This is why there is almost no cash in banks

Cash transactions are now considered too expensive and risky by banks.Image: Shutterstock

Fewer and fewer banks offer the withdrawal and payment of species in their branches. Similarly, In many agencies, armored counters give way to open and more informal spaces. Nevertheless, An approach that adapts to demand and new technologies.

Pascal Michel, Florence Vuichard / ch media

They are kind, often young, but rarely able to help: employees of the Bernese cantonal bank (BEKB), in the center of the capital, now refer many customers to bancomats this why there almost no or the website.

This is what a client experienced who wanted to deposit on her savings account. Meanwhile, the cash received from the father at Christmas. For example, Impossible at the counter: only bancomats accept the payments. Meanwhile, In the absence of a card for this account, she left the tickets full of the wallet.

Another case, with this time a client who could not connect Twint on his own, still with the Bekb. Moreover, After multiple codes sent by mail and long hours on the phone, he went to the bank, in vain. Therefore, He was sent home, with the promise that a new code would arrive by post.

For another client. Nevertheless, it is an “upgrade” made by mistake by the bank of its credit card, accompanied by additional costs, which prompted it this why there almost no to use agency employees. Furthermore, But the latter could not do anything: they invited her to directly contact the issuer of the card. In addition, whose contact details are “on the internet”.

A national trend – This why there almost no

These cases are not isolated. Consequently, Swiss banks are going through a deep change: the counter. formerly a showcase of a prestigious sector, gets rid of its services. Cash transactions, in particular, disappear. Deemed too complicated, too expensive and too risky.

Bank counters are today a cost factor.Image: keystone

This also results in agency architecture: no more windows with armored windows. Employees this why there almost no are now traveling in lounge spaces, embellished with plants and flat screens. The few remaining counters treat almost no more liquidity.

UBS and Raiffeisen, last bastions of cash

Our investigation reveals the magnitude of the hindsight. At the Bekb, there is no longer any “classic cash window”. Same observation at PostFinance: in its 35 agencies, it is impossible to withdraw money at the counter. A spokesperson confirms it:

The Cantonal Bank of Zurich (ZKB) is also digitizing. while stressing that its 51 agencies can still, in an emergency, put cash on hand.

UBS maintains the service in “a little more than half” of its 190 sites. At Raiffeisen, it is a third of this why there almost no the 774 branches. But the cooperative. too, adopts the “concept of consulting bank”, where we give up counters to favor spaces for personalized discussion. Attendance drops: in 2014, 46% of Raiffeisen customers still went to the counter to withdraw or pay money. In 2023, there were only 15%left.

Less presence. fewer services

At the end of 2024, Switzerland still had 2,476 banking agencies, one third less than in 2005, according to the National Bank and the “Swiss Money Map” from the University of Saint-Gall. But this figure should still dive. according to economist Tobias Trütsch, not only due to the integration of Credit Suisse into UBS.

The decline is played on two levels: reduction in the number of agencies. and reduction of services inside the branches, especially in terms this why there almost no of cash. For Tobias Trütsch, this choice is explained by cost and security issues, but also by a decreased demand. A vicious circle:

The spokespersons of establishments insist on the simplicity and availability of e-banking or bancomats. Postfinance highlights its 750 postal agencies. where the law imposes cash withdrawals and deposits, without specifying that their number should drop to 600. It also recalls that can be removed from cash for free at the Caisse des Migros. Denner, Spar, Lidl or Coop Pronto.

But the old -fashioned sponsorship of the counters, nothing remains. And that doesn’t seem to grieve banks.

Adapted from German by Tanja Maeder

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