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Our Take on SGKB Visa Gold
First year CHF 100, then CHF 200. CHF 250,000 medical coverage and Priority Pass.
The SGKB Visa Gold packs CHF 250,000 medical coverage abroad, Priority Pass lounge access, and 20,000 welcome points into St. Galler Kantonalbank's gold offering. SGKB provides matching benefits on their Mastercard Gold at the same price. At CHF 200 annually (CHF 100 in year one), the insurance value alone comes close to covering the fee for anyone who travels internationally. See also the SGKB Mastercard Gold.
Is CHF 200 Worth It?
For travelers, the insurance math works. CHF 250,000 medical coverage abroad costs CHF 100-150 as standalone travel insurance. CHF 20,000 trip cancellation and CHF 15,000 trip interruption add CHF 30-50 more. Combined, the insurance value approaches the full fee.
20,000 welcome points (roughly CHF 100) cut the effective first-year cost in half. After that, 1.5 Surprize points per CHF 1 spent builds ongoing rewards. Travelers who spend CHF 15,000+ annually recoup the fee through insurance and points together.
What Actually Stands Out
The CHF 250,000 medical coverage is the headline benefit. Emergency hospital stays, evacuations, and treatment abroad are covered at a level that provides genuine financial protection. For anyone traveling to the US or other expensive healthcare markets, this matters enormously.
Priority Pass at EUR 30 per visit provides lounge access below typical walk-in rates. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay all work. Our lounge access guide compares every Swiss card with lounge benefits.
What Most Reviews Miss
Priority Pass visits aren't complimentary. At EUR 30 each, costs build up for frequent flyers. If you visit lounges more than a few times a year, cards offering free visits deliver better value on that specific perk.
The 1.75% FX fee is average for cantonal gold cards. Raiffeisen charges 1.5% on their gold cards. If foreign spending is a major part of your usage, that 0.25% difference means real savings over a year of international transactions.
The Bottom Line
A well-rounded gold card for SGKB customers who travel. The CHF 250,000 medical coverage delivers real protection, the welcome bonus sweetens the first year, and the cantonal integration suits St. Gallen residents. Compare alternatives in our best premium credit cards in Switzerland guide.
Verdict: Strong choice for SGKB customers with international travel plans. The medical coverage justifies the fee; the lounge access and points are bonuses on top.
PROS
- 20000 welcome bonus points
- Travel insurance coverage up to CHF 20,000
- Up to CHF 250,000 coverage for medical expenses
- Airport lounge access
- Apple Pay compatible
- Contactless payments for convenient transactions
- 1 welcome bonus points
- Travel insurance covering up to CHF 20,000 for cancellations and CHF 15,000 for trip interruptions
CONS
- High annual fee (CHF 200)
- No concierge service
Card Details
At a Glance
Annual fee
CHF 200
1st Year
CHF 100
Rewards rate
1.5 points/CHF
FX Fee
1.75%
Welcome bonus
20,000 points
Travel insurance coverage
CHF 20'000
Fees & Costs
Fees & Costs
First year annual fee
CHF 100
Annual fee (after first year)
CHF 200
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
1.5 / CHF
Welcome bonus
20,000 points
Insurance & Protection
Insurance & Protection
Travel insurance coverage
CHF 20'000
Medical insurance coverage
CHF 250'000
Purchase protection
CHF 2'000
Card Features
Card Features
Card Network
Visa
Card Type
Gold
Currency
CHF, USD, EUR
Minimum income requirement
No income requirement
Monthly spending limit
-
Airport lounge access
Airport lounge access available
Concierge service
Key Features
- 1 welcome bonus points
- Travel insurance covering up to CHF 20,000 for cancellations and CHF 15,000 for trip interruptions
- Medical coverage up to CHF 250,000 per incident for trips outside Switzerland
- Multiple mobile payment options (Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Garmin Pay)
- Standard Priority Pass membership
Calculate If This Card Is Worth It for You
= CHF 30'000/year
You Pay
CHF 200
per year
You Get Back
CHF 900
estimated value
Bottom Line
+CHF 700
in your pocket
Annual calculation:
CHF 30'000/yr × 1.5 points/CHF × 1 ct
20'000 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
- How many additional cards can I add to the SGKB Visa Gold?
- Two, at CHF 50 each per year, billed jointly with your main statement. Most premium issuers allow five or more, so a household with three drivers will hit the cap quickly.
- What's the late payment fee?
- CHF 20, slightly under the premium-segment average of CHF 23. Combined with no income requirement, the card prices more like a regional-bank relationship product than a national premium tier.
- How do the 20,000 welcome points actually work?
- They post once you meet the activation spend in your first months. Worth roughly CHF 100 in vouchers at SGKB partners. Treat them as offsetting your first-year fee, not as a windfall.
How We Rated This Card
Wondering why SGKB Visa Gold got its score? We rate Premium 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 SGKB Visa Gold today and start enjoying its benefits.