https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Swiss are pretty money-savvy and good financial standing is important to them, so what does this mean in terms of credit scores? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240221/does-having-a-good-credit-score-matter-in-switzerland Wed, 21 Feb 2024 14:39:34 +0100 does-having-a-good-credit-score-matter-in-switzerland After the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28th, Swiss petrol prices have risen sharply. But the conflict is impacting mortgage rates in Switzerland as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260420/how-war-in-middle-east-is-causing-swiss-mortgage-rates-to-soar Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:31:11 +0200 how-war-in-middle-east-is-causing-swiss-mortgage-rates-to-soar You may think that ‘lower prices’ and ‘Switzerland’ should never be mentioned in the same sentence. But online resources can actually help you save on some purchases. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240606/the-swiss-websites-that-can-help-you-save-money Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:53:07 +0200 the-swiss-websites-that-can-help-you-save-money In popular culture, Swiss banks are often synonymous with dirty money, illicit dealings and gold. But how true (or not) are these rumours? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220128/six-myths-about-swiss-banks-that-need-to-be-busted Fri, 28 Jan 2022 14:23:55 +0100 six-myths-about-swiss-banks-that-need-to-be-busted Switzerland has long been a magnet for foreigners looking for a better life – including a growing number of wealthy ‘immigrants.’ https://www.thelocal.ch/20260330/it-embodies-security-why-250-millionaires-move-to-switzerland-each-month Mon, 30 Mar 2026 15:54:08 +0200 it-embodies-security-why-250-millionaires-move-to-switzerland-each-month If you are a new arrival in Switzerland, or even if you have been living here for a while but are not familiar with local laws, these are the rules you need to follow to avoid being slapped with a fine. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240612/what-you-can-be-fined-for-in-switzerland-if-you-dont-follow-everyday-rules Wed, 12 Jun 2024 12:13:13 +0200 what-you-can-be-fined-for-in-switzerland-if-you-dont-follow-everyday-rules The Swiss National Bank (SNB) on Wednesday unveiled the new-look Swiss franc banknote designs, featuring native plants, landscapes and how human life adapts at different altitudes throughout the Alpine nation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260305/altitude-and-adaptation-are-featured-on-new-swiss-banknotes Thu, 05 Mar 2026 09:02:40 +0100 altitude-and-adaptation-are-featured-on-new-swiss-banknotes Year after year, the Federal Council announces deficits in Switzerland’s budget and stresses the importance of curbing public spending. But is this actually the whole picture? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260303/why-is-swiss-government-not-telling-the-truth-about-its-budget Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:14:52 +0100 why-is-swiss-government-not-telling-the-truth-about-its-budget The franc, Switzerland’s famously robust currency, has reached new highs against the euro and dollar, as it continues to strengthen against both currencies. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260129/swiss-franc-reaches-new-highs-against-both-the-euro-and-us-dollar Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:03:18 +0100 swiss-franc-reaches-new-highs-against-both-the-euro-and-us-dollar The Swiss National Bank’s zero-percent interest rate, in place since June 2025, means mortgages should be very cheap. And yet, 10-year fixed-rate mortgage rates have increased. How can this be explained? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260107/why-are-fixed-rate-mortgages-rising-in-switzerland-despite-a-zero-interest-rate Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:54:27 +0100 why-are-fixed-rate-mortgages-rising-in-switzerland-despite-a-zero-interest-rate The Swiss franc has not experienced any volatility or significant fluctuations in the past, but will Switzerland’s famously stable currency maintain its strength in 2026 as well? https://www.thelocal.ch/20251230/will-the-swiss-franc-continue-to-gain-strength-in-2026 Tue, 30 Dec 2025 14:46:13 +0100 will-the-swiss-franc-continue-to-gain-strength-in-2026 Switzerland has well-defined rules for inheritance and succession rights. But do dual nationals have some leeway in choosing which country's laws to follow? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240513/inheritance-in-switzerland-which-countrys-laws-should-dual-nationals-follow Mon, 13 May 2024 14:20:18 +0200 inheritance-in-switzerland-which-countrys-laws-should-dual-nationals-follow At 0.9210 francs, the euro has reached an unprecedented low against the famously strong franc. What impact will this have on Switzerland’s residents? https://www.thelocal.ch/20251022/what-it-means-for-you-as-euro-falls-to-historic-low-against-swiss-franc Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:09:58 +0200 what-it-means-for-you-as-euro-falls-to-historic-low-against-swiss-franc If you are moving to Switzerland, or are newly arrived here, you may be wondering what you will spent most of your salary on. Here are some answers. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251021/in-numbers-what-are-the-biggest-household-expenses-in-switzerland Tue, 21 Oct 2025 18:28:28 +0200 in-numbers-what-are-the-biggest-household-expenses-in-switzerland If you live in Geneva (to just visit it), you know just how expensive this city is. But there are ways to keep your spending to a minimum — by Swiss standards, of course. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240618/six-tips-for-how-you-can-save-money-if-you-live-in-geneva Tue, 18 Jun 2024 11:59:05 +0200 six-tips-for-how-you-can-save-money-if-you-live-in-geneva When it comes to borrowing money from a Swiss bank, nationality may play a role in some cases, but not in others. This is what you should know about this process. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210603/reader-question-can-a-foreign-national-obtain-a-loan-in-switzerland-and-under-what-conditions Thu, 03 Jun 2021 14:31:08 +0200 reader-question-can-a-foreign-national-obtain-a-loan-in-switzerland-and-under-what-conditions Saving money, especially in an expensive country like Switzerland, is not easy — but it is not impossible either, as long as you know how to go about it. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250214/all-the-best-ways-you-can-save-money-in-switzerland-in-2025 Fri, 14 Feb 2025 16:23:13 +0100 all-the-best-ways-you-can-save-money-in-switzerland-in-2025 Switzerland and the United States said Monday they had agreed that monetary policies should not target exchange rates to gain a competitive advantage https://www.thelocal.ch/20250930/switzerland-and-us-agree-on-no-currency-manipulation Tue, 30 Sep 2025 11:13:03 +0200 switzerland-and-us-agree-on-no-currency-manipulation Paper money is being used less and less so why are residents across Europe being advised by the European Central Bank to keep between €70 and €100 in cash at home? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250925/why-are-europes-residents-being-advised-to-keep-e100-in-cash-at-home Thu, 25 Sep 2025 13:23:55 +0200 why-are-europes-residents-being-advised-to-keep-e100-in-cash-at-home Switzerland regularly tops rankings of the most expensive countries in the world and it is unlikely to win any prizes for being a budget destination. But not everything in the country costs a small fortune. https://www.thelocal.ch/20200218/what-is-actually-cheap-in-switzerland-prices-costs Tue, 18 Feb 2020 16:54:45 +0100 what-is-actually-cheap-in-switzerland-prices-costs