Swiss Financial Center
Benefitting from a stable political and legal framework, its own strong currency and a location at the heart of Europe, Switzerland is politically independent yet globally networked.
Facts and Figures
Regulatory Affairs
Regulation is essential if we are to have trust in the stability of any financial centre - particularly as cross-border integration increases - but finding the right balance is key. Implementing appropriate measures in national regulation should safeguard the interests of all market players, but regulation should not put up disproportionate barriers to market entry or discourage innovation. Regulations should be developed as part of an ongoing dialogue with stakeholders throughout the industry.
Financial Market Authority
The Swiss regulator, FINMA, ensures that all financial service providers comply with the rules and that the financial system is stable. It authorises banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges and other market participants, monitors their activities, and takes action if they break the rules.
Further information, including on some specific projects
Depositor protection and bank insolvency
Federal Financial Services Act (FinSA) and Financial Institutions Act (FinIA)
Collective Investment Schemes Act (CISA)
Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA)
Regulation: State Secretariat for International finance
Supervision: Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA
Automatic exchange of information
The global standard on the automatic exchange of financial account information (AEOI) aims to increase tax transparency and thus prevent cross-border tax evasion. Switzerland is one of more than 100 countries who have committed to adopting this standard.
Exchange of Financial Account Information: In place since 2017
The legal foundations for AEOI have been in place since 1 January 2017 and to date Parliament has approved the introduction of the AEOI with more than 100 partner states. Financial account information was successfully exchanged with more than 100 partner states at the end of September 2023.
Broad network
Switzerland’s network of AEOI partner states includes all EU and EFTA members, almost all of the G20, all OECD states, Switzerland’s most important economic partners, and the world’s leading financial centres. The selection of further partner states will depend on future developments at an international level.
Important data protection
With AEOI, bank and safekeeping account information is automatically submitted to the tax authorities in the participating countries on an annual basis. Bank-client confidentiality can thus not be abused by foreign customers for the purpose of evading taxes in the country of residence. The information of banking customers remains well protected even with the introduction of AEOI, because the tax authorities are bound to data protection and the principle of speciality.
Further information
Facts and Figures on AEOI: Automatic exchange of information AEOI | FTA (admin.ch)
General AEOI information of State Secretariat for international finance SIF
The Swiss Bankers Association view on AEOI: Swissbanking
Tax Affairs
In Switzerland, taxes are levied at three federal levels: Confederation, cantons and municipalities. Tax laws are decided through democratic procedures, often combined with referendums. Switzerland strives to create an attractive tax climate for private individuals and companies in compliance with international standards. Switzerland is actively involved in the development of international tax standards in the OECD.
BEPS and Company Taxation
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has developed proposals as to how corporate tax can be adapted in the longer term to the increasingly digitalised economy (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, known as BEPS). Switzerland is participating in the development of these solutions.
Exchange of tax information
Tax authorities exchange information, including on financial accounts and advance tax rulings, in order to increase transparency and prevent cross-border tax evasion. The exchange of information in accordance with international standards can take place either upon request or automatically.
Further information
Company Taxation / BEPS: State Secretariat for International Finance SIF
Exchange of Information: State Secretariat for International Finance SIF
Information for taxpayers: Federal Tax Administration
Anti Money Laundering (AML)
A healthy financial centre is of great importance to the Swiss economy. Over the past few decades, Switzerland has built up a robust and comprehensive system for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, combining preventative solutions with punitive measures.
AML Regulations: Steady Progress
Switzerland is a leader internationally in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, playing an active part in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF member states’ compliance with the FATF standards is regularly evaluated, and the FATF evaluated Switzerland for the fourth time in 2016. Although it acknowledged the overall good quality of the Swiss system, it identified certain shortcomings and made corresponding recommendations. In response, the Federal Council adopted the dispatch on the amendment of the Anti-Money Laundering Act to implement the most important recommendations. The dispatch contains measures for providers of services in connection with companies or trusts and for financial intermediaries as well as promoting the transparency of associations. It also contains measures for trading in precious metals, precious stones and precious metal scrap. The revised Anti-Money Laundering Act entered into force on 1 January 2023.
Next steps
On 22 May 2024, the Swiss government adopted the dispatch on the further development of the anti-money laundering framework to be submitted to Parliament. The aim is to reinforce the integrity and competitiveness of Switzerland as a financial and business location by means of a federal register of beneficial owners and due diligence for particularly risky activities in legal professions, as well as other provisions. The measures are in line with international standards.
Further information
Swiss State Secretariat for international finance
Illicit Financial Flows
Switzerland is committed to combating illicit financial flows and advocates for tougher international standards to tackle abuse. As a world-leading financial centre, Switzerland has implemented a number of additional measures to ensure the integrity of its financial centre.
A global problem…
Illicit financial flows are a complex global issue. The term broadly refers to the cross-border transfer of funds in connection with illegal activities such as money laundering, corruption, fraud and tax evasion. It is difficult to estimate the global volume of these flows. Switzerland, like all major international financial centres, is at risk of abuse and is firmly committed to tackling illicit financial flows with a multi-faceted approach.
…international solutions
In recent years, Switzerland has made a substantial contribution to the development of international standards, has adopted these standards into domestic law and is now committed to effective enforcement.
Swiss financial Integrity
Switzerland is an active member of several international anti-corruption mechanisms, such as the G20 anti-corruption working group, the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption of the Council of Europe, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption.
As part of its development cooperation, Switzerland has long supported programmes in developing countries to strengthen the institutions that counter illicit financial flows.
Further information
Cybersecurity
The risk of cyberattacks is growing thanks to increased digitalisation and a rise in online criminal activity. The private sector must remain vigilant in defending itself against this risk, and the key to success in this area will be the close collaboration between authorities and the private sector.
Cybersecurity threats in the banking sector
Swiss banks have always met stringent cybersecurity requirements and are continually improving their security measures. In spite of these efforts, a large-scale cyberattack against Swiss banks is more of a threat than ever before. The consequences of such an attack could have a direct and significant impact on the Swiss population and economy.
It is vitally important that Switzerland can reap the benefits of an internationally connected cybersecurity and data privacy apparatus. This collaboration will enable Switzerland to continue to lead the way in cybersecurity and ensure that it maintains the trust of investors and customers.
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
The NCSC, headed by the Federal Cyber Security Delegate, was created by the Swiss Government to support businesses, educational institutions, public administrations and the general public in protecting against cyber-risks.
Further information
Swiss National Cyber Security Centre
Cybersecurity - Digital Finance and Cybersecurity - Topics - SwissBanking
Education
The Swiss financial centre offers a broad range of opportunities for education and training, and considers a highly skilled workforce to be a key factor in its success.
Financial and Banking Education
Education in the sector has progressed a long way since the traditional "banking and finance" education, evolving in line with innovation and advances in the industry as a whole.
Today, training courses are offered in a wide array of subjects including Digital Finance, Sustainable Finance, Risk Management, Behavioural Finance, and Cybersecurity, reflecting the diversity and strengths of Switzerland’s financial centre.
There are close links between the banking and insurance industry and Switzerland’s world-renowned higher education institutions, with cutting edge research collaborations informing best practice in the industry.
Further information
SIX Financial Markets Education
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