Post Visa Prepaid card
FAQs about the Post Visa Prepaid card
Here you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Post Visa Prepaid card – the reloadable prepaid credit card from Swiss Post
General information about the Post Visa Prepaid car
The Post Visa Prepaid card is a reloadable prepaid credit card issued by YAPEAL under the Visa licence in the Swiss Post design. It works on the principle of credit: you first load money onto the card and can only spend this amount. There is no credit limit and no debt. The card is issued in the Visa network and accepted worldwide – online and in high street retail.
With a prepaid credit card, you first top up money and can only spend this credit – without a credit limit and without debt risk. A traditional credit card, on the other hand, allows purchases to be made on credit that has to be repaid at the end of the month. In other words, the Post Visa Prepaid card offers complete cost control.
The card is particularly suitable for:
- people who don’t want a conventional credit card
- secure online shopping without entering the main account details
- parents who want to give their children a digital payment method of their own
- young people aged 12 and over as an introduction to digital payment
- travellers who want to manage their travel budget separately
- anyone who wants to control their spending consciously
No. No creditworthiness check is required as no credit limit is granted. However, an identity check is required by law:
- Basic: simple identification in the Post Visa Prepaid app powered by YAPEAL (name, address, date of birth) – no ID requirement. Usable with entry level limits.
- Upgrade: additional identification with ID document (passport or identity card) and selfie for higher limits and cash withdrawal.
From the age of 12. Restricted conditions of use may apply for people not yet of legal age.
Purchase and activate card
The Post Visa Prepaid card is available:
- at around 150 selected Swiss Post branches in German-speaking and Western Switzerland
- online at postshop.chTarget not accessible.
All you pay when purchasing the card is the annual fee of CHF 33.00.
After purchasing, download the Swiss Post Visa Prepaid App powered by YAPEAL (iOSTarget not accessible/AndroidTarget not accessible) and register in just a few steps:
- Enter the card serial number in the app
- Provide personal details (name, address, date of birth, nationality)
- Confirm e-mail address
- Confirm mobile number via SMS code
- Card is ready for use
Detailed step-by-step instructions can be found on the activation page.
Registration and verification
For the Basic service, a simple identification process in the Post Visa Prepaid App powered by YAPEAL (without ID document) is sufficient. The card can be used immediately with entry-level limits. For higher limits and additional functions (e.g. cash withdrawal), you can identify yourself anytime with a valid ID document and a selfie (Upgrade).
You can identify yourself directly during registration or later in the app:
- Upload a valid ID document (passport or identity card)
- Take a selfie for confirmation
- Verification by the card issuer YAPEAL (usually within a few hours)
- Upgrade automatically active – higher limits available immediately
As a financial intermediary, YAPEAL is legally obliged to store the identification data for the prescribed retention period.
Top up and credit
You can top up the card as follows:
Via app (bank transfer):
- Open the Post Visa Prepaid App powered by YAPEAL and search for IBAN
- Copy card account IBAN or display as QR code
- Make a transfer to this IBAN in your e-banking
- Usually available within seconds in the case of instant payment, otherwise 1–2 working days
When topping up via bank transfer, the credit is generally available within seconds in the case of instant payment, otherwise within 1–2 working days, depending on the bank.
An overview of the applicable limits:
| Limit | Basic | Upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum top-up amount | CHF 25 | CHF 25 |
| Max. credit | CHF 1,000 | CHF 10,000 |
| Max. transaction | CHF 1,000 | CHF 5,000 |
| Max. payment / year | CHF 5,000 | CHF 10,000 |
| Cash withdrawals | Not possible | Up to CHF 1,000/day |
With the Upgrade (identification with ID document), you benefit from significantly higher limits.
Using the card
Worldwide wherever Visa is accepted:
- In high street retail (with chip and contactless)
- For online shopping
- For in-app purchases
- For cash withdrawals at ATMs (Upgrade only)
Yes. The Post Visa Prepaid card is valid worldwide in the Visa network and can be used abroad for both in-store and online payment. For payments in foreign currencies, an international surcharge of 2% is levied.
Yes. The Post Visa Prepaid card supports contactless payment. You can use it for quick and convenient in-store payment by holding the card against the payment terminal.
Cash withdrawals are not possible with the Basic variant. After the Upgrade (verification with ID document), you can withdraw cash at ATMs (up to CHF 1,000 per day, fee: 4%, at least CHF 10).
In addition to the lower limits, the following functions are not possible with Basic:
- Cash withdrawals
- Cash-like transactions (e.g. money transfers, virtual currency purchases)
No. The Post Visa Prepaid card cannot currently be used in mobile wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Yes. You can pay for recurring online payments, such as streaming services or app subscriptions, provided there is sufficient credit on the card.
The payment is automatically rejected. No overdraft is possible. You can then simply top up your credit and try the transaction again.
No. You can only spend the credit that you have previously put on the card. An overdraft is not possible.
The refunded amount will be credited back to your Post Visa Prepaid card. Reverse bookings are generally made within a few working days.
Payment for a rental car is generally possible, but depends on the specific provider. Many car rental companies require a traditional credit card with a credit facility for the deposit. Please check with the provider beforehand.
PIN, card details and securit
The PIN code is required for payments in stores and is used for secure authorization of transactions. You can find your PIN code in the app anytime.
The CVC (card verification code) is a three-digit security code on the back of your card. It is primarily used for online payments and protects against misuse.
The Post Visa Prepaid card has several security functions:
- Credit principle: you can never spend more than the balance on the card – no debt possible
- No linked bank account: your main account is protected against data misuse
- Modern chip technology and contactless payment
- Immediate card blocking via app: card can be blocked in seconds in the event of loss
- Additional security functions in the Post Visa Prepaid App
Block your card immediately in the app: Open the Post Visa Prepaid App powered by YAPEAL > Select card > Select “Block card” / “Report loss/theft”. If the app is not available, contact customer service. Your remaining credit will remain protected. You can close the card account and have the remaining credit balance paid out to another account in accordance with the applicable conditions. Or you can obtain a new card from the usual sales outlets if required.
Your credit balance will not be lost. After blocking the card, you can have the remaining credit balance paid out to another account in accordance with the applicable conditions. A replacement card is not issued automatically – however, you can purchase a new Post Visa Prepaid card at a Swiss Post branch.
App and account management
In the app, you always have access to:
- Current credit balance and transaction history
- Card and account limits
- Top-up via bank transfer
- PIN management and card blocking
- Upgrade identification
- Personal details
In the Post Visa Prepaid App powered by YAPEAL, you can check your current credit balance anytime, view your transactions and display card and account limits.
Yes. You can update your address and contact details directly in the app or via YAPEAL customer service.
Fees
The following fees may apply:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | CHF 33.00 (payable on purchase) |
| Card top-up | Free of charge (via app and in Swiss Post branches) |
| Cash withdrawal | 4%, min. CHF 10.00 (Upgrade only) |
| Payment in foreign currencies | 2% international surcharge |
The full conditions can be found in the product information for the Post Visa Prepaid card.
Cancellation and expir
You can cancel your card anytime in the Post Visa Prepaid App powered by YAPEAL:
- Open app > Select card
- Call up settings / card details
- Select “Close card” / “Cancel account”
- Confirm cancellation
If there is still credit available, you will be asked to enter details of a bank account to which it can be paid.
The expiry date is indicated on your card. Your credit will not be lost when it expires and can be transferred to a new card.
The Post Visa Prepaid card is operated by YAPEAL as the card issuer. YAPEAL is responsible for the technical processing of the card and the payments. Swiss Post offers the card via its channels and provides the Post Visa Prepaid App. Swiss Post offers the card via its channels, and YAPEAL provides the app with the look and feel of Swiss Post.