BonusCard.ch AG

What BonusCard.ch AG does

BonusCard.ch AG is a Swiss Visa card issuer providing credit and prepaid card products to individual consumers, operating as a brand and business division of Cornèr Bank AG within the Cornèr Bank Group. Headquartered in Zürich and founded in 2006, the company employs 51-100 people and serves the Swiss domestic market through a multi-language (German, French, Italian) digital and branch-supported distribution model. Its product portfolio spans five credit card tiers (Simply Card Smart at CHF 0/year, Bonus Card Classic at CHF 48, Liberty Card at CHF 60, Bonus Card Gold at CHF 144, and Liberty Card Plus at CHF 150) plus three prepaid variants, all operating on the global Visa network.

The company's underlying technology stack is a proprietary mobile and web application (MyOnlineServices) that provides real-time transaction monitoring, bonus point tracking, statement downloads, and a MyCountry feature for double-point earning abroad, supported by 3-D Secure authentication (Visa Secure) and tokenized NFC payments through Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Customer onboarding is fully digital, including video identification, enabling self-serve card issuance without branch visits. The bonus program is a structural differentiator: cardholders accrue points (CHF 1 = 1 point for Simply Card Smart, CHF 5 = 1 point for prepaid) redeemable at over 100 partner merchants covering gift cards, airline miles, charitable donations, and account credit, with mobility-focused tiers offering 2x-4x point multipliers on travel and transportation spend.

BonusCard's business model is a hybrid of subscription and transaction-based revenue. Annual card fees provide a recurring base (none on Simply Card Smart, scaling up to CHF 150 on Liberty Card Plus), while interchange on every Visa-network transaction and a 0.5% foreign currency processing fee provide volume-driven upside. Incremental revenue is generated through opt-in add-on insurance products (Cyber, Loss Protection, Balance Insurance) distributed via the MyOnlineServices app, an interest-bearing installment (Teilzahlung) option on credit balances, and ancillary travel, luggage, and warranty insurance bundled into premium tiers. As a wholly-owned division of Cornèr Bank AG, a licensed Swiss private bank, the business benefits from the parent group's regulatory standing, branch footprint in Chiasso, Geneva, Locarno, and Zurich, and cross-sell access to Cornèr's broader private banking and online trading customer base.

Name

BonusCard.ch AG

Legal name

Cornèr Bank AG

Website

https://bonuscard.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

BonusCard.ch AG is a Swiss Visa card issuer providing credit and prepaid cards to consumers under the Cornèr Bank AG umbrella. The Zurich-based company offers a multi-tier card portfolio with bonus points, mobile payment, and bundled travel insurance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Credit Cards

NAICS

Credit Card Issuing (52221)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

General Purpose Credit Cards (FSAKABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Rewards & Loyalty Credit Cards (FSAKABAH), Travel Money Cards & Multi-Currency Prepaid (FSAMANAI)

Keywords

• Credit card services
• Prepaid card issuance
• Loyalty rewards program
• Mobile payment solutions
• Travel insurance products

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Annual Card Fees: Annual membership fees charged per card. Different tiers command different annual fees: Simply Card Smart is free (CHF 0/year), Bonus Card Classic is CHF 48/year, Liberty Card is CHF 60/year, Bonus Card Gold is CHF 144/year, and Liberty Card Plus is CHF 150/year. These represent recurring subscription revenue from cardholders.
2. Interchange and Transaction Fees: Every card transaction processed through the Visa network generates interchange revenue for the card issuer. The company earns a percentage of each transaction processed at merchants globally.
3. Foreign Currency Transaction Fees: A 0.5% foreign currency processing fee is charged on transactions made in non-Swiss currencies, generating additional revenue per transaction for international usage.
4. Add-on Insurance Products: Optional paid supplementary services available through MyOnlineServices App, including Cyber Insurance, Loss Protection, and Balance (Payment) Protection Insurance. These are fee-based add-ons charged to cardholders who opt in.
5. Installment / Teilzahlung Feature: Cardholders can pay their monthly statement balance in installments (Teilzahlungsoption). A minimum payment of CHF 50 or 2.5% of the open balance is required. Interest-bearing installment arrangements generate additional revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BonusCard.ch AG issues Visa and Mastercard-branded credit and prepaid cards to Swiss private consumers under the BonusCard brand, a division of Cornèr Bank AG. Cards include Bonus Card Classic, Simply Card Smart, Liberty Card, Liberty Card Plus, and Bonus Card Gold (plus prepaid variants), all featuring a proprietary bonus points loyalty program, contactless mobile payment, and built-in travel and purchase insurance. Customers are managed through the proprietary MyOnlineServices app and web portal for transactions, point tracking, and onboarding.

Product overview

BonusCard.ch AG is a Swiss credit and prepaid card provider offering a portfolio of Visa and Mastercard products under the BonusCard brand, operated by Cornèr Bank AG. The product lineup includes credit cards (Bonus Card Classic, Simply Card Smart, Liberty Card, Liberty Card Plus, Bonus Card Gold) and prepaid cards (Bonus Card Classic Prepaid, Liberty Card Prepaid, Simply Card Smart Prepaid), all featuring bonus point programs where users earn points on purchases that can be redeemed for rewards. The Simply Card Smart is offered free of charge with a CHF 50 welcome bonus, while premium tiers like Liberty Card Plus offer enhanced mobility rewards (4x points). All cards support mobile payment and are complemented by the MyOnlineServices App (iOS/Android) and Webportal for account management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bonus Card Classic Standard Visa/Mastercard credit card with attractive bonus program, installment payment (Teilzahlung) option, and mobile payment support for Swiss private consumers. Priced at CHF 48 per year.
• Simply Card Smart Free entry-level Visa credit card with CHF 50 welcome bonus, 0.5% foreign currency fees, practical insurance coverage, and bonus program for Swiss consumers. Priced at CHF 0 per year.
• Liberty Card Travel-focused credit card with included travel insurance, 2x bonus points on mobility spending (fuel, car rental, public transport, flights, hotels, bike rental, parking, tolls), and 24-hour card blocking service. Priced at CHF 60 per year.
• Liberty Card Plus Top-tier travel and mobility credit card offering 4x bonus points on mobility and travel spending, plus all Liberty Card benefits at enhanced rates. Priced at CHF 150 per year.
• Bonus Card Gold Premium high-end credit card with comprehensive travel insurance package and premium benefits. Priced at CHF 144 per year.
• Bonus Card Classic Prepaid Prepaid version of Bonus Card Classic with bonus program, free first load via deposit slip or bank transfer, and worldwide acceptance without requiring a bank account. CHF 5 = 1 bonus point. Includes up to 25% Avis car rental discount.
• Liberty Card Prepaid Prepaid version of Liberty Card with included travel insurances and 2x bonus points on mobility and travel spending. Annual fee CHF 60.
• Simply Card Smart Prepaid Prepaid version of Simply Card Smart with 0.5% foreign currency fees, practical insurance coverage, and bonus program. Annual fee CHF 0.
• MyOnlineServices App Proprietary mobile application (iOS and Android) for cardholders providing real-time transaction monitoring, bonus point tracking, statement downloads, MyCountry travel destination selection, and secure contactless mobile payment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Foreign currency fee of only 0.5% vs. industry average of 1.5-2.5%
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationBonusCard issues Visa-branded credit and prepaid cards. Visa provides the global payment network infrastructure for transaction processing, authorization, and worldwide card acceptance. This is a foundational licensing partnership enabling all card operations.
• AvisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAvis car rental partnership provides BonusCard holders with up to 25% discount on vehicle rentals. Cardholders use AWD number S802100 when booking via avis.ch to receive the discount.
• Apple PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationApple Pay integration enables BonusCard holders to add their cards to Apple Wallet and make contactless payments using Face ID, Touch ID, or PIN on Apple devices. Card details are tokenized and never stored on the device.
• Samsung PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationSamsung Pay integration enables BonusCard holders to add their cards to Samsung Wallet and make contactless mobile payments using compatible Samsung devices with secure authentication.
• 100+ Bonus Redemption PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BonusCard loyalty program offers point redemption at over 100 partner merchants, including gift card providers, airline mileage programs (e.g., frequent flyer programs), charitable donation organizations, and account credit options. Points can be converted through the company's internal Prämienshop.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• N26: N26 is a European digital bank offering consumer accounts and Mastercard cards with a mobile-first experience. As it expands its Swiss footprint, N26 competes with BonusCard on digital onboarding and everyday-spend UX.
• Wise: Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers multi-currency accounts and a travel-friendly debit card at near-interbank FX rates. It overlaps with BonusCard's MyCountry and FX-value proposition for Swiss travelers and cross-border spenders.
• Revolut: Revolut is a global fintech offering multi-currency accounts, low-FX debit and card products, and a growing Swiss presence. It competes for the same cross-border-spending and FX-sensitive Swiss customers that BonusCard targets with its 0.5% FX offering.
• Yuh (Swissquote / PostFinance): Yuh is a Swiss mobile-first finance app jointly launched by Swissquote and PostFinance, offering a combined spending and investing account with a Mastercard debit card. It targets the same digitally native Swiss consumers that BonusCard is trying to reach through its app-driven onboarding.

Broad incumbents

• PostFinance AG: PostFinance is a major Swiss retail financial institution issuing credit and prepaid cards to a broad national customer base. While broader than BonusCard (it is also a full-service bank), its consumer card portfolio competes head-to-head on everyday and travel use cases.
• UBS Credit Cards: UBS, Switzerland's largest bank, issues consumer credit cards to its retail and wealth clients. While cards are a small fraction of its overall business, its scale and brand compete with BonusCard in the upper-tier segment where Liberty Card Plus and Bonus Card Gold are positioned.

Direct peers

• Coop Bank (Supercard): Coop's Supercard is a hugely penetrated Swiss loyalty-credit hybrid card issued through Coop Bank and partners. While not a pure standalone card issuer, it competes directly with BonusCard for everyday household spend and loyalty-driven engagement.
• Migros Bank (Migros Cumulus Mastercard): Migros Bank issues co-branded Mastercard products tied to the Cumulus loyalty program, directly competing with BonusCard's bonus program model. It is one of the largest Swiss card issuers by active accounts and a key competitor for everyday Swiss consumer spend.
• Swisscard AECS GmbH: Swisscard is the dominant Swiss credit card issuer, jointly owned by Credit Suisse and American Express, and issues Visa, Mastercard, and Amex consumer and corporate cards. Like BonusCard, it serves Swiss consumers with multi-tier card products and rewards, making it the most directly comparable peer in the same domestic market.
• Cembra Money Bank AG: Cembra is a leading Swiss consumer credit and credit card provider issuing private-label and co-branded cards (including Migros Cumulus and TCS cards). Its core business in revolving consumer credit and cards directly overlaps BonusCard's credit card and Teilzahlung offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bonuscard.ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BonusCard.ch AG