Switzerland - Essential Information

Emergency phone numbers of Switzerland are given below:

Important/ Emergency Phone Numbers

• Police 117
• Fire Brigade 118
• Ambulance 144
• Operator & Directory Enquiries 111 or 1811
• International Operator 1141
• Swisscom 0800 800 114
• Mountain Rescue 140
• Mountain Air Rescue 1414 or 1415
• Avalanche Bulletin 187
  

Roadside Assistance

• Swiss Touring Club 022 417 27 27
• Swiss Automobile Club 031 328 31 11
• Breakdown 140
• Traffic conditions 163
  

Car Hire

• Europcar; Geneva Airport +41 (22) 7178110
• Lugano Airport +41 91 605 12 11
  

Railways

• SBB/CFF/FFS - Swiss Federal Railways 0900 300 300
• Schweizer Jugendherbergen (Swiss Youth Hostel Association) 044 360 14 14
• Swiss Backpackers 033 823 46 46
• Schweizerischer Camping und Caravanning Verband 033 823 35 23
• Verband Schweizer Campings 033 823 35 23
• Aventure sur la paille/Abenteuer im Stroh 024 445 16 31
• Western Union 0800 007 107
• American Express 0800 550 100
  

Alcoholics Anonymous 41-22-3443322 (French Speaking); 41-1-370-1383 (German Speaking)

Swiss Airlines

• Air France 022 827 87 87
• British Airways 0848 845 845 (Zurich); 0848 801 010 (Geneva)
• Easy jet 0848 888 222
• Lufthansa 0845 773 7747
• Qantas 0845 773 7747
• Swiss International Air Lines 0848 852 000
• United Airlines 0845 844 4777
  

Airports

• Geneva Airport 022 717 71 11
• Zurich Airport 043 816 22 11
• Euro Airport 061 325 31 11
• Bern-Belp Airport 031 960 21 21
• Lugano Airport 0848 700 700 (Swiss International Air Lines)

Government & National Organizations

• Swiss National Tourist Board 044 288 11 11
• Swiss Foreign Office 031 322 21 11
• Swiss Post Office 0848 888 888
• Swiss Rail 0900 300 300
• Swiss Alpine Club 031 370 18 18
• Swiss Mapping Agency 031 963 21 11
• WWF 022 364 9111
  

List of Banks in Switzerland

• UBS
• AIG Private bank
• Arab Bank
• SWiss National Bank
• Valiant Bank
• Banca della Svizzera Italiana
• Swiss Bank Corporation
• Royal Bank of Canada
• ZKB
• Credit Suisse
• Post Bank

Opening a bank account in Switzerland

If you plan to stay in Switzerland for a while, one of your first things to do is open a Swiss bank account. You will need it for many transactions, including rent and salary payments.

Opening an account is a straightforward process, just go to a bank of your choice and tell them that you would like an account. Different types of accounts include the following:

Current accounts - useful for day-to-day management of your money, but pay little interest.
Salary accounts ( Lohnkonto - compte salaire) pay a little more interest than current accounts, but you don’t get a chequebook and/or some other services.
Saving accounts ( Sparkonto – compte de livret) offer higher interest, but are not very useful for many transactions.
Student accounts: Most banks offer a student account.There are usually special accounts available with few or no account fees.

Postbank accounts:  are particularly nice and hassle-free for international students. They have feeless credit cards if you sign up for the "StudentSet". For getting an postbank account, all you have to do is visit the post office and pick up the application forms.

Bank statements are usually issued monthly. With a salary account you often only receive quarterly statements. At the end of the year, you will probably receive a listing of all bank charges, interests paid and taxes withheld. All information from Swiss banks can be requested in English, German, French and Italian.

Account Cards

With most accounts, you will receive a free account card ( Bankkarte - carte bancaire). This card can be used for cash withdrawals from ATMs and other transactions on your bank’s electronic terminals.

Postal Services

Die Post" is the federal postal company. Most post offices are open from 07:30/08:00 - 12:00 and from 13:30/14:30 - 18:00, Saturday 07:30/08:00 - 11:00.
Airmail postcards and airmail letters weighing up to 20 grams cost SFr. 1.80 to mail to the United States; airmail letters from 20 grams to 50 grams SFr. 3.00.

Postal Check

The postal check is the most common method used to pay bills. This system allows you to pay bills through the post office by filling out green or white postal payment cards which are normally enclosed with your bills (electricity, phone, insurance, etc.). Holders of a postal check account can effect their, usually, monthly payments by mail; others go to the post office and make their payments at the appropriate counter.