If I would be planning to go anywhere I would not have a problem at all - I would simply open a new account in that new place.

My problem is that I would like travel from one country to another for some time and it looks like impossible only because of lack of banking possibilities.

Did you check at Post Finance? They have different sets (Private Set or Online Set). The advantage is that you can check your account online, withdraw money abroad and there seems to be no requirement that you must work in Switzerland. I do not really know if it is the best option, but you can always have a look at their website.

Aardwolf,

You might try some French bank.  They have looser regulations than Swiss ones, and the border is just a few miles away.

Since every year I need to show them a paper stating that my contract is prolonged. And this year I do not have this paper anymore.

A complicated but workable solution is if you currently have a work permit, apply for a pre paid credit card from Cornercard.ch.  And open that savings account that you mentioned.  You can load up to chf 10,000 on your prepaid card, and it's protected in case of theft, etc.  Dump the rest of your money into that savings account.

Oh, and for the record.  I had a Post finance account.  And I never had to show anything but my passport to open it.  And even though it was an American one, (we always get hassled for banks purposes), I still had no problem.  Maybe you should try that.  Don't tell them your leaving.  What they don't know doesn't kill them.   They just need an address.  Use a friends!

Go to postfinance. I had opposite issues when I came here, I already had a work contract but still had to wait for the residence permit. No bank except Postfinance wanted me because I didn't have a residence permit yet...

this sounds completely wrong and makes no sense. many ubs account holders in switzerland are out of work, and on "chomage" and have active bank accounts. i would request to speak to someone at ubs who is knowledgeable. you can ask how is it possible that they close/block client's accounts who are out of work.

I agree, it makes no sense. I kept my bank account at UBS for one year while I was living and working in London, I just gave the bank the address of a friend who lives in Geneva...

" And the only problem is that UBS said that the day my Geneva contract is finished they block my account and my Visa card even though the expiration date is in 5 months."

i think the person who told you that should be fired and left without a job. that is not only misinformation, misleading, but probably illegal ( i'm sure in the small print it is stated they are not allowed to close an account for your end of employment) .

get the person's name and report it to the ubs contact person on glocals. make a real stink. ! there are plenty of out of work banking people who are available to work in his job and give correct information to valued customers.

what are the opinions of my glocal friends here? what say you?

And hopefully the person who is fired will not be able to access their account!!

It is none of their business if you work or not, as long as you have money in the bank - it is yours.  You earned it.  Sometimes Swiss banks are so archaic...

I've found UBS employees giving out wrong information before.

Anyway, I have a bank account in France (CIC), the mail goes to wherever I ask them to send it, they don't require any proof of employment or anything else like a local address, and the account came with a debit (Maestro) and VISA card that is accepted most anywhere. I am a EU (Dutch) national so maybe that helps.

poland is in th EU now, ( pls correct me if i'm wrong)

I think it is not a problem whether you work or not but if you are registered to live in Switzerland or not. If you are not registered any more, then it is or could be an issue.

If they go to the authorities to see if you are registered or not

Hi hi.

Today I talked to completely another person, he checked everything and now he is calling me trying to convince me that I do not transfer my money and close my account!