Practical life
Organising your bank and your mobile
A Swiss bank account and a local number make salary, rent, bills and everyday communication easier.
Compare offers according to your real needs rather than the advertised price alone: fees, exchange rates, app, network coverage.
Compare
The bank
What should you compare?
-
Fees
Account maintenance, card, withdrawals and transactions.
-
International
Exchange fees and transfers abroad.
-
The app
E-banking, notifications, QR payments.
-
Documents
ID, address, permit or contract depending on the bank.
Paying in Switzerland
TWINT, QR bills and standing orders
Mobile payment
TWINT
The most widely used payment app in Switzerland.
- In shops and online
- Between individuals
- Linked to your bank account
Bills
QR bill
The standard invoice format: scan the QR code with your banking app.
- Payment in seconds
- No need to retype references
- Also at the post office counter
The phone
Plan or prepaid?
-
Plan
Practical if your usage is regular and predictable.
-
Prepaid
Useful at the start or to keep better control of spending.
-
Coverage
Check the network where you live and work.
-
ID
ID is required to activate a SIM card.
Good habit
Watch out for roaming around Geneva
Near the border, a phone can connect to a French network. If your plan does not include roaming, choose the network manually or turn off data roaming.
Household bills
The radio and television licence fee
Serafe
CHF 335 per year per household
In Switzerland, every private household pays a radio and television licence fee, billed by Serafe, whether or not you have a television. The bill arrives automatically after you register with the residents’ office.
Mini-lexicon
The vocabulary of banking and mobile
- TWINT
- Swiss mobile payment app.
- QR bill
- Swiss invoice with a QR code, to scan in order to pay.
- E-banking
- Your online bank.
- Standing order
- Recurring automatic payment, for example for rent.
- Natel
- Swiss word for a mobile phone.
- Prepaid
- Rechargeable SIM card, without a plan.
- Roaming
- Using a foreign network, often charged extra.
- Serafe
- Body that bills the household radio-TV licence fee.
Alliance Française de Genève
The bank, the operator, the counter… in French
Opening an account, cancelling a plan, understanding a bill: our courses include the vocabulary of everyday services.
Test my level for freeOfficial information
Official sources
Rules and procedures may change and depend on your situation. Always check the information published by the authorities before taking any step.
Frequently asked questions
Banking and phone in Geneva: your questions
Do I need a Swiss bank account?
It is not always mandatory, but it is very practical for receiving a salary, paying rent and settling bills in Swiss francs.
Which documents are needed to open an account?
Documents vary by bank: generally ID, an address and information on your situation (permit, employer).
What is TWINT?
The most widely used mobile payment app in Switzerland: payments in shops, online and between individuals.
What is a QR bill?
The standard invoice format in Switzerland: you pay it by scanning the QR code with your banking app.
Plan or prepaid?
A plan suits regular usage; prepaid is practical at the start or to control spending. ID is required to activate a SIM card.
Why watch out for roaming in Geneva?
Near the border, your phone may connect to a French network. Check your plan and your roaming settings.
What is the Serafe licence fee?
The radio and television licence fee, due from every household in Switzerland: CHF 335 per year, billed by Serafe.
Practical guide to Geneva
Continue the guide
Nine guides to living well in Geneva.
Last updated: October 2026 · Guide written by the Alliance Française de Genève
They trust us
Our partners
Institutions, schools, festivals, cinemas and publishing houses: a Geneva and French-speaking network at the service of our learners.
New to Geneva?
Gain independence in Geneva
French courses for all everyday situations.