FAQ Cash transactions

Cash inflow from

• Publication sales
• Contributions to excursions
• Participant contributions
• Material sales

(this list is not final)

In addition, all ETH Zurich invoices can be settled at the cash desk (semester bills, rental deposits, parking space rental etc.)

Cash outflow 

• Petty cash settlement
• Stipends
• Salary
• Cash advances 

You need to present either your ETH card or a comparable identity card with a photo for all payments.

The opening hours for cash desks at Zentrum and Hönggerberg are listed Download here.

Staff may apply for an advance payment to cover professional expenses in conjunction with an ETH Zurich activity. Normally, the advance is made to the payroll account of the member of staff concerned. An advance payment can, however, be taken in cash for exceptional cases:

• Money for test persons 
• Group and seminar trips
• Foreign currency advances (EUR/USD)
• where the applicant has no payroll account

The advance must be applied for in ETHIS and approved by the budget manager. Where a cash advance is desired, the applicant receives an e-mail to use for collecting the payment. If you need the cash advance in particular denominations, please let us know 3 days in advance via protected page SmartDesk.

You can obtain cash for paying fees and expenses for guest speakers using the form "Guest speaker's bill". The limit per guest is CHF 1,500.- .

If the payment is not collected personally by the guest, then additionally the recipient must sign the form. It can be sent directly to accounts receivable via protected page SmartDesk.

Fees and expenses for guest speakers may be obtained in USD or EUR. Cash advances are also paid out in these currencies. 

No, foreign currency cannot be exchanged. 

At Zentrum you can make payments in cash or by any major debit or credit card. 

At Hönggerberg you can only make payments in cash. 

Employees who do not yet have a Swiss bank account receive their salary in cash. Please contact the Human Resources department if you have any questions about this.

Expenses for the employees concerned are accounted for in ETHIS and then paid out in cash. 

If the person concerned is a member of staff, please apply to the Human Resources department.

If the person concerned is a student, please apply to the Scholarship Office.

According to Art. 107 of the ETH financial regulations, the budget officers may apply to the Accounts department, financial accounts section for a petty cash advance of up to CHF 1,000 to cover minor expenses (e.g. postal expenses, office supplies, flowers, food).

Necessary business expenses of up to CHF 100 per receipt may be settled through petty cash.

In-payments may not be managed through the petty cash account, but must be kept separate and paid in promptly at the counter to one of the budget officer's funds.