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Our Take on BCV Visa Silver
10,000 welcome points and trip insurance at standard CHF 100 pricing. Vaud's reliable Visa option.
The BCV Visa Silver offers Vaud residents a dependable silver card with Surprize rewards and trip protection. At CHF 100 annually, the pricing matches the cantonal bank standard, and the 10,000 welcome points effectively discount your first year by half. BCV also offers this on Mastercard with identical benefits, so your choice is purely about network preference. See also the BCV Mastercard Silver.
Is CHF 100 Worth It?
The 10,000 welcome Surprize points are worth CHF 50-100 in redemptions, cutting your first-year cost significantly. Ongoing, you earn 1 point per CHF 1 spent. On CHF 20,000 annual spending, that's 20,000 points worth roughly CHF 100-200 at good redemption rates.
The trip insurance covers CHF 10,000 cancellation and CHF 7,500 interruption for trips up to 90 days. A single covered cancellation on an expensive trip could return more than the card's lifetime fees. For anyone booking CHF 2,000+ trips, this protection has genuine value.
What Actually Stands Out
BCV delivers a predictable, no-surprises silver card that integrates seamlessly with existing BCV accounts. Card management, billing, and support all flow through the same banking relationship. French-speaking customer service matters for Vaud residents, especially when dealing with travel emergencies or disputes.
Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay all work. The Surprize program is Switzerland's most widespread credit card rewards ecosystem. The 1.75% FX fee is standard. Everything functions reliably. Our credit card insurance guide compares coverage across all Swiss cards.
What Most Reviews Miss
No medical coverage at the silver tier. If you need protection against medical emergencies abroad (and you should, if you travel internationally), the silver card doesn't provide it. You'd need BCV's gold card (CHF 250,000 coverage) or standalone travel insurance.
Cantonal bank cards work best for existing customers. Switching to BCV solely for this credit card makes no sense. Dozens of equivalent silver cards exist at other banks. The value is the banking relationship and French-speaking service, not the card features themselves.
The Bottom Line
A solid silver card for BCV customers in Vaud. It delivers standard rewards and trip insurance without complexity. If you bank with BCV and want a reliable Visa with Surprize points, this is the natural choice. Compare alternatives in our best credit cards in Switzerland guide.
Verdict: Dependable and fairly priced. Choose this for simplicity if you're already a BCV customer.
PROS
- 10000 welcome bonus points
- Travel insurance coverage up to CHF 10,000
- Apple Pay compatible
- Contactless payments for convenient transactions
- 1 welcome bonus points
- Travel cancellation coverage up to CHF 10,000 and trip interruption coverage up to CHF 7,500 for trips up to 90 days
- Multiple mobile payment options (Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay)
CONS
- No medical coverage
- No airport lounge access
- No concierge service
Card Details
At a Glance
Annual fee
CHF 100
1st Year
CHF 50
Rewards rate
1 points/CHF
FX Fee
1.75%
Welcome bonus
10,000 points
Travel insurance coverage
CHF 10'000
Fees & Costs
Fees & Costs
First year annual fee
CHF 50
Annual fee (after first year)
CHF 100
Foreign exchange fee
1.75%
Cash Withdrawal (Domestic)
4% (min CHF 10)
Cash Withdrawal (International)
5.75% (min CHF 10)
Late Payment Fee
CHF 20
Additional Cards
CHF 50/card/year • Up to 2 cards
Rewards Program
Rewards Program
Rewards type
Points
Base rewards rate
1 / CHF
Welcome bonus
10,000 points
Insurance & Protection
Insurance & Protection
Travel insurance coverage
CHF 10'000
Medical insurance coverage
No medical coverage
Purchase protection
CHF 1'000
Card Features
Card Features
Card Network
Visa
Card Type
Standard
Currency
CHF
Minimum income requirement
No income requirement
Monthly spending limit
CHF 10'000
Airport lounge access
Concierge service
Key Features
- 1 welcome bonus points
- Travel cancellation coverage up to CHF 10,000 and trip interruption coverage up to CHF 7,500 for trips up to 90 days
- Multiple mobile payment options (Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay)
- 24-hour customer service support
- No income requirement
Calculate If This Card Is Worth It for You
= CHF 30'000/year
You Pay
CHF 100
per year
You Get Back
CHF 480
estimated value
Bottom Line
+CHF 380
in your pocket
Annual calculation:
CHF 30'000/yr × 1 points/CHF × 1 ct
10'000 points × 1 ct
Move the slider to see how your spending affects the card's value. Miles: 1.5 ct, points: 1 ct.
Rating by Category
Compare to Other Cards
Frequently Asked Questions
- BCV Mastercard Silver or Visa Silver: which to pick?
- Both cards have identical core pricing, identical cash withdrawal rates, identical welcome bonus, and the same CHF 10,000 monthly spending cap in BCV's lineup. The published difference is the payment network and a small variation in supplementary card documentation. For everyday Switzerland use, both cards work essentially everywhere. Pick based on which network you prefer or which complements your existing cards better.
- How much do supplementary cards cost on the BCV Visa Silver?
- CHF 50 per additional card per year for separate statements, with up to 2 supplementary cards allowed. The published documentation for the Visa Silver lists only the CHF 50 separate-statement price (the Mastercard Silver sibling additionally documents a CHF 25 joint-statement option). If a joint-billing discount matters to you, confirm availability with BCV directly before applying.
How We Rated This Card
Wondering why BCV Visa Silver got its score? We rate Cashback cards using a weighted formula. Here's what counts:
Same formula for every card in this category. No exceptions.
See our full rating methodologyReady to Apply?
Apply for the BCV Visa Silver today and start enjoying its benefits.