UBS key4 - all in One, but any good?

Dear all,

I recently saw that UBS is going to expand its key4 offer by adding real credit cards (currently only prepaid cards) with a conversion rate of Mastercard +0.5%.

https://www.ubs.com/global/en/media/display-page-ndp/en-20221031-ubs-key4.html?caasID=CAAS-ActivityStream

My quest for financial independence and the optimization of my expenses have led me to multiply products and services with different banks/applications/etc to the detriment of a simplification that seems more and more necessary.

In this sense, the new key4 offer seems to me, for an amount of 8.-/month, to be an interesting compromise to have a complete banking package and thus avoid using x services from x establishments.

I would be interested in your feedback on the current banking package and/or your opinion on this new offer. Did I miss an important element?

Thanks in advance!

~Kaw

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What are your needs? An account and a credit card? Anything else?

My needs are indeed a private account, a credit card, a savings account (emergency fund), a functional E-Banking from PC/smartphone, a credit card for spending in foreign currencies, the possibility of withdrawing cash from an ATM close to my place of living/working, a modern, ergonomic mobile application that is not filled with advertisements for the bank’s products or for partners’ services. Ideally all in one place to access via a single login/application.

The objective here was rather to communicate the existence of the offer and to collect opinions on it. I see this offer as meeting the needs of a multitude of people here for a price that seems to me all interesting.

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Taking one free (or paid) credit card with a bill automatically paid via eBill in addition to the bank account doesn’t force you to use another app all the time. Yes you have another app and another login, you need to confirm transactions sometimes, but you don’t have to do it every day. The credit card bill is “seamlessly integrated” © in your bank account statement. So I think this is a cheaper and much more flexible than trying to find one bank that does it all.

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Raiffeisen with their new Visa/MasterCard Debit Card for 50 CHF per year (4 chf per month).

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Not a credit card, limited acceptance among hotels etc :grinning:

Does it ? I thought that for this specific purpose they (swiss banks) change their maestro/vpay card for a mastercard/visa debit in order to be used as a credit card.

Personally, I used my neon card for hotels/airbnb and never had any issue. Didn’t try for car location though.

Refused with car rental deposit (like the revolut debit card).

I would rather take the BCV direct package (for Vaud) or the raiffeisen member plus with a free credit card.
But yes, the package is quite good for CHF 8 per month.

Do you still have a lot of ATM machine from UBS near you ?

The pre-paid credit card is quite a downturn


I completely forgot about BCV the day they asked me to go there for a request I had made in the past by phone/via app with my former bank. Not living in the canton of Vaud, I see here the limits of the cantonal bank system


I don’t need access to an ATM every day, but when I do, I have enough UBS ATMs around where I live, respectively on my way to work.

I posted a link above to their press release that indicates the availability of new credit cards in addition to the prepaid card.

OK, forget what I said, the new rates are out; the standard cards are at +6.-/month, the premium at +14.-/month


Totally excessive at this rate


Looking at your requirements, I’m not sure if I understand correctly.

Aside from foreign transactions, we pay for regular UBS services 7.5/m each for all services described, and only need a Wise account for abroad.

How does that change with the key4 ?

Agreed, that’s exactly the same price as regular “UBS me” with the key4 credit card (if you have at least 10k or a mortgage at UBS), so not particularly interesting.

The base package with the key4 prepaid card provides better value. However, it seems ridiculous that you get both

  • Debit card with a terrible exchange rate + 2% fee when paying abroad
  • Prepaid card with a better exchange rate but you have to bother with top-ups and it has terrible ATM fees

I.e. you need to always carry both, unless you’re sure you won’t use an ATM. A single debit (or credit) card with a reasonable fee structure is what I’d want. And that’s what neon and Revolut already offer.

The key4 credit card is slightly better in that you don’t have to bother with top-ups and it’s a full credit card. However, paying CHF 6/month for this benefit, in addition to the CHF 8/month base package, is indeed excessive.

The question is, if the key4 credit cards will be cheaper if they‘re bundled with the key4 package (maybe as an incentive to move away from UBS me).

Out of curiosity: how many bank accounts and credit cards do you currently own?

I would stay away from UBS as their retail prices are robbery and their mobile app sucks (slow, bad design).

Personally, I‘m also trying to downsize, however, I‘ve come to accept that we live in an imperfect world and having multiple accounts/cards, also gives me flexibility.

That being said have a look at ZKB’s basic banking package. This should tick most of your boxes.

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No, according to UBS “Dienstleistungen und Preise”, the surcharge for the key4 credit card is the same for UBS me and UBS key4: CHF 6/month.

For what it’s worth, the Key4 pack is now free with a prepaid card.

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Good. So this makes UBS basic account competitive with ZKB and some other cantonal banks.
Another problem for New Fintech banks

This is probably related to the migration of CSX existing customers. We received this info by letter yesterday.

Anyone already on „UBS KEY4 PURE“ package?

I use Certo one credit card, so I don’t use UBS credit card anymore. I am wondering if if there is any problem in moving from UBS ME classic to UBS KEY4 PURE package?

Main usage -: debit card, TWINT, online payments, saving account , international payments, occasional cash withdrawals from UBS ATMs, occasional cash deposits (foreign currency - Eur, USD)

Are there any hidden things that have been removed from „free“ package to be aware of? For example random fees to get annual statements etc ?

I see following on factsheet which sounds a bit weird

  • CHF domestic payments
  • Sustainable savings account (limit of 100K)

Not clear if this account allows for international transfers (SEPA or SWIFT) and what happens if the savings account amount surpasses 100K?