How much cash can I withdraw from Swiss bank branch ? Any limit ?

[troubled soul]

If I have Swiss account, what are the cash withdrawal limit from branch ?
Not ATM.......
Is it possible to withdraw large cash at branch in person?

Thanks

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Short answer: no.

 

[JohnLocke]

Better answer, go to the branch or call them and you will get the true information.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Better answer, go to the branch or call them and you will get the true information.

Better not to do that. If you speak to the wrong person, they could do anything from putting your name in the “high risk” category to calling the Gendarmes and setting up a trap.

 

[troubled soul]

Better not to do that. If you speak to the wrong person, they could do anything from putting your name in the “high risk” category to calling the Gendarmes and setting up a trap.

That's why I started thread.......50k cash is possible ?

 

[JohnLocke]

If you have a legitimated bank account in Switzerland and you ask them how much you can withdraw they are not starting the next world war nor will they call the Gendarmes, police, military and what else.

If you explain them why you want to do that and you have a legitimated reason, why would they do anything of that.. it's fantasy.

Sometimes I'm amazed about answers here from people that should know better. Maybe I shouldn't even comment on such and just hit the delete button.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

If you have a legitimated bank account in Switzerland and you ask them how much you can withdraw they are not starting the next world war nor will they call the Gendarmes, police, military and what else.

If you explain them why you want to do that and you have a legitimated reason, why would they do anything of that.. it's fantasy.

Sometimes I'm amazed about answers here from people that should know better. Maybe I shouldn't even comment on such and just hit the delete button.

In an ideal world, it should work as you say.
But we don’t live in an ideal world, unfortunately. Monkeys do work also in Swiss banks.

And the trap with the Gendarmes waiting at the entrance is a real story.

Of course it’s not the bank that sets up the trap… a stupid bank employee files with MROS, the report ends on the desk of a stupid prosecutor who sends the police.

 

[void]

In an ideal world, it should work as you say.
But we don’t live in an ideal world, unfortunately. Monkeys do work also in Swiss banks.

And the trap with the Gendarmes waiting at the entrance is a real story.

Of course it’s not the bank that sets up the trap… a stupid bank employee files with MROS, the report ends on the desk of a stupid prosecutor who sends the police.

so withdrawing cash from Swiss personal account is in general not allowed nowadays?

 

[JohnLocke]

Not to hijack this thread,

The last time I heard about Switzerland and their "traps", video surveillance, house cleaning, office cleaning and what's worse, I discovered none of that. I spoke to a member from here, he said it was impossible to take Gold to Switzerland and get it back out. Likewise, it was impossible to bring 15K Euro into Switzerland without clearing customs. Likewise, the German Police together with the tax authorities should come to your home if you live in Germany and cross the border from Switzerland to Germany... NOTHING of all of this happened.

OP hasn't even mentioned which bank he's with. So based on what is posted here, ALL Banks in Switzerland immediately call the Police as soon as someone wants to withdraw 50K in cash. This even if you have a good reason and can document that it is your own money. Hmmm, I don't think it's rare in a country like Switzerland that people want that kind of change for their weekend spending.

But let's say the OP calls the bank and says he wants the 50K out. We have now assumed that they are 100% legitimate, what should the Police do? Seize legitimate money?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

Try to convince the average bank monkey that $50k cash are needed for a legitimate reason.
Then try to convince the prosecutor.
You might prevail at the end, but is it really worth it?

so withdrawing cash from Swiss personal account is in general not allowed nowadays?

It is allowed like in any other European bank.

 

[Sols]

It all depends on your relationship with the bank.

If you have a good relationship with the bank, there is practically no limit on how much you can withdraw. But you have to give notice in advance, especially of if it's a foreign currency.

If 50,000 CHF is all you have on the account and you're clearing out the account, expect them to push back and insist on wire transfer instead.

If you have a couple of million and want to take out 50,000 in EUR for a fun weekend in Monaco (and you for some reason don't want to use your credit card), they won't bat an eye. But they will charge you a hefty withdrawal fee for it, of course.

 

[JohnLocke]

We can argue on this from now on and to the rest of our life. It may be up to OP to make the decision.

There are hundreds of answers to this, and I can't see that we have any issue here at all! If you are afraid of the dangerous banks in Switzerland, why have an account there at all! If you are afraid of that they call the police and arrest you because you want to withdraw the insane amount of 50K why not take it out in 5 steps or 10 steps.

Of course, I don't know if the OP has bad legs, or otherwise has difficulty getting back and forth to the bank.
I can't really see the problem here.

In general, it is always good to listen to your gut feeling. Since the OP posted here, he was afraid of the risk, should someone say it was perfectly fine, go for it, he might just do it, even if his gut said otherwise. You should never do that.

 

[void]

Try to convince the average bank monkey that $50k cash are needed for a legitimate reason.
Then try to convince the prosecutor.
You might prevail at the end, but is it really worth it?


It is allowed like in any other European bank.

don't know how about the rest of Europe but anywhere from DE to the east it's no issue - they ask for the source of funds, I say savings (magic word nowadays), then they as for a reason and I always say I don't trust banks, we laugh, then I say I'm going abroad and their exchange rate sucks so I have to go to the exchange office down the street, they agree, we laugh again and no problem whatsoever - talking about up to 30k per single withdrawal

 

[JohnnyDoe]

50,000 in EUR for a fun weekend in Monaco

which you must declare at the border.
And you must be very convincing with border police if you don't want the money to be confiscated (which might include disclosing where you obtained the money from, including all the account details).
And you must accept to be put in the "watch list" because of that.

 

[Sols]

which you must declare at the border.

Yes, although those controls are often pretty lax. But it's definitely something you should prepare for.

And you must be very convincing with border police if you don't want the money to be confiscated (which might include disclosing where you obtained the money from, including all the account details).

That's usually not a problem. Just keep a bank statement and withdrawal slip with you. If memory serves, I know of one person who got stopped and simply logged in to their banking app to show a balance far exceeding the amount being carried.

Look, act, and talk the part and no one will bother you much.

And you must accept to be put in the "watch list" because of that.

They might make a note about it but that's about it. Having a record of leaving/entering a country with large sum of cash isn't the same as being on a watch list.

Also, there is no such watch list. If there were, it would be useless because it would be full of wealthy people who like to spend money in cash. There is no value in such a list.

All that happens is a record is created in the bank's system, which will be one of hundreds of factors the bank's systems take into consideration whenever they do monitoring or analysis of your account. It might also trigger a cash transaction report to the local authorities. If someone there feels like it, they can inquire with the bank, and the bank would tell them the amount withdrawn is in line with the account holder's financial means and not suspicious in and of itself.

Large cash deposits are much, much worse than large cash withdrawals. The main reasons banks don't like them are cost and security. If you have an appointment to take out 50,000 EUR cash, there can be quite a lot of logistics around it (extra security guard, moving cash from a vault, police escort).

 

[JohnnyDoe]

It looks like you never had to deal with the stupidity of bank monkeys, MROS, prosecutors, GdF etc. I am happy for you, but remember that it's better to be safe than sorry

 

[Sols]

It looks like you never had to deal with the stupidity of bank monkeys

I deal with them and their ilk quite a lot. I've found a way to work with them that doesn't require me calling them monkeys.

MROS

Deal with MROS and other FIUs frequently. Very familiar with how they work.

prosecutors, GdF etc.

Haven't run across these much, but have had mostly positive experiences working with financial crime law enforcement, for example in response to RFIs.

I am happy for you, but remember that it's better to be safe than sorry

Agreed. There are many ways to do something like this wrong. It's always good to be informed and aware of the risks.

 

[JackAlabama]

Depends on bank and how and who you know there (aka your standing).
@azb1 what bank do you have in mind?

 

[JohnnyDoe]

I've found a way to work with them that doesn't require me calling them monkeys.

I would like to find a definition that doesn’t offend monkeys.

 

[Wyoming]

Not personal experience but N+1 experience. I have a very close friend of mine who works in Hollywood, usually as an assistant to a producer or assistant to an executive producer. She has carried US$400.000 cash to Canada to pay the local team on a movie before with no problems. She was making a movie in Switzerland in 2018 and had some issues and needed to withdraw CHF50.000, so about the same amount of money, and even through ALL the details of the withdrawal was submitted to the bank prior to the withdrawal, was met at the bank and needed to answer some questions with the local prosecutor's office. They had all the same details and had made calls to all parties in the meantime. No matter. Took about another 48 hours to get the cash. Doubt things changed much since 2018.