Who do I contact if my Maestro card has been stolen or lost?

Which PIN should I choose?

What happens if I forget my PIN code?

How often can I enter my PIN code incorrectly?

What does the Maestro function offer?

How do I know whether I can pay or withdraw cash with my Maestro card?

How much does a cash withdrawal cost in Switzerland and abroad?

How high is the purchasing limit on my Maestro card?

How do I get an Maestro card?

Where can I have my Maestro card blocked?

What must I do in the event of fraud?

Can my Maestro card still be misused once it has been blocked?

What does “ATM” mean?

What do EFT, “POS” and “POP” mean?

Are there also Maestro cards that are not linked to an account?

When is CASH being separated from Maestro?

Why can some Maestro customers continue using CASH and others not?

Who do I contact if my Maestro card has been stolen or lost?
If your Maestro card or its PIN code is lost or stolen, or if a terminal or ATM has retained your card, contact your card issuer or the blocking service right away and have your card blocked immediately.
For more information on this see Figure 1.6f Conditions governing the use of the Maestro card

Which PIN should I choose?
We recommend that you do not use number combinations that could be guessed easily, such as your telephone number, date of birth, car license plate number etc. Be sure to always use a combination of numbers and not letters as a PIN code. The PIN must not be written on the Maestro card, nor stored together with it.

What happens if I forget my PIN code?
If you forget your PIN code, you must order a new Maestro card with a new PIN code, since the PIN is unique and known only to you.

How often can I enter my PIN code incorrectly?
To prevent possible misuse, your PIN code is automatically blocked after being entered incorrectly three times. The blocking occurs even if the incorrect entries are made at different ATMs or terminals. Blocked PIN codes cannot be subsequently unblocked; you must order a new Maestro card with a new PIN code.

What does the Maestro function offer?
The Maestro function on your Maestro card enables cashless paying at electronic terminals and cash withdrawals at ATMs in Switzerland an worldwide.
How do I know whether I can pay or withdraw cash with my Maestro card?
Look for the Maestro logo in stores and at ATMs.
You can also withdraw cash from ATMs worldwide displaying the Cirrus logo.

How much does a cash withdrawal cost in Switzerland and abroad?
The conditions vary depending on the card issuer. Ask your bank directly.
How much does cashless payment with my Maestro card cost in Switzerland and abroad?
There is no charge for payments made with the Maestro card in Switzerland. The conditions for payments in other countries vary depending on the card issuer. Ask your bank directly.

How high is the purchasing limit on my Maestro card?
Your card issuer will notify you of your personal monthly limit. It is, however, limited to CHF 10,000 per month. You can access up to CHF 2,000 in a single day, although the maximum daily ATM withdrawal limit is CHF 1,000.

How do I get an Maestro card?
Since the Maestro card is linked to a bank account, you first require an account. You can obtain a card application form direct from your bank or through its website. The Conditions governing the use of the Maestro card are the same for all cardholders.

Where can I have my Maestro card blocked?
You can have your Maestro card blocked by your card issuer or through the blocking service.

What must I do in the event of fraud?
You are obligated to notify your bank immediately upon discovery of a fraud, at the latest 30 days from receipt of your account statement. You will receive a loss form, which is to be completed and returned to the bank within 10 days. Provided that you have exercised due diligence in accordance with Figure I.6 of the Conditions governing the use of the Maestro card and otherwise bear no responsibility for the fraud, your bank will compensate you for the loss – minus a deductible.

Can my Maestro card still be misused once it has been blocked?
The security of the Maestro card is not yet guaranteed by a PIN code in all countries. In exceptional cases, payments can be made with your card even though it has been blocked. Debits to your account will be credited back to you by your bank, as long as you had the card blocked immediately upon discovering the loss.

What does “ATM” mean?
ATM is the English abbreviation for “Automated Teller Machine,” also known as a cash dispenser.

What do "EFT", “POS” and “POP” mean?
EFT ist the English abbreviation for "Electronic data transfer".
POS is the English abbreviation for “Point of Sale,” the sales point (from the point of view of the seller).
POP is the English abbreviation for “Point of Purchase,” the sales point (from the point of view of the purchaser).

Are there also Maestro cards that are not linked to an account?
Various countries have prepaid Maestro cards that are not connected to an account. Such cards, however, are not issued in Switzerland. There are, however, Cirrus prepaid cards that are not linked to an account and which can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs. These are issued by Swiss bankers.
More information about Cirrus Prepaid (Travel Cash)

When is CASH being separated from Maestro?
New Maestro cards ordered as part of daily production from September 1, 2010 will no longer feature the CASH function. Maestro cards expiring in 2010 will be automatically replaced in autumn 2010. The new cards will no longer feature the CASH function. Existing Maestro cards with the CASH logo printed on them will retain the CASH function until the card expires.

Why can some Maestro customers continue using CASH and others not?
Maestro cards are automatically renewed every three years. As this does not happen at the same time for all cardholders, it may be the case that some cardholders already have new cards without the CASH function while others still possess old cards with the CASH function.