Long before the existence of formalized currencies or bookkeeping software, people were exchanging value, settling debts, and making promissory agreements. And so begins the history of the invoice –among many other things – in ancient times.
Homer’s Iliad includes a scene where the two warriors Glaucus and Diomedes meet on the battlefield. Instead of engaging in battle, they exchange equipment. Glaucus handed over golden armor worth roughly a hundred cattle, while Diomedes traded his bronze armor worth nine. Experts in ancient history are divided: Was it a sign of an old friendship, or an early fraud attempt? One thing is certain: Such trade activities suffered from one basic problem – they were subjective. People found it difficult to provide a definitive answer to the question of what something was worth. Only once standardized means of payment were introduced was a reliable comparison and thus a fair exchange possible.
When Did Paper Invoices Come In?
Over the course of history, means of payment have changed multiple times – depending on time, place, and necessity. For example, seashells, grain, salt, and oil, as well as tea, peas, and also coffee served as barter goods. The choice always depended on the local circumstances, including availability, shelf life, or transportability. Yet all these means had their limitations, particularly when longer distances were involved.
From the 17th century onward, a new means of payment was increasingly taking hold: paper. The first receipts and borrower’s notes appeared. Their advantage: They were set in writing and portable. This development resulted not only in the establishment of financial systems, but also introduced the notion that debts could be recorded in writing and settled independently of physical goods.
When Was the Payment Slip Introduced?
While in Germany the Reichsbank had already established a clearing system by 1876, Switzerland struggled with centralized solutions for quite some time. It was only at the beginning of the 20th century that the Swiss Post – called the PTT at the time – implemented what was known as the postcheck system. It allowed straightforward cash transfers via a robust network of post office branches, and quickly gained favor. The banks didn’t follow suit with their own payments system until 1949. They finally agreed on a common machine-readable bank transfer form in 1971. Over decades, the PTT payment slip became a trusted daily companion – its colorful appearance was a common sight in households and post offices across the country.
However, the processes remained cumbersome for quite some time. If you wanted to pay a bill, you had to take the cash to the post office, fill out the payment slip by hand, double check it carefully, and get it stamped. Managing the system was complicated, subject to error, and paper based.
Online Banking Arrives in Switzerland
In 1997 the then Credit Suisse significantly streamlined payments transactions in Switzerland when it introduced the country’s first online banking solution. The payment slip remained in existence, but bank customers could now make convenient use of the appropriate hardware at home to enter in their payment details electronically. Thus began the digital era of payments transactions.
With the advent of electronic invoices in XML format, companies supplemented the paper-based process for the first time with purely digital workflows. But here, too, customers often found the process too onerous. They had to open their invoices manually and then transfer the details into their online banking application. As a result, transposed digits, erroneous entries, and inconvenience persisted.
During this phase, it became clear: Digital formats alone weren't enough. Only integrated systems would bring real progress.
The Transition to the Digital Invoice: QR-Bill and eBill
On June 30, 2020 the QR-Bill was introduced in Switzerland, replacing the previous payment slip. The QR-Bill thus provided a bridge for all those who still wished to pay in paper form.
Since April 2018, eBill has made it possible to receive, review, and pay invoices directly in the secure online banking environment with just a few clicks. With this, the manual typing of payment information was no longer required, which reduced errors and simplified payment. eBill offers full control and overview through automatic archiving, paperless environmentally-friendly processing, and a reduction in the number of payment reminders. Only verified billers are permitted. The number of registered users is growing quickly. At the start of 2024, there were already three million Swiss households using eBill.
eBill provides companies with improved efficiency since mailing costs are dispensed with, payments are made more quickly, and administrative outlay is reduced. eBill provides households with overview and control.
eBill Donations
Using eBill Donations, non-profit organizations can send donation requests directly via eBill. Donors can respond quickly and with clarity in just a few clicks. This extension not only makes it easier for non-profit organizations to send donation requests digitally, but also enables a cost-effective and seamless process directly within the donors’ familiar online banking environment.
eBill E-Commerce: Make Online Purchases with Ease
Using eBill E-Commerce, online shops can send invoices to their customers directly via their online banking application. That means less administrative hassle for merchants, and a lower chance of non-payment. Consumers benefit too: They can keep track of their invoices and pay them with just a couple clicks within the online banking environment they’re familiar with.
The introduction of eBill Direct Debit at the end of June 2025 was a further step in the development of digital payments transactions. This modern form of direct debit emerged in response to the planned phase-out of the traditional direct debit systems LSV+ and BDD, which will cease operations in Switzerland at the end of September 2028. These traditional procedures are based on physically signed authorizations, and involve labor intensive processes in the background.
eBill Direct Debit enables authorized billers to automatically collect recurring payments such as rent, subscriptions, or insurance premiums – but under clear conditions that give users significantly more control than traditional methods. For example, you can specify individual payment limits and view all transaction at any time in your online banking app.
Learn more about eBill Direct Debit