Overview
- The National Cash Forum at the Bundesbank launched free storefront stickers signaling cash is welcome, available via HDE regional associations and online with slogans such as “Klar, auch bar!” and “Einfach. Bargeld.”
- The forum reported a recent crisis drill led by Germany’s civil protection agency that simulated a Bundesbank branch evacuation and a complete Visa and Mastercard outage, finding crisis communication needs improvement.
- Zurich’s Polarzauber market at the main station will run Nov. 20–Dec. 24 as cards‑only, with 120 stalls accepting payments via card and mobile services like Twint, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Vendors at Polarzauber face a 500‑franc fine if they accept cash, a policy backed by SBB and the City of Zurich that has prompted complaints from some traders who fear sales losses and cite new revenue‑share fees.
- Other Swiss Christmas markets in Bern, Lucerne and Winterthur promote cashless payments as recommendations rather than mandates, and Swiss law allows cash bans at events if clearly communicated in advance.