Dossiers

Systemically important financial institutions can jeopardise entire economies in the event of a disorderly failure and are therefore regarded as “too big to fail” (TBTF). The Swiss legislator promulgated special rules for the recovery and resolution of such institutions in response to the financial crisis of 2007/2008. Following the UBS takeover of CS, the Federal Council recognises that it needs to revisit these rules and amend the banking legislation. FINMA has produced information sheets on the most important issues involved.

FINMA’s small insurers regime seeks to increase the efficiency of regulation and supervision for small, solid institutions. Since the entry into force of the revised Insurance Supervision Act (ISA) and Insurance Supervision Ordinance (ISO), insurance companies in supervisory categories 4 and 5 can benefit from regulatory exemptions if certain conditions are met. On this page you will find information about the small insurer symposium. The small insurers regime is described on this page.

Portfolio managers and trustees must be authorised by FINMA in order to carry out their activities and are supervised by a supervisory organisation. The authorisation conditions are set out in the Financial Institutions Act (FinIA). Details of the authorisation process, transitional provisions and information about further topics as well as developments are provided on this page.

Sustainability is a significant challenge for the financial markets, which is why FINMA, as the supervisory authority, is also actively addressing this issue. In line with its mandate, FINMA’s focus is on the associated potential financial risks and client protection issues. Thereby, FINMA also contributes to sustaining the reputation, competitiveness and sustainability of Switzerland’s financial centre.

The volume of mortgages in Switzerland is significant and has increased considerably over the years. This raises the risk of an overheating of the real estate market. FINMA works to ensure that mortgage lending is sustainable and that the solvency of banks is not put at risk. This page provides key information on this topic.

Innovation is an important part of maintaining competitiveness in the Swiss financial centre. FINMA pays close attention to the challenges arising from FinTech regarding licensing requirements, supervision and regulation. This page provides key information on this topic.

Cyber risks are one of the most significant operational risks facing financial institutions. FINMA is therefore looking closely at the issue and has increased the intensity of its supervision. This page provides key information on this topic.

Preventing money laundering is an important part of FINMA's work. This page provides key information on this topic.

FINMA seeks to increase efficiency in regulation and supervision for small and particularly solid institutions. The goal is to reduce the regulatory burden on the smallest banks without jeopardising their stability and safety. This page provides key information on this topic.