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Our Take on ZKB Visa Gold
CHF 250,000 medical coverage abroad for CHF 200. Zurich's gold card with real travel protection.
The ZKB Visa Gold brings serious travel insurance to the Visa network: CHF 250,000 medical coverage abroad, Priority Pass lounge access, and 20,000 welcome points. ZKB offers the same package on their Mastercard Gold with identical terms. At CHF 200 annually, it's Zurich's cantonal bank gold card for travelers who want genuine protection. See also the ZKB Mastercard Gold.
Is CHF 200 Worth It?
If you travel internationally, the insurance math is clear. CHF 250,000 medical coverage abroad costs CHF 150-200 as standalone travel insurance. CHF 20,000 trip cancellation coverage adds CHF 50-80 more in standalone value. The insurance package alone justifies the annual fee.
20,000 welcome Surprize points (roughly CHF 100-150 in redemptions) offset a significant portion of the first-year cost. Priority Pass lounge access at EUR 30 per visit rounds out the travel benefits.
What Actually Stands Out
The CHF 250,000 medical coverage is the headline. Emergency treatment abroad, including helicopter evacuation scenarios costing CHF 30,000+, sits well within the coverage limit. That level of protection through a credit card saves you buying a separate travel policy.
1.5 Surprize points per CHF 1 earns 50% faster than silver. Apple Pay and Google Pay work. Additional cards cost CHF 25. Our lounge access guide compares lounge cards across Switzerland.
What Most Reviews Miss
Insurance only covers trips paid with this card. Book flights on a different card and the protection won't apply. Always use this card for travel purchases if you want the coverage to kick in.
Priority Pass isn't complimentary. EUR 30 per visit adds up for frequent lounge users. If free visits matter, compare cards that include them at similar annual fees. Also, coverage applies abroad only, not within Switzerland.
The Bottom Line
Zurich's cantonal bank gold card delivers real travel value on the Visa network. The medical coverage is substantial, the rewards are solid, and the cantonal bank integration keeps everything under one roof. Compare alternatives in our best premium credit cards in Switzerland guide.
Verdict: Worth it for ZKB customers who travel internationally. Genuine insurance protection at a fair price.
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
- Medical coverage of up to 250,000 Swiss francs for travel incidents
CONS
- High annual fee (CHF 200)
- No concierge service
Card Details
At a Glance
Annual fee
CHF 200
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 200
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 25/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
- Medical coverage of up to 250,000 Swiss francs for travel incidents
- Standard Priority Pass membership
- Multiple mobile payment options
- No coverage in Switzerland for medical insurance, focusing on international travel benefits
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
- ZKB Visa Gold or Mastercard Gold, does the network change anything?
- No. Same supplementary pricing (CHF 25 per card, capped at 2), same 5.75% intl cash withdrawal, same CHF 20 late fee, no published monthly cap on either. Both deposit rewards into the same Surprize program. The only practical difference is which network logo is printed on the card face.
- How does ZKB Gold's supplementary pricing compare to UBS Gold?
- ZKB charges CHF 25 per supplementary, vs UBS Gold's CHF 50 each. Across two supplementaries, that's CHF 50 a year saved at ZKB. The trade-off: UBS bundles a free Visa+Mastercard pair, ZKB issues only one network at a time. Worth weighing if you keep multiple family cards on the same account.
How We Rated This Card
Wondering why ZKB 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 ZKB Visa Gold today and start enjoying its benefits.