Payment solution for Swiss associations: One platform for all sections

Swiss umbrella associations can provide their sections with a central payment platform through which each section independently collects membership fees, event tickets, and course fees – featuring their own branding and payouts directly to the section's bank account. The association maintains an overview via an aggregated Dashboard and can automatically deduct an association share (e.g. licence fee or umbrella contribution) per transaction via split payments before the remaining amount is transferred to the section.

This guide explains how such a platform solution works, which architecture variants exist, and presents three concrete scenarios for Swiss associations.

1. The problem: Why decentralised payment solutions slow associations down

In many Swiss associations, each section uses its own payment solution – or none at all. The gymnastics club in Zug uses PostFinance E-Finance and QR-bills, the section in Bern works with club management software, and the section in Lausanne collects cash. The umbrella association has no overview of the payment flows, cannot provide aggregated figures for the general assembly, and has no way to automatically collect the association's share.

This scenario leads to three specific problems. First: The association must manually request and follow up on each section's contribution – a significant administrative effort with 40–500 sections. Second: The sections offer their members an inconsistent payment experience – some accept TWINT, others only bank transfers. Third: For training programmes, licences, or events offered centrally by the association, a uniform processing system is lacking.

2. The solution: Central platform with decentralised accounts

An association platform refers to a central payment infrastructure through which all sections of an association process payments – without the association itself receiving the payments. Each section has its own sub-account (sub-merchant account) featuring its own branding, products, and payout to the section's IBAN.

The association acts as the platform operator and manages the onboarding of the sections. In the background, payment processing is handled by a payment service provider (PSP), which, as a technical partner, covers the regulatory requirements (KYC verification, Anti-Money Laundering Act) for each section. As a rule, the association itself does not require its own financial market licence because it does not act as a payment intermediary – funds flow directly from the payer via the PSP to the section.

2.1 Split payment: Automatically deduct the association share

Split payment means that an incoming payment is automatically split into two or more parts. For associations, this is the crucial mechanism: With every transaction made by a section, a predefined share (e.g. 5% or a fixed amount of CHF 2) is remitted to the association, while the rest goes to the section. This way, the association does not need to request its contribution separately – it is automatically deducted with every payment.

Example: A member of the Bern section pays their annual membership fee of CHF 120 via TWINT. The PSP automatically deducts CHF 6 (5%) as the association's share and transfers CHF 114, minus transaction fees, to the Bern section's IBAN. The association's share is accumulated and periodically paid out to the umbrella association. No manual effort, no invoices, no chasing payments.

2.2 Reporting: Two tiers, one Dashboard

A platform solution typically offers two reporting tiers. The association sees aggregated figures: total transaction volume of all sections, association shares, number of active sections, and top sections by revenue. Each section only sees its own transactions: incoming payments, payouts, and open items. The sections have no access to the data of other sections.

3. Architecture variants: Which model fits your association?

Depending on the size of the association, technical expertise, and budget, three architecture variants can be considered.

Most Swiss associations fare best with Model B: A platform solution via a PSP that handles onboarding, KYC verification, and payment processing. The association configures the platform, onboards the sections, and defines the split payment rules. Providers offering platform solutions in Switzerland include Payrexx, Stripe Connect, and wallee.

4. Three scenarios: How Swiss associations use the platform solution

4.1 Cantonal sports association with 40 local clubs

A cantonal gymnastics association has 40 local clubs with a total of 6,000 members. Each local club collects its own annual membership fee (CHF 80–150 per member). The association levies a licence fee of CHF 5 per member. Previously, each local club had to transfer the licence fee separately to the association – 20% forgot to do so, and 10% paid late.

With the platform solution: The association sets up a sub-merchant account for each local club. When a member of TV Aarau pays their fee of CHF 120 via TWINT, CHF 5 goes automatically to the association, and CHF 115 (minus transaction fee) to TV Aarau. The association sees in real time which local clubs have settled accounts for how many members.

4.2 Professional association with training programmes

A professional association offers central training courses (CHF 350–800 per course) and has 12 regional sections that host their own networking events (CHF 25–50 per event). Through the platform, the association sells the courses centrally, while each section processes its events via its own sub-merchant account. The association has an overview of all bookings – both central and regional – within one Dashboard.

4.3 Music association with regional sections

A Swiss music association with 80 regional sections (brass bands, choirs, orchestras) wants to offer its sections a uniform solution for concert ticket sales. Each section receives its own sales page featuring the club logo and colour scheme. Tickets are sold via the section's mini webshop, and revenue flows directly into the section's account. The association receives a fixed amount of CHF 0.50 per ticket sold as a contribution towards platform funding.

5. Regulatory aspects: Does the association need a licence?

When an association processes payments via a platform, the question arises whether it qualifies as a financial intermediary under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) or as a payment transmitter under the Banking Act (BankA). The short answer: Typically not, provided the association uses a licensed PSP as a technical partner and funds do not flow through the association's account.

The crucial distinction: As long as the PSP forwards payments directly from the payer to the section (with an automatic split for the association's share), the association does not accept client funds and does not engage in payment services. The regulatory responsibility (KYC, AMLA compliance) lies with the PSP. The association merely acts as an intermediary connecting its sections to the PSP.

Important: If, on the other hand, the association accepts payments itself, collects them in its own account, and then forwards them to the sections, it may qualify as a financial intermediary and will require affiliation with an SRO (self-regulatory organisation) or even a fintech licence under Art. 1b BankA. This model is not recommended for associations. The platform solution via a licensed PSP avoids this issue.

Note: This section does not constitute legal advice. Regulatory requirements depend on the specific business model. If you are uncertain, consult a lawyer specialising in financial market law.

6. Costs: What an association platform costs

The costs for a platform solution depend on the model, the number of sections, and the transaction volume. The following table provides benchmark figures for an association with 40 sections and an annual total volume of CHF 500,000.

Additional advantage for the association: By centrally negotiating transaction fees, the association can often secure better conditions for its sections than each section could achieve individually. With a total volume of CHF 500,000+, negotiations for customised terms are possible with most PSPs.

7. Checklist: Setting up an association platform for payments

• Determine requirements: How many sections? Which payment use cases (fees, events, courses)?

• Choose architecture model: Decentralised (A), platform (B), or white-label (C)?

• Evaluate PSP with platform solution and request a quote (Payrexx, Stripe Connect, wallee, etc.)

• Define split payment rules: Percentage share or fixed amount per transaction for the association

• Define onboarding process for sections: What data does the PSP require (statutes, IBAN, board members)?

• Launch pilot with 3–5 sections and test the process

• Clarify reporting requirements: Which metrics does the association need, which does the section need?

• Prepare communication for sections: Explain benefits, create guides

• Clarify regulatory matters: Do funds flow through the association or directly via the PSP?

• Plan rollout: Phased onboarding (e.g. 10 sections per month)

8. How you build an association platform with Payrexx

With its platform solution, Payrexx offers a model tailored specifically to associations with multiple sections. The association receives a central Dashboard through which it onboards sections as sub-merchants – including KYC verification, handled by Payrexx as a licensed payment facilitator. Each section receives its own account featuring its own branding, products (membership fees, events, shop), and payouts to its IBAN account.

Split payments can be configured per section or per product: The association defines which share is automatically deducted. The reporting provides the association with aggregated key metrics and gives each section visibility into its individual transactions. The sections pay transaction fees – the association can source these as a buy rate and determine for itself which fees to pass on to the sections. For an individual evaluation, contact the Payrexx platform team for a non-binding consultation.