I have 40 CHF cash from 2014 which was from our last visit to Switzerland. In 10 days, my husband & I will be arriving in Switzerland by train at the Zürich HB. We will be changing trains there for Mürren. Where in or near the Zürich HB can I exchange older bills for current bills? Thank you!
Posted by
Chicago
8123 posts
At the Swiss National Bank location in Zurich or Bern FYI:
https://www.snb.ch/en/the-snb/mandates-goals/cash/banknotes-qas
Posted by
Green Bay
20937 posts
I was able to exchange mine at a UBS regular bank branch (this one in Zermatt) in January. They said anything less than 1000 CHF they could exchange without having an account there.
They only have an ATM in the station, but there are couple of branches just a few blocks south of Zurich HB.
17 Seidengasse (Loewenplatz) & 72 Bahnhofstrasse
Posted by
OP
New York, NY
4034 posts
Sam, that’s great to hear. I edited my original post to specify that I have 40 CHF. I hope any Swiss bank located at or near Zürich HB will exchange this small amount.
Posted by
Green Bay
20937 posts
I tried another bank, but they directed me to UBS. See my edit above.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8817 posts
Are you sure that they are not usable? I have some too, and thought old series were still currently usable.
Posted by
Green Bay
20937 posts
I found out about the new money on the train to Visp when I tried to buy a cup of coffee and they handed my tenner back and said "Money no good!" Fortunately, my old money stash included some coins and I had enough to cover a cup of coffee. Coins don't change.
Later I showed my notes to the hotel bartender and she just laughed "You won't get far with those!"
Posted by
OP
New York, NY
4034 posts
Sam, thank you for sharing your experience in January. If a UBS branch is that close, I can have my husband wait at the train station with our luggage & go to the closest branch to exchange the bills. Curious, where you had coffee didn’t accept credit cards/contactless payments?
Posted by
Green Bay
20937 posts
It was in the bar car on the train and their credit card machine was broken.
Since it appears you will have Swiss Travel Passes, take the No 14 Tram from Bahnhofsplatz, which is on the south side of the station, one stop to Loewenplatz and there is UBS branch there. Then back will save a bit of walking.
If you do want to go to the Swiss National Bank to exchange the notes, take the No 11 Tram from Bahnhofsquai, which is the tram stop on the east side of the station, to the Kantonalbank stop and the SNB is right across the street. Hours are 9:30 to 16:30 M-F.
As far as connections to Muerren, there is a train every 1/2 hour that will get you to Muerren from Zurich HB at 2 and 32 past the hour, and they all depart for Platform 31, which is in the underground platforms section. Keep an eye out for the trains at 11:02, 13:02, 15:02 as they have one less connection. You will not have to change trains at Bern with those departures as they are direct to Interlaken Ost.
Posted by
OP
New York, NY
4034 posts
Sam, thank you again very much. Yes we will have the Swiss Pass. Going to UBS sounds quicker. Prior to my starting this thread, I sent an email to the Swiss Consulate here in NYC (their webpage said no walk-ins, email first) asking the easiest way to exchange currency; I explained that we’ll be arriving at Zürich HB. Not sure if I will hear back tomorrow, but I assume by Tuesday.