ComparisonLast checked 8 November 2026

Airwallex vs ZKB

A multi-currency business account with company cards, bill pay and online payment acceptance, aimed at businesses that trade internationally. A CHF business account from Zürcher Kantonalbank, sold to SMEs and start-ups in the KMU-Package with two accounts, two Visa Debit cards and eBanking, free in the first year. We also show Incard, our pick for businesses whose main costs go on cards.

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Where Incard beats both

You spend thousands a month on cards, especially on advertising, software or travel
You want a £0 plan, which Airwallex or ZKB don't list
You want card cashback, which Airwallex or ZKB don't list
You're comfortable with safeguarding instead of FSCS cover

cashback a year on Incard's £0 Free plan from £5,000 a month of eligible ads, software and travel spend. Simple arithmetic, not a forecast.

£600

Apply for Incard on incard.co

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What a year of card spending earns you

Incard Free against Airwallex's cheapest plan, at your monthly spend on ads, software and travel.

Monthly card spend on ads, software and travel£5,000

£828 a year better off with Incard

Incard Free: £600 cashback, £0 fees
Airwallex's cheapest plan: no cashback, £228 fees

Simple arithmetic, not a forecast: 1% on eligible ads, software and travel spend at merchants on Incard's eligible brand list, and each plan's published monthly fee. Other fees, such as FX and ATM charges, aren't included. Airwallex's cheapest plan: Explore: £0 if you deposit or hold at least £10,000 a month, otherwise £19 (excluding VAT).

Airwallex suits you if

You trade internationally and pay suppliers abroad
You want to accept card payments online
You keep at least £10,000 in the account, which makes Explore £0

ZKB suits you if

You want a cantonal state guarantee on top of esisuisse cover
You make many payments: 600 electronic transactions a month are free
You deposit cash at ZKB branches or machines
You want card terminals from your bank

At a glance

**Table notes:** correct as of 8 November 2026, from each provider's own pages listed under Sources. “Not listed” means the provider's pages we checked don't say.
	Airwallex	ZKB	Incard
Type and protection	E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS	Bank · esisuisse cover	E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS
Who can open one	UK sole traders, UK limited companies and Swiss GmbHs and AGs	Swiss GmbHs and AGs and Swiss sole traders	UK sole traders, UK limited companies, LLPs, Swiss GmbHs and AGs and Swiss sole traders
Cheapest plan	Explore: £0 if you deposit or hold at least £10,000 a month, otherwise £19 (excluding VAT)	Free for the first year, then CHF 7 a month	Free: £0 a month
Plans (monthly)	Explore £0 or £19, Grow £49, Accelerate custom, excluding VAT	Firmenkonto CHF 7 a month; KMU-Package free in the first year	Free £0, Grow £49, Plus from £199
Card cashback	Not listed	Not listed	Free: 1% on ads, software and travel, 0.5% on other eligible spend. Higher on Grow and Plus. Uncapped
Card payments in other currencies	Not listed	1.25%, up to CHF 1.50 per Visa Debit transaction	1.8% on Free, 1.5% on Grow and Plus
Domestic transfers	Domestic transfers in EUR, GBP and CHF free	600 electronic transactions a month free, then CHF 0.20	100 included on Free, 250 on Grow, then £0.30 each
International transfers	SWIFT £10 to £20 per transfer	SEPA within the free allowance; other payments abroad CHF 4	3 included on Grow; otherwise from £5 (SHA) or £20 (OUR)
ATM withdrawals	Not listed	Free at ZKB and other cantonal bank ATMs, CHF 2 at other Swiss ATMs, CHF 5 abroad	2% in the UK, 2.5% abroad
Cash deposits	Not listed	CHF notes free at ZKB machines and counters; coins 3% at the counter	Not listed
Currencies you can hold	Not listed	CHF; foreign-currency current accounts, including EUR, USD and GBP	GBP, EUR and USD, with IBANs
Accepting card payments	Online from 1.30% + £0.20 for UK cards	EFT/POS terminals and e-commerce payments offered (ZKB Ready); price not listed	Not listed

Where they differ

Based on what each provider lists on its own pages. If a feature isn't listed, check with the provider before you rule it out.

Only ZKB lists cash deposits.
Only Incard lists card cashback and accounts for LLPs.

What each one is, and who can open one

Airwallex

Airwallex (UK) Ltd is an FCA-authorised e-money institution (FRN 900876). Airwallex says funds are safeguarded in line with local regulations. The FSCS says it can't protect money held with e-money firms.

Who can open one: Businesses registered in a supported country, including the UK and Switzerland (Swiss businesses are onboarded by its Netherlands entity). Companies must be fully incorporated and active. Sole traders are accepted in some locations, including the UK. Industry restrictions apply. Full Airwallex profile.

ZKB

Zürcher Kantonalbank is an independent public-law institution of the Canton of Zurich (UID CHE-108.954.607), licensed as a bank by FINMA under the Swiss Banking Act. Deposits are covered by esisuisse up to CHF 100,000 per customer per bank, with all accounts added together. The Canton of Zurich also guarantees ZKB's liabilities, except subordinated ones, if the bank's own funds are not enough.

Who can open one: Companies based in Switzerland, associations and federations. ZKB's company-founding pages cover AG, GmbH and sole proprietorships (Einzelfirma) and point founders to the KMU-Package. Domiciliary companies and firms domiciled abroad pay a higher account fee. Full ZKB profile.

Incard

Incard Ltd is authorised by the FCA as an electronic money institution (firm reference number 1027309). It is not a bank. Safeguarded: Incard keeps customer funds separate from its own money, in accounts with authorised credit institutions, and doesn't lend or invest them. Funds are not protected by the FSCS.

Who can open one: UK limited companies and LLPs, UK sole traders and freelancers registered with their local authority, and Swiss GmbH, AG and sole-trader businesses. EEA onboarding is paused until an expected restart in 2027. Public sector bodies, cooperatives, charities, foundations and trusts aren't accepted, and a long list of industries is restricted. Full Incard profile.

Our e-money vs bank account guide explains what safeguarding and FSCS cover mean if a provider fails.

When Incard isn't the answer

Incard isn't the right account if

Your business is registered outside the UK and Switzerland. EEA onboarding is paused until an expected restart in 2027
You're a charity, cooperative, foundation, trust or public body, or work in one of Incard's restricted industries