My Alpian review, simply explained
Alpian review
Switzerland’s first digital private bank. Free account, good exchange rates and advice if you want it.
Updated and checked on 27 October 2026 · Reading time approx. 6 minutes · by Helga Baechler, certified wealth advisor IAF
Alpian is a Swiss bank on your phone, with real advice on top. In my Alpian review I explain simply what the bank costs and who it’s worth it for.
Is Alpian worth it?
Yes, if you want a free account with very good exchange rates. Or if you’d like advice when investing. The account is free, the metal card costs a one-off 60 CHF. With the code liebef you get up to CHF 120 bonus.
Alpian
Up to CHF 120bonus for free
- Account and virtual card free
- Good exchange rates, several currencies
- Enter the code when signing up in the app
- Copy code
- Download Alpian app
- Enter code
CHF 55 after a deposit of CHF 500, a further CHF 65 with an investment mandate. The metal card costs a one-off 60 CHF.
What is Alpian?
You can check all official prices on the Alpian website. In this Alpian review I explain them in simple words.
Alpian is Switzerland’s first digital private bank. It started in 2019 as a project of the Geneva bank Reyl. Since 2022 Alpian has had its own banking licence from FINMA. Since 2024 the majority has belonged to Fideuram, part of the Italian Intesa Sanpaolo group.
Private banking used to be only for wealthy people. Alpian makes it accessible to everyone. You do everything in the app. And if you want, you can talk to a real advisor.
Bonus with the code liebef
| Step | Condition | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Open an account | Enter code liebef and deposit CHF 500 | CHF 55 |
| Invest | Open an investment mandate | CHF 65 |
| Total | up to CHF 120 |
Download the app. Download the Alpian app and start signing up.
Enter the code. Enter liebef when you register.
Deposit CHF 500. Then you get CHF 55.
Invest (optional). With an investment mandate you get a further CHF 65.
More on this on my page Alpian referral code.
Alpian review of the fees: what does Alpian cost?
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Account and multi-currency account | Free |
| Virtual card | Free |
| Visa Platinum metal card | 60 CHF one-off, also for a replacement |
| Paying in CHF, EUR, USD, GBP with available balance | Free |
| Currency exchange on weekdays | 0.2 % |
| Currency exchange at weekends | 0.5 % |
| Cash withdrawals in Switzerland in CHF | 2 CHF |
| Cash withdrawals in Switzerland in EUR, USD, GBP | 5 in the currency |
| Cash withdrawals abroad | 2.5 % |
As of October 2026, no guarantee. The weekend runs from Friday 9 pm to Monday 8 am.
Good to know
In a test of 8 providers, Alpian had the best exchange rates for private individuals. Cash, on the other hand, is rather expensive. So when abroad, it’s better to pay by card.
Account, interest and card
One IBAN for four currencies
You get one IBAN for CHF, EUR, USD and GBP. If money arrives in dollars, it automatically lands in the dollar account. Other currencies go to the CHF account.
Interest
| Currency | Balance | Interest per year |
|---|---|---|
| CHF | All | 0 % |
| EUR | 10’000 to 500’000 | 0.75 % |
| USD | 10’000 to 500’000 | 1.00 % |
| GBP | All | 0 % |
| CHF savings account | Up to 125’000 / above | 0.01 % / 0.10 % |
Valid since 15 February 2026. There is no interest on the first 10’000 EUR and USD.
- Watch out: if your account is overdrawn, Alpian charges 5 % interest per year.
The Visa Platinum card
Since August 2026 all Alpian cards are Visa Platinum. This gives you perks at over 900 luxury hotels and help with flight delays. You can pay with Apple Pay, Google Pay and, since September 2026, Garmin Pay too.
Setting up Garmin Pay
Open the Garmin Connect app and connect your watch.
Go to Wallet and Garmin Pay. Set a 4-digit passcode.
Add your Alpian card and confirm by SMS or email.
An AI now analyses your spending as well. You’ll find it in the app under All transactions.
Investing with Alpian: my review
With Alpian you invest through a mandate. That means professionals look after your money. Or they help you do it. Alpian invests in ETFs.
| Mandate | What it is | From |
|---|---|---|
| Managed Essentials | A team manages your money | CHF 2’000 |
| Guided Premium | You decide yourself, with help from professionals | CHF 10’000 |
| Managed Premium | A team of experts manages everything for you | CHF 30’000 |
| Fee model | Assets | Fee per year |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | All amounts | 0.75 % |
| Signature | Up to CHF 300’000 | 0.69 % |
| Signature | CHF 300’000 to 500’000 | 0.60 % |
| Signature | Over CHF 500’000 | 0.50 % |
On top of this come the ETF costs and stamp duty. Custody, buying and selling are included.
Would you rather buy ETFs yourself? Then a broker like Swissquote is a better fit. Completely new to investing? Start with Investing for beginners in Switzerland.
Säule 3a (pillar 3a) and vested benefits
The Alpian pillar 3a invests 100 % in BlackRock ETFs. The fee is 0.60 % per year, plus approx. 0.25 to 0.35 % fund costs. For the first 1’000 customers, the 3a has no management fee until the end of 2026.
You can now also park your Freizügigkeitsgeld (vested benefits) from your Pensionskasse (pension fund) at Alpian. More on this in Vested benefits account Switzerland.
For expats
Moving to Switzerland for a job? With Alpian you can open the account with just a Swiss address, ID and employment contract. You submit your residence permit later. More in Bank account for expats.
Personal advice
This is what makes Alpian special. You can talk to wealth advisors and banking specialists. By chat in the app or by video. For example about your investment strategy, fees or questions about the card.
My Alpian review: pros and cons
Pros
- Own Swiss banking licence
- Free account with four currencies
- Very good exchange rates
- Personal advice available
- Elegant Visa Platinum card
- Up to CHF 120 bonus with code liebef
Cons
- Metal card costs 60 CHF
- Cash abroad costs 2.5 %
- No interest on CHF
- No own TWINT app
- Investing only via a mandate
You’ll find Alpian compared with Zak, Yuh and neon in my neobank comparison. The head-to-head comparison is in Alpian vs. neon.
Frequently asked questions about Alpian
Is Alpian a safe bank?
Yes. Alpian has its own banking licence from FINMA. Your money is protected up to CHF 100’000, as with any Swiss bank.
What does the Alpian account cost?
The account is free. So is the virtual card. The metal card costs a one-off 60 CHF.
How do I redeem the code liebef?
Enter liebef when you register in the app. After a deposit of CHF 500 you get CHF 55. With an investment mandate you get another CHF 65.
How much money do I need to invest with Alpian?
With Managed Essentials from CHF 2’000. Guided Premium starts at CHF 10’000, Managed Premium at CHF 30’000.
What does currency exchange cost at Alpian?
0.2 % on weekdays and 0.5 % at weekends. If you pay in CHF, EUR, USD or GBP and have enough money in that currency, it costs nothing.
Does Alpian support Garmin Pay?
Yes, since September 2026. Apple Pay and Google Pay are also available.
Can I use TWINT with Alpian?
Alpian doesn’t have its own TWINT app. You can use TWINT Prepaid.
What is the minimum age for Alpian?
18 years, with residence in Switzerland.
Conclusion of my Alpian review
Alpian combines a free Swiss account with real advice and very good exchange rates. You hardly find that anywhere else. Alpian is ideal for anyone who often pays in euros or dollars. And for anyone who wants help with investing. Don’t forget my code liebef.
Alpian
Up to CHF 120bonus for free
- Account and virtual card free
- Good exchange rates, several currencies
- Enter the code when signing up in the app
- Copy code
- Download Alpian app
- Enter code
CHF 55 after a deposit of CHF 500, a further CHF 65 with an investment mandate. The metal card costs a one-off 60 CHF.
Read more
Newsletter
*Advertising, affiliate links and codes. There are no extra costs for you. Not investment advice. Information without guarantee, fees change constantly.
