ComparisonLast checked 8 November 2026

Incard vs BCV: which suits your business?

Incard is an e-money account that pays uncapped cashback on eligible card spend on a £0 plan, with team cards and GBP, EUR and USD IBANs. Monthly banking packs from Vaud's cantonal bank for small businesses operating in the canton of Vaud, with a current account, set transactions and a Visa Debit card. New businesses get the first year free.

By the editorial team. How we make money.

Incard suits you if

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

BCV suits you if

Your business operates in the canton of Vaud
You've been trading for less than two years and want the first year free
You pay in cash and want free deposits at BCV ATMs
You make a modest number of transactions each quarter

Why we pick Incard over BCV for card spend

Card cashback: Incard: Free: 1% on ads, software and travel, 0.5% on other eligible spend. Higher on Grow and Plus. Uncapped. BCV: Not listed.
Currencies you can hold: Incard: GBP, EUR and USD, with IBANs. BCV: CHF; Euro savings account available.
Card payments in other currencies: Incard: 1.8% on Free, 1.5% on Grow and Plus. BCV: Visa Debit CHF 2 in store or CHF 1 online per foreign-currency purchase.

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

We may earn a commission if you apply.

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.
	Incard	BCV
Type and protection	E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS	Bank · esisuisse cover
Who can open one	UK sole traders, UK limited companies, LLPs, Swiss GmbHs and AGs and Swiss sole traders	Swiss GmbHs and AGs
Cheapest plan	Free: £0 a month	SME banking pack: CHF 4 a month, free for the first year for companies less than two years old
Plans (monthly)	Free £0, Grow £49, Plus from £199	SME banking pack CHF 4, SME Plus banking pack CHF 8
Card cashback	Free: 1% on ads, software and travel, 0.5% on other eligible spend. Higher on Grow and Plus. Uncapped	Not listed
Card payments in other currencies	1.8% on Free, 1.5% on Grow and Plus	Visa Debit CHF 2 in store or CHF 1 online per foreign-currency purchase
Domestic transfers	100 included on Free, 250 on Grow, then £0.30 each	BCV-net payments count as pack transactions; then CHF 0.50 or CHF 0.30
International transfers	3 included on Grow; otherwise from £5 (SHA) or £20 (OUR)	SEPA free; other payments CHF 6
ATM withdrawals	2% in the UK, 2.5% abroad	Free at BCV and other cantonal bank ATMs; CHF 3 at other Swiss ATMs; CHF 5 plus 0.5% abroad
Cash deposits	Not listed	CHF deposits free at the counter; free cash deposit card for BCV ATMs
Currencies you can hold	GBP, EUR and USD, with IBANs	CHF; Euro savings account available
Accepting card payments	Not listed	Worldline terminals, with offers for BCV corporate clients

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 Incard lists card cashback, a euro account, a US dollar account, cards for your team, accounts for UK sole traders, accounts for UK limited companies, accounts for LLPs and accounts for Swiss sole traders.
Only BCV lists cash deposits and card payments from customers.

What each one is, and who can open one

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.

BCV

Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV), Lausanne, a public-law company registered in the Vaud commercial register. A bank and securities firm authorised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). BCV is part of the Swiss deposit guarantee scheme. esisuisse protects deposits up to CHF 100,000 per client and bank.

Who can open one: Businesses that operate only in the canton of Vaud or a neighbouring municipality. Opening online needs an entry in the Vaud commercial register; companies being formed open a consignment account first. Non-Swiss residents and US persons can't open online. The packs are aimed at microbusinesses. Full BCV 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

Our pick for card spend

Open an Incard account

Check the eligibility rules first.

E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS

Work out your cashback Check eligibility

Apply for Incard on incard.co

We may earn a commission if you apply.

a month on the Free plan, with team cards: £0
cashback on ads, software and travel; 0.5% on other eligible spend: 1%
IBANs in three currencies: GBP, EUR, USD

Visit BCV

More: BCV alternatives, all comparisons.

Sources

All checked on 8 November 2026. Where a provider's help centre or legal terms differ from its marketing pages, we follow the help centre and terms.

Show all 17 sources

Quick verdict