Payment Methods Survey of Private Individuals
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) conducts an annual representative survey on payment methods of private individuals. The aim of the survey is to obtain information on the Swiss population's payment behaviour and to identify any changes in the use of various payment methods over time.
The survey consists of several parts:
- Questionnaire on ownership of payment instruments and on payment habits
- Payment diary for recording all everyday transactions during one week
Reports
Further charts
The charts show the most recent survey results for each question; not all questions are asked every year.
Methodology
This overview of the methodology applies to the current survey. Detailed information on the methodology of each survey can be found in the respective reports.
- Interview method: Computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) or computer-assisted web interview (CAWI)
- Payment diary: Paper or online diary (browser or app version)
- Survey population: Language-assimilated resident population of Switzerland aged 15 and over
- Sampling procedure: Stratified random sample at individual level from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office (SFSO) sampling frame
- Incentive: SNB giveaway and CHF 50
The Swiss National Bank conducts the country's monetary policy as an independent central bank. Under the National Bank Act, it is tasked with ensuring the supply and distribution of cash in Switzerland. Additionally, it is entrusted with facilitating and securing the operation of cashless payment systems. By performing these tasks, the SNB creates the necessary conditions for the public to be able to choose their preferred method of payment for each transaction.
For the 2025 survey on payment methods of private individuals, the SNB is working together with the market research company YouGov Switzerland, further information on which is available at www.yougov.ch.
YouGov Switzerland is supporting the SNB in the survey and instrument design and is responsible for conducting the survey.
Explanatory video on the payment diary (in German)
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