a new one.

There are no additional fees for recurring investments. Only the standard 0.75% annual investment management fee applies.

No, you can only have one recurring investment active at a time.

Visa+ is a payment service that enables real-time money transfers quickly and securely using Visa’s global network, simply by sharing your phone number.

Set it up in a few steps in your Alpian app:

1. Select a card to associate with your phone number.

2. Set it as your preferred card to receive payments (or decide later).

3. Accept the Visa+ terms of use and you're all set.

If you've made a payment and it doesn't show up immediately, don't worry. Try refreshing the screen or closing and reopening the app. This is usually just a brief display delay.

If the payment still doesn't appear after these steps, contact our support team.

You can cancel any scheduled payment before it is processed, providing flexibility and control over your transactions. To edit an upcoming scheduled payments, cancel it and create a new one.

Payments scheduled on weekends or Swiss bank holidays are automatically processed on the next working day.

Open your Alpian app > Click on the Accounts menu (second menu from the left) > Click on the Payments icon > Click on the QR code at the top right > Scan the QR invoice.

Our multi-currency account allows you to hold, manage, and transact in multiple currencies under a single IBAN. At Alpian, our multi-currency account currently supports CHF, EUR, USD, and GBP.

To set up Apple Pay:

• Open the Wallet app on your iPhone.

• Tap the "+" icon.

• Select "Enter Card Details Manually".

• Input your card number, expiration date, and CVV code.

• Follow the on-screen instructions to verify with an OTP code via SMS.

If you haven't received your physical card, you can generate a virtual card in the Alpian app and use its details.

Here's how to add your card to the  Google Wallet:

Open the Google Wallet app.

• Tap Payment card and then New credit or debit card.

• Enter your card details.

• Scroll to the bottom, tap Save and Continue.

• Read the Issuer Terms and accept them.

That's it! Your Alpian card is now ready for you to use with your Android devices. 

Yes, the pre-paid version of TWINT can be funded through your Alpian account.

Please follow the steps below to get started:

• Download the prepaid TWINT & other banks application.

• Complete the TWINT account opening process.

• Once the TWINT account is open and verified, select the Payment option within the TWINT mobile application.

• An email will be received from TWINT which includes a QR code with which to make the payment to fund the account.

• Login to your Alpian account, navigate to the Cash page, and select Payments.

• Select the QR payment option and scan the QR code sent by TWINT.

• Once the payment is complete, the TWINT account will be funded and available for use.

If you want more information you can visit our dedicated page here.

Bank transfers can take up to 2 business days for national transfers and up to 5 business days for international transfers. If the funds still haven't been credited after this period, ask the sending bank for a copy of the SWIFT (MT103). This is the only document that allows us to trace the transfer and identify the transaction.

You now benefit from a broader and more personalized service experience:

Chat: Available on business days from 08:30 to 18:30. Our banking specialists are happy to assist you in four languages, German, French, Italian, and English, directly through the app.

Video calls: You can speak with a certified wealth advisor from 08:30 to 18:30, right from your phone. Simply choose the earliest available slot that suits your schedule.

Phone support: While inbound calls are not offered, you can request a free callback or schedule a call with one of our advisors, a service that was previously charged per minute. You can also reach our support team via dedicated forms / email address in case of urgency.

Yes, your money is protected with Alpian.

Alpian is a fully licensed Swiss bank, regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). As a Swiss bank, Alpian is a member of the deposit guarantee scheme esisuisse, which protects client deposits up to CHF 100’000 per client in the event of a bank failure.

In addition, Alpian is part of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group, one of Europe’s leading banking groups, reinforcing the security and stability behind our operations.

Your assets and deposits are protected in accordance with Swiss banking regulations, ensuring the same level of security as with any other Swiss bank.

Opening and maintaining an Alpian bank account is free of charge. We charge a management fee of 0.75% per year for investments. For more specific details, please visit our pricing page.

In some cases, Signature benefits can be combined with other Alpian offers, depending on the partner’s terms and conditions. We recommend reviewing the details of each offer for full clarity.

Standard benefits can be combined with other Alpian offers, depending on the partner’s terms and conditions. We recommend reviewing the details of each offer for full clarity.

There is no additional fee to join Standard and no additional fee to join Signature if you meet the eligibility requirements.

No. Benefits are time-limited and subject to change. We recommend checking the Plan section regularly to stay informed about the latest benefits.

Each benefit comes with a dedicated link or code. Simply follow the instructions in the Alpian app to access your benefit.

You can join Signature by meeting the eligibility criteria: a minimum of CHF 150’000 in assets or CHF 1’000 in recurring monthly investments. Once eligible, you can activate your benefits directly in the Alpian app.

To securely access your Alpian account, the registration can be completed directly via our app.

Here is all you need to do

1. Open the Alpian app (or download it to get started).

2. Follow the intuitive prompts on your screen to create your new credentials.

3. Log in and explore your new Swiss banking experience.

Radicant clients who have signed up with their unique code benefit from exclusive conditions for 2026. 

• 1% back on card purchases for a year, up to CHF 5'000 in total.

• 50% off investment fees for 2026.

• CHF 15 quarterly in 2026 if assets exceed CHF 20'000.

T&Cs apply

No, Alpian goes beyond cash-based solutions. While some providers limit Pillar 3A to savings accounts, we offer investment-based 3A plans designed to help your retirement capital grow over time

Between 5 and 10 business days after the transfer.

The first transfer must be at least CHF 300, and you can then contribute from as little as CHF 1. Once your deposit is received by Lemania (usually within 2–3 business days), it will be invested in the selected strategy regardless of the amount. Lemania decides the exact timing of the investment at its own discretion, similar to how mutual funds operate.

Yes, but only in specific cases:


• Buying your main residence


• Permanent departure from Switzerland


• Becoming self-employed


• Disability or death


• Retirement (up to 5 years before the official age)

You can withdraw your 3a up to five years before reaching the official retirement age. The withdrawal is taxed separately at a reduced rate compared to regular income.

• Management fees : 0,60% per year (excl. VAT)

• Average product TER: 0,15%

• Not included: stamp tax and market costs.

If you join the waiting list, you benefit from a special offer where all fees charged until 31 December 2026 will be fully reimbursed at the end of 2026. This advantage is limited to the first 1'000 clients. Only minimal underlying fund costs remain (approximately 0,15% TER).

In December 2026, the full reimbursement will be credited directly to your Alpian cash account if you were part of the wait list.

All Alpian and foundation fees (around 0.60% per year) are reimbursed if you were part of the wait list. Only minimal underlying fund costs (around 0,15% TER) and applicable VAT remain, which is standard for any investment fund.

Yes. Swiss law allows you to hold multiple 3a accounts with different providers, and many people do this to optimize taxes at withdrawal. At Alpian, however, you can currently open only one 3a account.

Yes. If you decide to transfer your existing 3a to Alpian, the entire balance must be transferred.

Weekly. This keeps your portfolio aligned with your chosen strategy at all times.

You can choose from 8 strategies, each available with a Swiss focus or a global outlook.


• Swiss: centered on companies driving the Swiss economy


• Global: diversified across international markets

In 2026, you can contribute up to CHF 7'258 if you are employed and pay into a pension fund. If you are self-employed without a pension fund, you can contribute up to 20% of your net income, capped at CHF 36'456.

The Alpian app is available on iOS 16 or above and Android 8 or above. For the best experience, we recommend keeping your operating system up to date.

E-tax will be available for the fiscal year 2026.

To ensure your deposit qualifies for a bonus, please keep the funds in your account for at least 30 days, depending on the offer. The funds are not blocked during this period, you can use them freely. Check the offer T&Cs for more details.

No. In line with the Switzerland–U.S. FATCA agreement, Alpian cannot accept clients who are considered “U.S. persons” for tax purposes (including U.S. citizens, Green Card holders, and U.S. tax residents).

Although Alpian does not provide direct credit card services, our partnership with American Express enables our clients to enjoy the exclusive benefits and preferential rates associated with the Platinum Card. This integration ensures that Alpian clients can access premium services seamlessly.

Open an Alpian account, go to the "More" section in the Alpian app and click on the American Express Platinum Card^® offer.

Client confidentiality and data security are paramount at Alpian. As a FINMA-regulated bank, we adhere to the highest standards of security and regulatory compliance. Your personal and financial data are safeguarded with the utmost care and advanced security measures.

Your bonus will be credited within 45 days after your friend meets the conditions of the referral program. During this period your account should stay active with a positive balance. Read all the terms and conditions here.