EUR to CHF - Most advantageous conversion rate

Where to change money in Geneva, your EURos to CHF (best conversion rate) ?

With France and the rest of Europe being so close, it will come a time when you need to convert money - that is EUR back to CHF. So here I offer a comparison of the different rates I observed on the same day in 3 different currency exchange offices. So at the end of the article you will get an idea on where to go to change currencies, in particular Euros to Swiss Francs.

Currency Exchange EUR-CHF: in France or in Switzerland ?

Of course, the basic principle is that you should do the conversion in Switzerland if you are after CHF and convert your Swiss Francs notes to Euros in Europe. But that goes without saying, just to explain that  my comparison does not include currency exchanges outside Switzerland.

Money exchange in the Geneva Cornavin station

Around the Cornavin train station and the currency exchange rates proposed by the office located inside the station, next to the ticket counter. Their rates are not the most interesting if you like to compare before buying. In addition, this exchange for currencies actually charge a 4 CHF fee for each transaction, on top of the less advantageous rate.

Inside the train station, the customers or tourists are captive because they probably need to get it done quick before hopping on a train and probably too rich to be bothered to conduct some benchmarking of the various rates offered by the competition.

Currency exchange offices in Geneva central area

Down the Rue du Mont-Blanc, accessible directly outside the train station several money exchanges are located and competing to get the tourists, so probably a good place. Most of them display their exchange rates.

Money conversion with Migros

What is annoying is that they do not display their exchange rates, so you have to enter and ask.

I did not find their employees very customer-friendly. Fee included in the rate. Migros generally offers the most competitive exchange rates in Geneva, from my experience of that of frontaliers acquaintances who change their salaries from CHF to EUR every month.

Also, note that outside of the opening hours, there is a converter ATM machine located on the Rue de Ferney 194, Grand Saconnex, in case you really need to convert money late or early.

Online monthly conversion CHF-EUR: the b-Sharpe solution

When it comes to converting large amounts of currencies, it is better to use the services of a company in lieu of the banks: online money conversion exchanges. This is particularly indicated if you work in Switzerland and are paid in Swiss Francs, and you live in France with most of your expenditure in Euros. The advantage of converting the money this way is that the money transfer is made directly on your bank account and you do not need to carry a lot of cash with you every month.

B-Sharpe is one of the companies that offers this service. They actually display their current conversion rates and fees online on their website: www.b-sharpe.com.

Here are some pieces of information regarding the b-Sharpe money exchange service:

b-Sharpe can convert about 30 currencies including CHF, EUR, USD, GBP, AED, CAD, AUD, etc.

You know the foreign exchange rate for the currency before the transaction happens, so you are able to compare.

The transaction happens through an intermediary account that you open with b-Sharpe,

The money wire to your destination bank is free of charge

b-Sharpe communicates on the currency exchange rate and on their margin: usually they use the daily interbank offered rate + 0.5%. For transaction below 4999 CHF, they charge a flat fee of 5.- CHF that disappears beyond. The percentage decreases the more money you change.

If you really trust them, you can even have your salary wired to your b-Sharpe account and then wired in Euros to your French account !