US Dollar (USD) to Swiss Franc (CHF) converter

The b-sharpe USD / CHF converter shows the value of the dollar in Swiss francs in real time, as traded on the interbank market. This rate contains no margin and no fees: it is the benchmark that lets you judge your bank’s offer before converting your US dollars. The chart also shows you the pair’s volatility over the last 30 days. To actually convert your dollars, visit change your currency.

The converter above shows the value of one dollar in Swiss francs at the moment you check it, and also calculates the equivalent of any amount. To do the calculation yourself, multiply the amount in dollars by the USD/CHF rate: at a rate of 0.80, for example, 500 US dollars are worth 400 Swiss francs. The Swiss franc is designated by the code CHF, and often by Fr. on prices displayed in Switzerland. This amount is a reference value: what you receive depends on the fees and margin of the provider you choose.

Yes, the displayed rate follows the interbank market in real time during opening hours. It moves with supply and demand for dollars and Swiss francs, and can react within minutes to an announcement by the US Federal Reserve or the Swiss National Bank (SNB). The 30-day chart lets you place the current rate within its trend. Once your account is open, you can lock the rate that suits you for 48 hours.

The Swiss franc is considered a safe-haven currency: in times of economic or geopolitical uncertainty, investors buy it, which supports its value against the dollar and other currencies. This reputation rests on Switzerland’s political stability, historically low inflation and sound public finances. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) can nevertheless intervene on the foreign exchange market, and decisions by the US Federal Reserve also weigh on the rate. To find out more, read our article on the history of the Swiss franc as a safe-haven currency.

No. The rate displayed on the b-sharpe converter is the interbank rate, i.e. the market rate without any added fees. This is the purest reference value, the one banks use among themselves. The rate you will get when making a real exchange through b-sharpe includes transaction fees from 0.12%, which allows savings of up to 80% compared to banks.

At weekends, the foreign exchange market is closed: the converter then displays Friday’s last rate, for information only and with no contractual value. When the market reopens, the value of the dollar in Swiss francs may differ from that last level, particularly if major news has broken in the meantime. Currency transactions resume on Monday morning. To be alerted to a movement as soon as trading resumes, set up a rate alert.

For banknotes brought back from a trip, a bureau de change or your bank can buy them back, generally applying a margin to the rate. For dollars held in an account, a bank transfer is more suitable, through your bank or an online provider. With b-sharpe, you send your dollars to the details shown in your client area, online or in the app, then they are converted into Swiss francs based on the interbank rate, with transaction fees from 0.12% that decrease as the amount increases, before being paid into your account in Switzerland. Before confirming, you see the exact amount in CHF that you will receive.

Banks often apply hidden margins of up to 2% on the exchange rate. With b-sharpe, fees start from 0.12% and are always based on the interbank rate. In addition, you always have visibility on the exact amount you will receive before confirming. This saves you up to 80% on your transaction fees.

The online converter displays the market rate in real time without fees, for simulation purposes. To lock a rate and initiate a transaction, simply create a free account on b-sharpe. From your client area, you can lock your rate for 48 hours. You will then have full visibility of the final amount to be received, including our transaction fees (from 0.12%): no surprises, you receive exactly the displayed amount. You can also set up rate alerts to be notified when the USD / CHF rate reaches your desired threshold.

Once b-sharpe has received your dollars, generally allow 1 to 2 working days for the Swiss francs to reach your account. The timeframe starts when the funds are received: you therefore need to add the time your dollar transfer takes to reach b-sharpe, which can be longer from a US bank. It also varies depending on the amount and the receiving bank, and working days exclude weekends and public holidays. In all cases, the exact amount in CHF is displayed before you confirm.

Your funds are entrusted to a Swiss financial intermediary: b-sharpe is affiliated to SO-FIT, a self-regulatory organisation recognised by FINMA, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority. The dollars you send are received in a bank account in Switzerland, separate from b-sharpe’s own funds, and covered by insurance of CHF 5 million against fraud and hacking. b-sharpe cannot debit money from your accounts: every transfer comes from you. Finally, like every Swiss financial intermediary, b-sharpe is subject to anti-money laundering rules.

No, you can convert any amount in a one-off transaction, from a few dollars to a large sum. No subscription or fixed fee applies: only transaction fees, from 0.12% and decreasing as the amount increases, are applied to the conversion. The exact amount in Swiss francs you will receive is displayed before you confirm anything. For a large sum, b-sharpe’s desk can help you secure your rate.

In Switzerland, part of your pay is sometimes paid in dollars: a bonus or salary from a US employer, shares or stock options, dividends from US-listed securities. Converting these amounts through your bank can be expensive, as the exchange margin applies to every transaction. With b-sharpe, you transfer your dollars from the account where you receive them, then convert them when the rate suits you, using rate alerts and the 48-hour rate lock. On 50,000 dollars, a 1% difference in margin already represents 500 dollars.

Opening a b-sharpe account is free and without commitment: you only pay fees when you carry out a conversion. Registration is done online or in the app, by following the steps and sending the required documents. If your file is complete, the account is generally activated in less than 24 working hours. You then have access to the details for sending your dollars, the rate lock and rate alerts.