Alpian Switzerland: the only fully-licensed Swiss digital bank with managed investing built-in — and the CHF 100 bonus you only get if you remember the code
A practical review of Alpian for affluent expats in Switzerland who want the depth of a real Swiss bank with the UX of a neobank — plus an honest look at the welcome bonus, what it actually pays, and the one step that catches most users out at signup.
Published 25 May 2026 · Reviewed & updated 25 May 2026 · By bergmoney Research
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains an affiliate link. If you open an Alpian account through our link and enter the code PCNC86 during signup, you may receive a welcome bonus (currently CHF 25 after depositing CHF 500) and investment-fee credit (currently CHF 75 after you start investing) — and we receive a small referral reward. No extra cost to you. Bonus amounts and conditions are subject to Alpian's current terms at signup and may change; the figures here are accurate as of publication. Our editorial position is not influenced by referral rewards — read how we make money.
Read this before you sign up — the one step that matters.
The bonus does not apply automatically. Even if you open Alpian through our link, you typically need to enter the code PCNC86 during account opening for the welcome bonus and investment-fee credit to be credited. The field is in the signup flow but easy to miss. If you skip the code field, you still get an Alpian account, but the bonus is forfeited. In practice the code cannot be added retroactively. Write the code down or screenshot it: PCNC86. Bonus amounts and terms are subject to Alpian's current conditions at signup.
Short answer
Yes — Alpian is one of the most interesting Swiss banking options to come out in years, particularly for expats with non-trivial CHF balances who want a fully Swiss-licensed bank, a real CH IBAN, multi-currency, and built-in managed investing — without the CHF 100,000-minimum private-banking gatekeeping that legacy Swiss banks have used for the same audience.
For an expat building real wealth in Switzerland, Alpian sits next to a basic Swiss neobank (or replaces it), Wise (cross-border FX), and Tangem (crypto self-custody). It is the Swiss banking layer with managed investing built in for users who want depth in a single app. The up-to-CHF-100 welcome + investment-fee bonus is real, but only if you enter code PCNC86 during signup.
Quick verdict
Alpian is a fully Swiss-licensed digital bank (FINMA banking licence — not the lighter Swiss FinTech licence that Yapeal operates under), positioned for the "affluent middle" segment that traditionally has been pushed toward private banking at UBS or Pictet. Real CH IBAN, esisuisse-protected deposits up to CHF 100,000, multi-currency, managed-investing portfolios inside the same app.
- Expats with CHF 10,000+ in savings who want full Swiss banking licence + esisuisse coverage
- Hands-off investors who want managed portfolios without private-banking gatekeeping
- Multi-currency expats juggling 3 apps for banking + investing + FX
- Affluent users who want depth without UBS / Pictet minimum-asset requirements
- Anyone willing to pay for premium banking polish with serious investing add-on
- You only want the cheapest free CHF debit card (Neon undercuts here)
- You actively trade stocks yourself (use IBKR, Swissquote, Saxo)
- You prefer self-directed crypto custody (use Tangem)
- You expect Wise-level mid-market FX as the main feature
- You forget to enter the PCNC86 code at signup — no bonus is then payable
Remember the code — bonus is not retroactive · subject to Alpian terms at signup
Bonus reminder
Enter code PCNC86 at signup. CHF 25 welcome (after CHF 500 deposit) + CHF 75 investment-fee credit (when you start investing) = up to CHF 100 in bonus credits. Code cannot be added later. Subject to Alpian terms at signup.
Who Alpian is actually perfect for (and who should skip it)
Alpian is perfect for
- Expats with CHF 10,000+ in savings who want full Swiss banking licence + esisuisse coverage
- Hands-off investors who want managed portfolios without private-banking gatekeeping
- Multi-currency expats juggling 3 apps for banking + investing + FX
- Affluent users who want depth without UBS / Pictet minimum-asset requirements
- Anyone willing to pay for premium banking polish with serious investing add-on
Skip Alpian if
- You only want the cheapest free CHF debit card (Neon undercuts here)
- You actively trade stocks yourself (use IBKR, Swissquote, Saxo)
- You prefer self-directed crypto custody (use Tangem)
- You expect Wise-level mid-market FX as the main feature
- You forget to enter the PCNC86 code at signup — no bonus is then payable
Is Alpian safe? — full Swiss banking licence + esisuisse
Short answer: yes — Alpian is one of the most strongly regulated digital banks in Switzerland.
- Full Swiss banking licence from FINMA — FINMA-regulated like traditional Swiss banks. Verify the exact granting date on the FINMA institutions register.
- esisuisse deposit insurance up to CHF 100,000 per client per bank — the same Swiss deposit-insurance scheme used by major Swiss banks. Payout processes in a failure scenario can differ in practice; the headline coverage limit is the same.
- Backed by an established Swiss banking group (verify current ownership structure on alpian.com — corporate links here have evolved over time).
- Swiss-incorporated, Swiss-supervised. Headquartered in Geneva. Not an EU-passporting setup like Revolut or Wise.
The practical takeaway: deposits up to CHF 100,000 per client are covered by esisuisse, the same scheme used by Swiss-licensed banks generally. That is not true for Wise, Revolut or Yapeal — and it changes the calculation for anyone keeping non-trivial CHF balances.
Editorial view: we would comfortably keep meaningful CHF balances on Alpian — current account, savings, and managed-investing balances. Above CHF 100,000 in pure cash, you still want to split across multiple Swiss-licensed banks (the esisuisse limit is per-bank), but that is true for any single bank, not specific to Alpian.
What makes Alpian different from every other Swiss neobank
Four things put Alpian in a category of one on the Swiss market right now.
-
Full banking licence + esisuisse
Neon, Yuh and Yapeal all sit under different (lighter or partner-based) regulatory setups. Alpian holds a full Swiss banking licence, FINMA-regulated like traditional Swiss banks.
-
Managed investing in the same app
Not a separate broker, not a 'vault' feature — actual managed portfolios with 5 risk profiles, run by a Swiss wealth-management team.
-
Multi-currency on a Swiss bank
Most Swiss banks treat foreign-currency accounts as a chore. Alpian treats them as a core feature, with 40+ currencies and reasonable FX.
-
Premium without gatekeeping
UBS Wealth Management wants CHF 250k+. Alpian wants you to install the app. Consciously aimed at the segment private banks ignore.
The setup we recommend with Alpian in the mix
Alpian changes the recommended setup compared to Wise / Revolut / Yapeal reviews. Three sensible combinations.
- Option 1
Alpian as primary Swiss bank + Wise
Alpian + Wise
- Alpian for salary, Krankenkasse, QR-bills, multi-currency, managed investing, esisuisse-protected savings
- Wise for cross-border FX above casual amounts
- Option 2
Alpian + neobank + Wise
Alpian + Neon/Yuh + Wise
- Alpian for serious balances + managed-portfolio side
- Neon or Yuh as zero-fee daily-spending CHF account
- Wise for cross-border FX
- Option 3
Alpian + Tangem + Wise (full stack)
Alpian + Wise + Tangem
- Alpian = fiat banking + managed investing
- Wise = international fiat
- Tangem = self-custody hardware for any crypto you already hold
Alpian IBAN and Swiss-system workflows
Alpian issues a real Swiss CH IBAN. Same as Yapeal, Neon, Yuh and traditional Swiss banks. That means:
- Swiss salary depositWorks natively with every Swiss employer payroll system.
- Krankenkasse direct debit (LSV / CH-DD)Works natively.
- QR-bill paymentsSupported in-app.
- Rental contractsLandlords accept the CH IBAN for rent direct debits.
- Tax statement (Steuerausweis)Annual statement provided — verify current format support in-app.
- AHV / IV / EO / ALV outflowsWork for personal contributions.
For Swiss-system tasks Alpian sits with the other CH-IBAN providers (Neon, Yuh, Yapeal, traditional banks) — and unlike Wise or Revolut, it can credibly be your only Swiss account.
Alpian Investing — managed portfolios explained
The investing side of Alpian is the part that most distinguishes it from Neon / Yuh / Yapeal. It is also where the welcome bonus delivers most of its value.
How Alpian Investing works
You answer a short risk-profile questionnaire. Based on the result, you get matched to one of 5 managed portfolios, from conservative to aggressive. Each portfolio is a diversified, professionally managed mix of ETFs, mutual funds and other instruments. You deposit money; Alpian's portfolio managers handle buying, rebalancing and asset allocation. You see the portfolio in the same app you use for daily banking.
What this is not
- Not self-directed trading. You do not pick individual stocks. For that, use a real broker.
- Actively managed, not pure-algorithm robo-advisor. Alpian's portfolios involve active management decisions from a Swiss wealth-management team, not just rules-based rebalancing.
- Not a guarantee of returns. Markets fluctuate. Managed portfolios can lose money. Past performance does not predict the next period. Investing is not the same as saving.
Fees
Investing fees and minimums change periodically. Always verify current rates in-app before committing.
Alpian Investing charges a management fee on assets under management (typical range for Swiss managed portfolios at digital banks: roughly 0.5–1.0% per year), plus the underlying funds' TER (typically 0.2–0.4%). The CHF 75 investment-fee credit from the welcome bonus offsets a meaningful chunk of the first year of management fees on a small starting position.
Editorial view: for hands-off investors who would otherwise leave cash sitting in a checking account, Alpian Investing is a reasonable option. The fees are real but in line with peer Swiss managed-portfolio products. For active stock pickers, use IBKR, Swissquote or Saxo. None of this is investment advice — managed portfolios can lose money, past performance does not guarantee future returns, and investing is not the same as saving.
Alpian plans and pricing
Plan pricing and feature lists change regularly — always verify in-app before subscribing.
Alpian's pricing is positioned slightly above neobanks like Neon, in line with its premium positioning. There is typically a free tier and one or more paid tiers, with the paid tiers unlocking additional features (multi-card, higher FX allowances, better investing terms).
At-a-glance
- — Standard / Free tier — real Swiss CH IBAN, basic banking, multi-currency, access to Alpian Investing at standard fees
- — Premium tier(s) — better FX rates, higher card and ATM limits, premium support, sometimes lower investing fees
The right plan for most users is the entry-level tier first. Upgrade only if you actually use the premium features.
Alpian Switzerland fees explained
Always verify current fees in the Alpian app or on alpian.com before relying on a specific number.
Account fees
- — Free baseline plan: no monthly account fee
- — Premium tiers: monthly subscription, in line with Swiss premium-banking pricing
Card and FX
- — Mastercard debit (Apple Pay / Google Pay supported)
- — ATM withdrawals: free up to a monthly limit, then a percentage fee
- — Multi-currency holding included; fair Swiss-bank-market FX on conversions — not as tight as Wise on heavy volume
Investing fees
- — Annual management fee on AUM, typically in the 0.5–1.0% range
- — Underlying funds' TER, typically 0.2–0.4%
- — No per-transaction trading fee for managed portfolios
Cross-border transfers
- — SEPA EUR: low-cost / free
- — SWIFT outside SEPA: standard Swiss-bank-style fees + correspondent costs. For systematic cross-border FX, Wise is cheaper.
Multi-currency and travel use
Alpian supports 40+ currencies in a single account. For an expat juggling CHF salary, EUR cross-border spending, USD investment income and occasional GBP, having all of them on one Swiss-licensed banking app is a real win.
For travel, the Mastercard debit card spends at fair Swiss-market FX. Not as aggressive as Wise mid-market, but a meaningful step up from legacy Swiss bank debit cards.
For very heavy travel users, pair Alpian with Revolut for the travel-specific perks (lounge access, travel insurance, weekend FX). See our Revolut Switzerland review for the deep dive.
How the CHF 100 bonus actually works (code PCNC86)
The mechanic is straightforward but easy to get wrong.
What you get (as of publication)
- — CHF 25 welcome bonus — credited after you deposit CHF 500 into your Alpian account
- — CHF 75 investment-fee credit — applied against your Alpian Investing fees, credited once you start investing
Combined potential value: up to CHF 100 in bonus credits, subject to Alpian's current terms at signup. Bonus amounts and qualifying conditions can change without notice — verify the live offer in the Alpian app at the moment of signup.
What you must do
- Open Alpian through our affiliate link or download the app directly
- During account opening, enter the code
PCNC86in the referral / promo-code field - Complete identity verification
- Deposit at least CHF 500 to trigger the welcome bonus
- Start investing through Alpian Investing to trigger the fee credit
Things to know
- — The code typically cannot be added retroactively. Skip the field → bonus gone.
- — The CHF 25 welcome typically arrives within a few days of the qualifying deposit
- — The CHF 75 fee credit is applied against your first investment-fee charges
- — Bonus terms can be updated by Alpian at any time — always check current terms in-app at signup
If you remember nothing else from this article, remember PCNC86.
Alpian vs Yapeal
The closest comparison on the Swiss digital-bank market.
Yapeal advantages
- — Cheaper free tier
- — Personalised letter IBAN
- — Distinct Yapeal Business product
- — App-first, very low onboarding friction
Alpian advantages
- — Full Swiss banking licence + esisuisse coverage
- — Managed investing built into the same app
- — Premium positioning with corresponding service depth
- — Backed by an established Swiss banking group
Honest call: Yapeal for cheapest functional Swiss CHF account. Alpian for esisuisse protection on larger balances and managed investing in one app. See our Yapeal review for the deep dive.
Alpian vs Neon
Different category, different audience.
Neon advantages
- — Aggressively free baseline — cheapest CHF daily-banking option
- — Simpler product (one personal plan)
- — Strong reputation as no-frills account
Alpian advantages
- — Full banking licence + esisuisse coverage
- — Managed investing in the same app
- — Multi-currency native to a Swiss-licensed bank
- — Premium service depth
Honest call: Neon for cheapest CHF daily banking. Alpian for serious balances + investing in one app. Many expats keep both.
Alpian vs Yuh
Both offer banking + investing in one app, but target different users.
Yuh advantages
- — Cheaper baseline for casual users
- — Self-directed investing (fractional shares, crypto)
- — Backed by PostFinance + Swissquote
- — Better fit for first-step DIY investors
Alpian advantages
- — Managed portfolios (Yuh is self-directed)
- — Premium banking polish
- — Multi-currency depth
- — Higher service tier overall
Honest call: Yuh for users who want to pick their own stocks. Alpian for users who want professional management. Different products for different investor types.
Alpian vs Wise
Completely different jobs.
- — Alpian: full Swiss bank, CH IBAN, esisuisse, managed investing
- — Wise: cross-border FX powerhouse, no Swiss IBAN, no investing
Pair them rather than choose. Alpian handles your Swiss banking and investing core; Wise handles cross-border money flow. See our full Wise Switzerland review for the deep dive on Wise.
Alpian vs Revolut
Also different jobs.
- — Alpian: Swiss-licensed bank with deep investing, no travel-card perks emphasis
- — Revolut: consumer fintech with travel insurance, cashback, light investing, no Swiss IBAN
For Swiss-system tasks and serious investing, Alpian wins. For travel and lifestyle features, Revolut wins. Many expats run Alpian as the banking core and Revolut on the side. See our Revolut Switzerland review for the deep dive.
Decision table — which app for which job
A use-case-based summary across the Swiss banking options we cover.
| Use case | Alpian | Yapeal | Neon | Yuh | Wise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Swiss CH IBAN | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Full Swiss banking licence | ✅ | FinTech licence | partner-licensed | partner-licensed | EMI |
| esisuisse CHF 100k coverage | ✅ | ❌ | via partner setup | via partner setup | ❌ |
| Managed investing built-in | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | self-directed only | ❌ |
| Self-directed stock trading | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ basic | ❌ |
| Cheapest free CHF banking | mid | mid | ✅ | mid | n/a |
| Multi-currency depth | ✅ | basic | basic | ✅ | ✅✅ |
| Cross-border FX power | mid | mid | basic | mid | ✅✅ |
| Business account product | not yet | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Best paired with | Wise + Tangem | Wise | Wise | Wise | Swiss bank |
Verify current regulatory and feature details on each provider's website — the picture above is accurate as of publication.
How to open Alpian from Switzerland
The flow runs in the Alpian app.
- 1 Step 1
Download the Alpian app
iOS or Android. Start the signup flow.
- 2 Step 2
Enter the promo code PCNC86
When prompted during signup, enter PCNC86 in the referral / promo-code field. This is the step most users miss — without it, no bonus.
- 3 Step 3
Verify your identity
Passport / Swiss ID + selfie / video check. Swiss residents add a Permit B / C / L / G or Swiss proof of address. Typically approved within a business day.
- 4 Step 4
Deposit CHF 500 + start investing
Deposit at least CHF 500 to trigger the welcome bonus. Optionally allocate to an Alpian Investing portfolio to trigger the investment-fee credit.
How affluent expats commonly use Alpian
Based on conversations with expats in Switzerland, our own product testing, and periodic product re-checks, the most common Alpian use patterns are:
- As primary Swiss bank for users with CHF 10,000+. Salary in, Krankenkasse out, QR-bills, multi-currency, savings — all on one esisuisse-protected account.
- As a managed-investing layer. Move idle CHF savings into one of the 5 managed portfolios, let Alpian's team handle rebalancing.
- As the serious complement to a Neon or Yuh daily-spend account. Neon for the everyday card, Alpian for the savings and investing.
- As an alternative to private banking. UBS Wealth wants CHF 250k+ to engage; Alpian engages from the app store.
- Paired with Wise + Tangem. The full expat finance stack: Alpian banking + Wise FX + Tangem crypto.
See the About page for our editorial methodology.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alpian a real Swiss bank? +
Yes. Alpian holds a full Swiss banking licence from FINMA — FINMA-regulated like traditional Swiss banks. Not a FinTech licence or an EU-passporting setup. Verify the exact granting date on the FINMA institutions register.
Is Alpian covered by esisuisse? +
Yes. Because Alpian is a full Swiss bank, customer deposits are protected by the standard Swiss esisuisse deposit-insurance scheme up to CHF 100,000 per customer per bank.
What is the code PCNC86? +
It is the referral code that, when entered during Alpian signup, unlocks a welcome bonus and an investment-fee credit. The code must be entered during signup — it typically cannot be added later. Bonus amounts and terms are subject to Alpian's current conditions at signup.
Do I need to enter the PCNC86 code to use Alpian? +
No. You can open Alpian without any code. But without entering PCNC86 during signup, you do not get the welcome bonus or the investment-fee credit. The account itself is the same.
How much is the Alpian welcome bonus? +
As of publication: CHF 25 in cash after depositing CHF 500, plus CHF 75 in investment-fee credit once you start investing. Combined potential value up to CHF 100. Both contingent on entering code PCNC86 during signup. Bonus amounts and qualifying conditions can change — verify the live offer in the Alpian app at signup.
Does Alpian give a Swiss IBAN? +
Yes. A real Swiss CH IBAN, accepted by every Swiss employer payroll system, insurer and QR-bill workflow.
Is Alpian Investing safe? +
Alpian Investing offers managed portfolios. The funds are held under Swiss investor-protection rules. The investments themselves can rise or fall in value — managed investing is not deposit insurance. Past performance does not guarantee future returns.
Can I receive my Swiss salary on Alpian? +
Yes. Alpian's CH IBAN works with every Swiss employer payroll system.
Does Alpian support QR-bills? +
Yes, natively in the app.
Alpian vs Yapeal — which is better? +
Yapeal for cheap CHF daily banking with a personalised IBAN. Alpian for fully-licensed banking with esisuisse coverage and managed investing in the same app. For serious balances, Alpian's regulatory profile is the stronger pick.
Alpian vs Neon — which is cheaper? +
Neon is cheaper on the absolute basic free-account level. Alpian is more expensive but offers more depth (full banking licence, managed investing, multi-currency native).
Can Ukrainians in Switzerland open Alpian? +
Yes. Ukrainian citizens with a Swiss residency document (including Permit S) can open Alpian using their Ukrainian passport and Swiss proof of residence.
Does Alpian work with TWINT? +
Verify current TWINT integration in the Alpian app — TWINT support for digital banks has evolved over time.
What if I forget to enter the PCNC86 code? +
The bonus is typically forfeited and cannot be added retroactively. Your Alpian account itself is fine and works normally, but the welcome and investment-fee credit will not apply.
Final verdict
Alpian is the most credible new banking option to launch in Switzerland for affluent expats in years. The full Swiss banking licence with esisuisse coverage genuinely sets it apart from FinTech-licensed neobanks. The managed-investing layer is a real product. And the pricing puts a private-banking-style experience within reach of users who would not qualify for UBS Wealth Management's minimums.
It is not the cheapest Swiss banking option, and it is not for active traders or self-directed investors. But for the broad middle — expats with real savings who want one well-regulated Swiss-licensed app that handles banking + investing + multi-currency without sending them to a private bank — Alpian is one of the strongest picks on the market right now.
The honest mental model: Alpian as Swiss banking + managed investing core, Wise for cross-border FX, Tangem for crypto self-custody, Revolut optional for travel-card perks. Each tool doing what it does best. And do not forget the code: PCNC86. Without it, no bonus.
Open Alpian
Up to CHF 100 in bonus credits with code PCNC86. Subject to Alpian terms at signup.
Open Alpian — use code PCNC86 for up to CHF 100 in bonus →Affiliate link · code required at signup · no extra cost · disclosure
Published 25 May 2026 · Reviewed & updated 25 May 2026 by bergmoney Research.
Spotted a changed plan, an updated bonus amount, or a regulatory detail that has shifted? Tell us — we update reviews quarterly.