Why professional treasury management is increasingly becoming a competitive factor for Swiss mid-sized businesses – and how companies can noticeably reduce their costs by optimising currency, payment and liquidity processes.
Internationally active Swiss mid-sized businesses are under massive pressure in 2026: rising energy and structural costs, geopolitical uncertainty and the strong franc are weighing on many companies at the same time. Export-oriented companies in particular feel this development directly. While large corporations have professional finance departments, hedging strategies and institutional bargaining power, small and medium-sized enterprises often lack precisely this financial protection mechanism.
The result is a structural inequality that is rarely discussed: Swiss mid-sized businesses pay significantly higher fees on international payments and card transactions than large corporations. Not because they are run less efficiently, but because they lack bargaining power. Particularly in a period of rising insolvencies, this margin gap is increasingly becoming a question of survival.
Swiss mid-sized businesses pay more – not because they are run less efficiently, but because they lack bargaining power. It is precisely this structural gap that modern treasury management can now close.
Michael Wüst, Co-founder & CEO amnis
The economic situation remains challenging. The SECO forecast for Swiss GDP growth in 2026 has already been revised down from 1.1% to 1.0% (SECO, economic forecast 2026). At the same time, ETH Zurich expects additional energy costs of around CHF 5 billion per year for the Swiss economy (ETH Zurich, Swiss Energy Outlook).
In parallel, corporate insolvencies in Switzerland are rising sharply. Export-oriented mid-sized businesses in particular are coming under increasing pressure as a result. Exchange rate fluctuations are especially problematic: the strong franc reduces export margins, makes Swiss products more expensive abroad and renders calculations obsolete within a few weeks. Even small movements in the euro or dollar rate can determine whether an order remains profitable or turns into a loss.
While many cost factors can hardly be influenced, international payment and currency costs can now be managed far more efficiently.
Many medium-sized companies are now hit twice over. While large corporations have traded at institutional exchange rates for decades, many mid-sized businesses still work with traditional house-bank solutions. The difference lies less in know-how than in volume. Large companies gain access to significantly better exchange rates, use professional hedging and work with multi-currency accounts. Medium-sized companies, by contrast, pay additional surcharges on every international transfer. In Switzerland, many house banks charge an average surcharge of around 1.57% on currency conversion – in some cases up to 2% (amnis market analysis 2024/2026; Bancoli; Unicorn Currencies). Modern payment and finance platforms show, by contrast, that international payments are also possible at significantly lower costs.
On top of this comes a second, often even less visible cost layer: hidden fees on international card transactions. Many business cards combine exchange rate surcharges, foreign transaction fees, additional costs for cash withdrawals and so-called dynamic currency conversion surcharges. According to market overviews, these costs often add up to 3 to 5% per transaction (Wise Hidden Fees Report 2024; Revolut standard fees; amnis card analysis 2026).
Internationally active mid-sized businesses in particular lose substantial sums year after year as a result – for example on SaaS subscriptions, cloud services, business travel or international suppliers. The structural inequality becomes especially visible here: while large corporations can negotiate institutional terms, smaller companies pay standard surcharges on practically every international payment.
The Swiss export industry is particularly affected by international payment and exchange rate costs. Even small differences in terms can have a considerable impact on profitability.
This is particularly relevant for the Swiss MEM industry (mechanical and electrical engineering and metals), which according to industry associations generates around 75% of its revenue abroad. Even at a revenue of CHF 10 million, typical bank surcharges create additional annual costs of around CHF 99,000 (Swissmem). Model calculations show that exchange rate and card costs alone can result in a margin loss of up to CHF 490,000 per year.
Pharmaceutical and medtech companies are also highly exposed. International supply chains, multiple invoicing currencies and global payment flows increase the demands on treasury management. For a company with CHF 25 million in revenue and many transactions in foreign currencies, annual exchange rate costs can exceed CHF 280,000 according to market models. Accounts in multiple currencies, a central overview of finances and automated currency processes help to reduce costs, control risks more effectively and improve liquidity planning.
Across all the industries examined, the average savings potential is around CHF 80,000 per year, or a margin lever of +20.5% (amnis FX model CH 04/2026). Particularly in economically tense times, this becomes a strategic competitive factor. Many companies optimise production, procurement or logistics down to the last detail – while hidden costs in international payments continue to go largely unquestioned.
International payment processes today involve far more than traditional bank transfers. They include liquidity management, foreign currency payments, international card processes and the management of accounts in multiple currencies.
Finance and currency processes are becoming increasingly automated and data-driven. Modern platforms offer a real-time overview of cash flows, currencies and international payments. Automated interfaces reduce manual effort and make financial planning easier. As a result, professional financial management is increasingly becoming a strategic success factor. For Swiss mid-sized businesses – not only for large corporations, but increasingly for medium-sized businesses too – professional management of payments, liquidity and currencies is becoming more important for stability, competitiveness and growth.
Modern financial solutions now give mid-sized businesses access to accounts in multiple currencies, central control of international payments, automated processes and significantly more transparent exchange rates. For export-oriented Swiss companies in particular, this could become a decisive competitive advantage in the coming years.
Methodology: The market models referenced are based on internal analyses of anonymised mid-sized business customer data as well as publicly available market studies and fee models from international banks and payment providers. The example calculations serve to illustrate typical cost structures of internationally active Swiss mid-sized businesses.
Many Swiss mid-sized businesses underestimate the impact of exchange rate surcharges, international payment fees and a lack of transparency in treasury. At the same time, the challenges differ considerably depending on industry, supply chain and currency structure.
Would you like to find out what optimisation potential lies in your international payment and currency processes? Our treasury experts are happy to analyse your situation with no obligation and answer your questions.
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