How can you live unbanked in Switzerland? My experience without a traditional bank

I have been living without a traditional bank for about a year now.

I have Revolut and Yuh. I am interested in Bitcoin, I travel, and above all I want to keep my freedom in the way I manage my money. So inevitably, one question keeps coming up: can you really live unbanked in Switzerland?

Yes, you can do without a traditional bank for many everyday uses. Living with no bank account at all is more demanding: you have to organise how you get paid, your bills, your payments and your access to cash. Solutions such as Bitcoin wallets and Mt Pelerin's crypto IBAN open up possibilities, with their own limits.

So the first question to ask yourself is a simple one: do you want to live with or without a neobank?

Because replacing your old bank with an app and holding your money yourself are two different things. Better to understand the difference before closing your accounts.

By Martin Zandona, also known as MartinBTC, a Swiss content creator focused on Bitcoin and travel. Services and sources checked on 18 September 2026. Conditions may change. Some links are referral links and may give me a benefit depending on the service's terms.

What exactly does being unbanked mean?

For some, it means leaving the bank where their parents opened an account for them. For others, it means no longer leaving their savings with an intermediary. And for others still, it means having no bank account at all.

These goals do not call for the same setup.

In my case, I am first and foremost talking about life without a traditional bank. With Yuh and Revolut, I am not claiming to have disappeared from the banking system.

Yuh itself states that its banking and financial services are provided by Swissquote Bank SA. An app can change the customer experience without removing the bank behind it. Source: how Yuh works

That does not take anything away from the approach. You can already choose your tools, reduce some constraints and learn to hold part of your assets yourself.

With neobanks: why I keep at least two

My rule is simple: if you replace your main bank with apps, have at least two separate solutions, already open and ready to use.

It is not a legal requirement. It is a practical precaution.

A lost card, a stolen phone, a declined payment or an account review can be enough to complicate your day. If all your available money and all your means of payment depend on the same access, you do not have much room left.

I chose Revolut and Yuh. What they bring to this setup is having two options. A second app with nothing in it is not much use when you need to pay for something now.

I would also advise keeping the cards separate when travelling and planning how to regain access without your usual phone. Two cards in the same wallet can disappear together.

Yuh: a practical solution for everyday life in Switzerland

Yuh has several strengths for someone living in Switzerland: a Swiss IBAN, a Mastercard debit card, a virtual card and access to Yuh TWINT.

The price list notably shows free account management, a physical card with free delivery and one free cash withdrawal per week in Switzerland. Further Swiss withdrawals cost CHF 1.90 each; withdrawals abroad are listed at CHF 4.90, excluding any fees charged by the ATM. Currency exchange is charged at 0.95%. Source: Yuh pricing

That makes the offer easy to place: attractive for local use, but worth comparing carefully for spending in foreign currencies and frequent withdrawals abroad.

A free card does not mean every transaction is free. If you travel a lot, look at the cost of a real month of spending, with your payments, conversions and withdrawals.

TWINT with Yuh: a real advantage in Switzerland

Splitting a bill, paying for parking or paying someone back: TWINT is one of the handy everyday tools in Switzerland.

Yuh has its own Yuh TWINT app. You sign up through this dedicated app. Yuh states that it is reserved for people who live in Switzerland and have a Swiss phone number. Source: Yuh TWINT

So in my setup, it is Yuh that gives me access to TWINT, not Revolut. I do not count on Revolut to replace that function.

You do need to tell apart a direct link between an account and TWINT from a separate solution such as TWINT Prepaid. Its existence does not mean that Revolut has an integration equivalent to Yuh TWINT. Always check the app and the top-up methods available for your situation.

Discover Yuh → · My referral code: fc52t5, subject to the offer's terms.

Revolut: a second card and tools for travelling

Revolut offers another way of managing payments and currency conversions. Physical and virtual cards also let you separate some uses, for example online payments and in-person spending.

What interests me with this kind of tool is being able to manage my money from my phone, including on the move. But I look at the terms before assuming everything is included.

The Standard plan notably includes a limit on withdrawals without a Revolut fee, after which fees apply. Conversions and some transfers may also be charged. The first card may come with a delivery fee, and topping up with a card issued in Switzerland may be charged. So a transfer and a card top-up are not necessarily equivalent. Source: Revolut Standard fees

For the exact limits, check the ones on your account in the app: they depend on the plan that applies. I prefer that check to a figure found on a page aimed at another country.

Limits to anticipate

As with any service managed remotely, you need to plan for access problems and for getting through to support. You also need to check the details to use for receiving money, the currencies accepted and any payment references.

Before asking an employer or a client to change where they send payments, pass on the exact details provided in your account and make sure the route works for that use.

Debit cards: think about hotels and rentals too

A card that works for your groceries does not necessarily meet the conditions of a car rental company or a hotel. Some require a credit card for the deposit, while others accept a debit card under certain conditions.

Before booking, check with the provider which type of card is accepted and how much will be held. That detail can matter more than a small saving on the exchange rate.

And abroad, look carefully at the conversion offered by the payment terminal or the ATM. Compare its cost before agreeing to be charged in CHF rather than in the local currency.

Depositing cash: less simple than withdrawing, but possible

People often think about withdrawals. Yet when you leave a bank that has branches, getting cash into your account is sometimes what becomes tricky.

You sold something, got paid back in notes or simply have cash to deposit. You cannot assume that the first ATM you find will be able to credit your neobank.

How do you deposit cash on Yuh?

Yuh describes a solution using a QR-bill paid at the Post Office. The instructions are in the app, under "Pay" then "Add funds". The FAQ points to PostFinance's QR-bill generator, states that the Post Office may charge for this service and says processing usually takes one to three days. Source: funding your Yuh account with cash

So yes, it is possible. But you have to plan for the trip, any fees and the delay. It is not an instant deposit at any machine.

For Revolut, check the methods offered on your Swiss account before relying on a cash deposit. Do not assume that a feature advertised in another country exists where you live.

Withdrawing is generally more straightforward

With a compatible physical card and an available balance, you can use an ATM that accepts it. You still need to check the limits, your card's fees and the ATM's.

I would also keep a small reserve of notes within reach. When a card does not go through or a phone runs out of battery, cash is still very concretely useful.

And if you want to live with no regular bank account at all?

Then you move up a level of organisation.

You need to be able to receive money, keep it, pay your expenses and pay the people who accept neither Bitcoin nor cash. Holding cryptocurrencies does not automatically solve those four needs.

This is where Mt Pelerin's personal IBAN becomes interesting.

The Mt Pelerin IBAN: connecting your wallet to bank transfers

Mt Pelerin offers a personal IBAN in CHF or EUR, linked to a wallet address. You notably choose the cryptocurrency, the network and the default receiving address.

When a transfer arrives, the funds are converted into the selected asset and then sent to your wallet. The service also allows certain third-party transfers to be received, notably from an employer. The salary is then sent in traditional currency and converted into crypto. Confirm that your case is accepted and test the route before having essential income paid into it. Source: Mt Pelerin's personal crypto IBAN

Getting the IBAN requires identity verification. Creating it is advertised as free, but conversions remain subject to the applicable fees. Additional documents may be requested for transactions with third parties. Source: Mt Pelerin's IBAN FAQ

This IBAN reduces the need for a regular personal bank account; it does not remove the banking channels behind the transfers. There is also still a dependency on the conversion service for these operations.

Paying your rent or a bill with crypto

Mt Pelerin offers a bill payment service that supports Swiss QR-bills. You provide the payment details, choose a supported crypto and send the requested amount from your wallet. After conversion, the recipient receives a bank transfer. Source: paying bills with Mt Pelerin

So your landlord does not need to accept Bitcoin to receive their francs. But you need to anticipate the conversion, the fees, any checks and the processing time. I would not try a new route on the last day before a deadline.

Paying a bill this way does not automatically give you back every function of an account either: direct debits, loans, deposits or automations need to be looked at separately.

Crypto wallets, Binance and SwissBorg: each has its role

The word "wallet" can mean very different things. To live with more autonomy, you need to know who controls the keys that allow the funds to be spent.

An account on a centralised platform and a self-custody wallet do not give you the same control. In the first case, a provider holds the assets for you. In the second, you manage your keys and their backup. Source: custody and self-custody, Binance Academy

Binance and SwissBorg for buying or converting

Platforms such as Binance and SwissBorg can be used to buy, sell or exchange cryptocurrencies, depending on the services available for your account. SwissBorg notably describes how it works as an aggregator and its custodial safekeeping. Source: SwissBorg overview

But leaving all your funds on a platform is still a dependency on that platform. Changing intermediary does not automatically give you control of the keys.

If your goal is self-custody, the process to understand also includes withdrawing to your own wallet. Check the asset, the network, the address and the fees. A small test transfer can prevent a big mistake.

A personal wallet for holding and paying

One possible setup is to separate a small spending wallet from a reserve kept with more precautions, for example on a properly configured hardware wallet.

To pay in Bitcoin, also check which network is accepted. A payment on the Bitcoin blockchain and a Lightning payment are not prepared in the same way. Not all Lightning wallets are self-custodial either: the name of the app is not enough to tell.

The price of this autonomy is clear: you have to protect your backups and understand how to recover your funds. Never share your recovery phrase, even with someone claiming to work for support.

Bitcoin and stablecoins: think about your next bills

I am interested in Bitcoin for the freedom it allows. That does not stop me from looking at everyday constraints.

If your rent is due in CHF in a few days, a drop in Bitcoin can sharply change the amount of BTC needed to pay it. Money set aside for upcoming expenses deserves different handling from a long-term investment.

Stablecoins aim to track the value of a currency or another asset. They can make some payments easier, but they have their own risks: issuer, reserves, loss of peg, network or technical mechanism. Some issuers can also block addresses.

And a dollar stablecoin remains exposed to the USD/CHF rate. "Stable" against the dollar does not mean stable against your Swiss expenses.

So you can reduce your dependence on banks while keeping dependencies on companies and infrastructure. The point is to understand them and decide which ones you accept.

How do you leave your traditional bank step by step?

I would start by testing a complete setup before closing the old account.

1. List the transactions of a normal month. Income, rent, insurance, taxes, subscriptions, transfers, cards and cash.
2. Open and test two solutions. Check payments and access, with money available on each.
3. Move your transactions over gradually. Think about standing orders, direct debits and refund details.
4. Learn self-custody with small amounts. Understand backups and networks before increasing the amounts.
5. Prepare for the unexpected. A lost phone, a card replacement, an urgent payment and access to your records.
6. Close the account after checking. Wait until pending transactions have cleared and keep your statements.

If you plan to move abroad, add one more check: do your providers accept your future country of residence? Being able to use a card while travelling does not mean being able to keep the account after a permanent move. Report your change of address and check the conditions.

What this approach means to me

I am not trying to make my life complicated just to be able to say I am unbanked. I want to understand my tools and keep my options open.

I have already lived for a week in Switzerland paying only in bitcoin. Mission accomplished. A week does not prove that every need of a whole life is covered, but it gets you out of theory and shows you what works.

That is also the spirit of my travels and my videos: setting off, meeting people, trying things. From my 9,300 kilometres solo between Las Vegas and New York to the Bitcoin encounters in Peru, what interests me is still its real-world usefulness.

Discover my work and my videos on MartinBTC →

Frequently asked questions about life without a bank in Switzerland

Can you live without a traditional bank with Yuh and Revolut?

Yes, for many uses, if the services offered match your needs. You still keep relationships with financial institutions, though: it is not a complete exit from the banking system.

Why keep two neobanks?

To have a backup if a card, an account or an access becomes temporarily unusable. Two accounts that already work are more useful than a second app that was never set up.

Does Yuh work with TWINT?

Yes, through the Yuh TWINT app. Yuh notably requires residence and a phone number in Switzerland. In my setup, TWINT goes through Yuh, not Revolut.

Can you deposit notes on Yuh?

Yes. Yuh explains how to do it at the Post Office with a QR-bill. Fees may apply and the credit is not immediate.

Can you receive your salary in a crypto wallet?

Mt Pelerin offers this route with its personal IBAN: the employer's transfer is converted into crypto and delivered to the configured wallet, subject to your case being accepted and to the applicable checks.

Is the Mt Pelerin IBAN a regular bank account?

No. It acts as an interface between transfers in traditional currency and your crypto wallet. The transfers still use the banking infrastructure.

Is keeping your bitcoins on Binance or SwissBorg self-custody?

No, not while they stay in the platform's custodial account. Self-custody means controlling the wallet's keys, as well as their backup.

And taxes? Don't forget them

Living without a traditional bank does not change your tax obligations. Declare your assets and taxable income, whether they are with a neobank, on a platform or in a personal wallet. In Switzerland, cryptocurrencies notably count towards the wealth you must declare; a salary received in crypto remains taxable income. Keep your statements, histories and valuations in CHF. The Federal Tax Administration also distinguishes private gains from professional activity and from income such as staking. If in doubt, check with your canton. Source: Swiss Federal Tax Administration

Follow MartinBTC or propose a collaboration

I am Martin Zandona, also known as MartinBTC or Martin Bitcoiner, a Swiss content creator. I share my experiences around Bitcoin, travel and autonomy, with the aim of making these topics concrete.

You can find my reflections in my notebook. And if you are developing a wallet, a payment app or a Bitcoin project to show on the ground, discover my Bitcoin collaborations in Switzerland and abroad.

This article presents my experience and some ways to organise things. It does not constitute personalised financial or tax advice. Services, prices and eligibility conditions must be checked before use.

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