Switzerland to implement offline card payments for essential goods

Banks, payment service providers, and retailers in Switzerland have agreed to voluntarily introduce offline card payment capabilities to ensure the supply of essential goods during technical disruptions. Under the leadership of the Swiss National Bank and the Federal Office for National Economic Supply, the industry aims for a broad implementation of this solution by the end of 2027.

This emergency system is designed to function when data or communication connections fail, allowing consumers to purchase vital items such as food, medicine, and fuel using physical debit or credit cards with a PIN. The payment terminal stores the transaction and transmits it once connectivity is restored. To mitigate risks of fraud or loss, the system will be limited to specific essential goods and will include predefined limits on the number and value of offline transactions.