Contactless card payment limit in Switzerland to be raised to 80 francs
In a temporary move to minimise the threat of coronavirus infections, the limit for making contactless card payments in Switzerland has been raised to 80 francs per transaction.
Operators Mastercard, Visa, Postfinance and American Express all agreed to raise the limit on Wednesday.
The limit for contactless payments previously stood at CHF40, with transactions above this amount requiring a PIN number.
UPDATE: What you need to know about the coronavirus crisis in Switzerland
In addition to credit card payments, the new limit will also apply to debit cards and prepaid cards. The changes are being rolled out from Wednesday, April 8th, and are expected to be finalised by mid-April.
While providers have said that the move is temporary, there is as yet no end date specified.
Card payment has exploded in popularity in Switzerland since the outbreak of the coronavirus, with some stores making it the only option.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressly said card payments - particularly contactless card payments - should be encouraged as a means of halting the spread of the virus.
READ: Could coronavirus end the Swiss love affair with cash?
In Germany, a similar move was made in late March by the major card providers to lift the limit from €25 to €50 per transaction. Contactless card payments have also spiked in Germany.
Previously used in 35 percent of card transactions, contactless is now used more than half of the time.
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Operators Mastercard, Visa, Postfinance and American Express all agreed to raise the limit on Wednesday.
The limit for contactless payments previously stood at CHF40, with transactions above this amount requiring a PIN number.
UPDATE: What you need to know about the coronavirus crisis in Switzerland
In addition to credit card payments, the new limit will also apply to debit cards and prepaid cards. The changes are being rolled out from Wednesday, April 8th, and are expected to be finalised by mid-April.
While providers have said that the move is temporary, there is as yet no end date specified.
Card payment has exploded in popularity in Switzerland since the outbreak of the coronavirus, with some stores making it the only option.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressly said card payments - particularly contactless card payments - should be encouraged as a means of halting the spread of the virus.
READ: Could coronavirus end the Swiss love affair with cash?
In Germany, a similar move was made in late March by the major card providers to lift the limit from €25 to €50 per transaction. Contactless card payments have also spiked in Germany.
Previously used in 35 percent of card transactions, contactless is now used more than half of the time.
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