Swiss Industry Unveils Offline Card Payments Solution for Essential Goods

Switzerland has introduced an industry-wide solution for offline card payments, allowing citizens to purchase essential goods even when data connections are down. This system, developed by banks, payment service providers, and retailers, is expected to be widely available by the end of 2027.

The initiative, led by the National Economic Supply Agency and the Swiss National Bank, aims to provide a reliable payment solution in case of technical issues or crises. A majority of market participants have expressed their support for the introduction of this emergency system.

For offline payments, a domestic credit or debit card with a PIN is required, and the card reader must be connected to a power source. The new system applies only to suppliers of essential goods, such as food, medicine, and fuel.