Our Take on Crédit Agricole CA Savings Account Energy
0.40% interest sounds good until you read the fine print about packages and no-withdrawal periods.
The Crédit Agricole CA Savings Account Energy ranks #4 among Switzerland's 31 savings accounts. It's a bonus savings account bundled with their banking packages, offering a competitive top-tier rate. But the conditions are layered, and the effective return depends heavily on your balance and behavior.
How Does the Rate Stack Up?
The headline rate of 0.40% per year only applies to your first CHF 50,000. Between CHF 50,000 and CHF 100,000, it drops to 0.20%. From CHF 100,000 to CHF 200,000, you're at 0.05%. Above CHF 200,000? Zero. So on CHF 100,000, your blended rate is roughly 0.30%, not 0.40%.
Still, that's better than most. On CHF 50,000, you're earning CHF 200 per year versus CHF 25 at UBS or PostFinance. The tiered structure isn't ideal, but the first tier is genuinely strong.
What Actually Stands Out
You can't open this account standalone. It requires a CA Start, CA Extra, or CA First banking package. That means this is an add-on to an existing relationship, not a standalone savings product. If you're already a Crédit Agricole next bank customer, it's a no-brainer to activate.
The account is included free of charge with any of those packages. No separate account fee. One account per customer, and it's purely a savings vehicle with no payment functionality.
What Most Reviews Miss
No withdrawals during the first 6 months. This is a hard lockup. If you deposit money in January, you cannot touch it until July. Most savings accounts don't have this kind of blackout period.
After that initial period, the withdrawal limit is CHF 50,000 per year with a 3-month notice period. Also worth noting: the 0.40% tier caps at CHF 50,000, which isn't a lot. If you're saving CHF 200,000+, most of your balance earns effectively nothing.
The Bottom Line
If you're already a Crédit Agricole customer and have up to CHF 50,000 to save, activating this account is straightforward and free. Beyond that balance, the returns diminish sharply. See how it stacks up in our best savings accounts in Switzerland guide.
Verdict: Good rate for smaller balances if you're already in the CA ecosystem. Not worth switching banks for.
Pros
- No annual fees
- No minimum deposit required
Cons
- Low interest rate
- Withdrawal limit of CHF 50,000 per year
- 3-month notice period for withdrawals
- Age restriction: For individuals from the age of 18.
Account Details
At a Glance
Account Mgmt
No fee
Interest Rate
0.40%
Debit Card Fee
—
Currency
CHF
Minimum Deposit
CHF 0
Fees & Costs
Fees & Costs
Account Opening Fee
No fee
Account Mgmt
No fee
Debit Card Fee
—
Banking Features
Banking Features
Mobile Banking
Not available
Online Banking
Not available
Key Features
- Free account management
- No annual fee for debit card
- High interest rate of 0.40%
- Low minimum deposit requirement
Age Requirement
From age 18
Withdrawal Terms
Withdrawal Terms
Withdrawal Limit
CHF 50'000 / year
Notice Period
3 month
Account Closure
Free of charge
Additional Information
Additional Information
- Not suitable for payment services
Calculate Your Interest Earnings
See how much your deposit could earn with this account's 0.40% interest rate.
After 1 year
+CHF 200
Total Value: CHF 50'200
After 3 years
+CHF 602
Total Value: CHF 50'602
After 5 years
+CHF 1'008
Total Value: CHF 51'008
Rating by Category
Compare to Similar Accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is there a 6-month lockup at the start?
- No withdrawals are allowed in the first 6 months; pull early and you pay a 2% penalty. Treat this as a fixed-term deposit rather than flexible savings. Your emergency fund belongs in the Libre Epargne sibling, which lets you withdraw monthly.
- Do I really need a CA bank package?
- Yes, the account is included free only with CA Start, CA Extra, or CA First. No package, no Energy account. Build the package math into the comparison: a CHF 10/month package erases CHF 120/yr in interest at 0.4% on CHF 30,000.
- How does the 4-tier interest structure work?
- 0.4% up to CHF 50,000, 0.2% next CHF 50,000, 0.05% next CHF 100,000, 0% above CHF 200,000. Each band earns its own rate; only the new money beyond a threshold drops to the lower tier. CHF 100,000 effectively averages 0.3%, not 0.4%.
How We Rated This Account
Wondering why Crédit Agricole CA Savings Account Energy got its score? We rate Savings Accounts accounts using a weighted formula. Here's what counts.
Same formula for every account in this category. No exceptions.
Ready to Open?
Open the Crédit Agricole CA Savings Account Energy today and start enjoying its benefits.