Best Cash Back Credit Cards for International Students in Switzerland

The best cash back credit cards for international students in Switzerland offer rewards without charging an annual fee that cancels out the value of the cashback.

For most students, the strongest options are the Swisscard Cashback Cards, Certo! One Mastercard, and PostFinance Classic or Standard Credit Card. Students who spend more and want travel insurance may also consider PostFinance Gold.

International students can apply for these cards, but approval depends on Swiss residence, identity verification, financial resources, and the issuer’s creditworthiness assessment. Student status alone does not guarantee approval.

Best Cash Back Credit Cards in Switzerland

Our top choices are:

• Best overall cashback rate: Swisscard Cashback Cards.
• Best for customizable merchants: Certo! One Mastercard.
• Best with a free student account: PostFinance Classic or Standard.
• Best for cashback and travel insurance: PostFinance Gold.

1. Swisscard Cashback Cards: Best Overall Cashback Card

The Swisscard Cashback Cards are among the best choices for students who want a free credit card with straightforward rewards.

Applicants receive a card duo consisting of:

• An American Express Cashback Card.
• Either a World Mastercard or Visa Cashback Card.

There is no annual fee for the principal cards.

Cashback rates

Cardholders currently earn:

• 1% cashback with the American Express card.
• 0.25% cashback with the Mastercard or Visa companion card.
• 5% introductory cashback with American Express during the first three months, limited to CHF 100 for eligible new customers.

The accumulated cashback is credited to the card account once per card year. It is not transferred as a separate cash payment.

Main advantages

• No annual card fee.
• Up to 1% cashback on eligible purchases.
• Mastercard or Visa available when American Express is not accepted.
• Apple Pay, Google Pay and other mobile-wallet support.
• Return-protection insurance.
• Free additional card.

Important limitations

The 1% rate only applies to American Express purchases. When a merchant does not accept American Express, using the companion Visa or Mastercard earns only 0.25%.

Cash withdrawals, fees, interest, gambling transactions, cryptocurrency-related transactions and certain cash-equivalent payments do not earn cashback.

Best for

• Students who can use American Express for most supermarket and everyday purchases.
• Applicants seeking a card without an annual fee.
• Students who want a Mastercard or Visa backup card.

2. Certo! One Mastercard: Best for Favorite Merchants

The Certo! One Mastercard is a free cashback credit card issued by Cembra. It is a practical choice for students who regularly shop with the same large retailers.

Cashback rates

Cardholders receive:

• 1% cashback at three favorite merchants selected through the Cembra app.
• 0.25% cashback on other eligible purchases worldwide.

The list of selectable merchants includes major names such as Migros, Coop, Lidl, SBB, SWISS, Galaxus, Zalando, Manor and Decathlon. Merchant availability and promotional offers may change.

Cashback is automatically deducted from the credit-card statement once every quarter.

Main advantages

• No annual fee.
• 1% cashback at three chosen merchants.
• Quarterly cashback redemption.
• Mastercard acceptance worldwide.
• Purchase insurance, best-price guarantee and SOS assistance.
• Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay support.

A CHF 50 introductory credit is currently available to qualifying applicants residing in Switzerland who apply by August 31, 2026 and complete their first purchase within the specified period.

Limitations

Only three selected merchants receive the 1% rate. All other eligible spending earns 0.25%.

Cash withdrawals, fees, interest, gambling, cryptocurrency transactions, cash-equivalent payments and TWINT payments are excluded from cashback.

Best for

• Students who frequently shop at Migros, Coop or Lidl.
• Students who regularly buy SBB tickets.
• Applicants who prefer Mastercard over American Express.
• Cardholders who want cashback credited every quarter.

3. PostFinance Classic or Standard: Best Student Banking Option

PostFinance offers eligible students a free Classic or Standard Credit Card through the SmartStudents banking package.

The SmartStudents package is available to people aged 18 to 30 who are enrolled in education or training for at least one year. It includes a student account, debit card and the option of a credit card with a reduced limit, subject to approval.

Cashback rate

PostFinance now provides rewards through the SmartPoints program:

• Classic and Standard cards earn 3 SmartPoints per CHF 1.
• New cardholders receive double credit-card rewards during their first year.
• One thousand SmartPoints can be converted into CHF 1.

This equals approximately:

• 0.3% cashback under the standard rate.
• Up to 0.6% cashback during the first year.

SmartPoints can be converted into money and transferred directly to the customer’s PostFinance account.

Main advantages

• No annual fee with SmartStudents.
• Cashback paid into a bank account.
• Free student banking package.
• Shopping insurance.
• Worldwide Visa or Mastercard acceptance.
• Reduced student credit limit.

Best for

• Students who already use PostFinance.
• Applicants who want banking and credit-card services together.
• Students who prefer direct cash redemption over vouchers.
• Newcomers who may benefit from a reduced credit limit.

4. PostFinance Gold: Best for Cashback and Travel Insurance

PostFinance Gold is more expensive than the free student card, but it may offer better value for students who travel several times per year.

SmartStudents customers currently pay CHF 50 per year for the main Gold card after receiving the CHF 50 banking-package discount.

Cashback rate

PostFinance Gold earns:

• 5 SmartPoints per CHF 1 under the standard rate.
• Double credit-card rewards during the first year.

This is equivalent to approximately:

• 0.5% cashback normally.
• Up to 1% cashback during the first card year.

The points can be converted into Swiss francs and transferred to the linked PostFinance account.

Additional benefits

• Travel insurance.
• Rental-car insurance.
• Shopping insurance.
• AVIS car-rental discount.
• Worldwide acceptance.
• Mobile-payment support.

Is the annual fee worth paying?

A student would need to earn more than CHF 50 in additional rewards or insurance value to justify choosing Gold instead of the free Classic or Standard card.

For cashback alone, a no-annual-fee card is usually more suitable for students with modest spending.

How Much Cashback Can a Student Earn?

Suppose a student spends CHF 800 per month on eligible card purchases.

Swisscard American Express at 1%

• Monthly cashback: CHF 8.
• Annual cashback: CHF 96.

Certo! One at an average rate of 0.5%

• Monthly cashback: approximately CHF 4.
• Annual cashback: approximately CHF 48.

The actual result depends on how much spending occurs at the three selected 1% merchants.

PostFinance Classic at 0.3%

• Monthly cashback: CHF 2.40.
• Annual cashback: CHF 28.80.

The first-year double-reward rate could increase this to approximately CHF 57.60.

Cashback should never encourage unnecessary spending. Spending CHF 100 to receive CHF 1 back still means spending CHF 99.

Requirements for International Students

International students should usually prepare:

1. A valid passport.
2. A Swiss residence permit.
3. A registered Swiss address.
4. Proof of university enrollment.
5. Evidence of scholarship, employment or family support.
6. Swiss bank statements when requested.
7. Information about rent and existing financial obligations.

PostFinance requires credit-card applicants to be at least 18, live in Switzerland or Liechtenstein and hold an eligible PostFinance banking package with a private CHF account. The individual limit depends on the applicant’s financial position.

How to Maximize Cashback Safely

• Use the card only for purchases already included in your budget.
• Pay the complete monthly statement.
• Use American Express where accepted and the companion card elsewhere.
• Select Certo! merchants based on your actual monthly spending.
• Avoid credit-card cash withdrawals.
• Do not carry a balance to earn rewards.
• Check whether foreign-currency fees exceed the cashback earned.

Certo! currently charges 12% annual interest when the installment-payment option is used. Interest can quickly exceed the value of any cashback.

Final Verdict

The Swisscard Cashback Cards are the best overall cashback option for international students who can regularly use American Express, offering 1% cashback without an annual fee.

The Certo! One Mastercard is better for students who prefer Mastercard and spend frequently at three selectable merchants. The PostFinance Classic or Standard Credit Card is the most convenient option for students who want a free account, card and cash-redeemable rewards in one banking package.

PostFinance Gold is worth considering only when its travel insurance and other benefits justify the CHF 50 student annual fee.

Official Sources

• Swisscard: Cashback Cards, reward rates and card conditions
• Certo! One Mastercard: Cashback rates, participating merchants and current offer
• PostFinance: Credit cards, student pricing and eligibility
• PostFinance: SmartPoints earning and redemption rules