Positions and press releases
2019-09-12 09:20:00.000000
| Basel
Bankers Day 2019 - Networking with a vision
This year’s Bankers Day is being held under the motto “Networking with a vision”. In the view of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA), a forward-looking approach and results-oriented collaboration are essential for the success of Switzerland as an open economy, for the success of our financial centre and for the Bankers Association as the key point of contact for the government and the authorities.
2019-08-29 09:15:00.000000
| Basel
Banking Barometer 2019 - Banks in Switzerland defy challenging environment
The banks in Switzerland are operating in a challenging business environment: uncertainties relating to economic policy, restrictions to market access and the dynamic transformation of market structures are impacting the framework conditions for these institutions. In light of lower margins and the ongoing digitalisation of the financial sector, it can be expected that the structural realignment in the banking sector will continue in the coming years. However, despite the uncertain environment, the adjustment process and the economic challenges, the banks developed very solidly in 2018. The banks’ aggregate operating net income rose by 4.6 percent to CHF 65.3 bn in 2018. Compared to the previous year, the aggregate annual profit of the 248 banks operating in Switzerland rose by 17.3 percent to CHF 11.5 bn. Assets under management decreased by 4.8 percent to CHF 6,943 bn.
2019-08-28 09:50:00.000000
| Basel
SBA amends self-regulation in the residential investment property segment - FINMA recognises revised self- regulation
The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) has amended the self-regulation in the mortgage financing for residential investment properties segment. The sector is thereby making a swift and expedient contribution to further ensuring market stability in the residential investment property segment, and thus an important contribution to the continued stability of the financial centre. FINMA recog-nised the revised self-regulation as a minimum regulatory standard in a letter dated 26 August 2019. Following an intensive dialogue between the sector and the authorities, a convincing joint solution was found. The amended self-regulation will enter into force on 1 January 2020. The SBA assumes that the Federal Council, as previously announced, will give precedence to the self-regulation and will forego a tightening of the Swiss Capital Adequacy Ordinance in the area of residential investment properties.
2019-05-22 09:25:00.000000
| Basel
Very positive attitude towards banks - 2019 survey about the banks in Switzerland
The majority of respondents has a positive perception of Swiss banks and they are considered reliable, secure and an important employer. The banks’ positive image is the result of a combination of their commercial success and social responsibility, and the respondents’ positive experiences with them in everyday life. In addition to examining the perception of the reputation of Swiss banks and opinions about the financial centre, the 2019 survey also focused on the topic of pensions. In 2019, the survey was for the first time conducted by the research institute gfs.bern. The survey questions, methodology and statistical evaluation process were updated on this occasion.
2019-03-28 09:25:00.000000
| Basel
Shaping the future with sovereignty: Swiss Bankers Association supports the institutional agreement with the EU
The banking sector has a keen interest in continuing the successful bilateral approach with the EU. As a major export industry, the banks are reliant on market access. At present, however, the banks have only limited access to the EU market. The SBA therefore supports the conclusion of the InstA. An institutional arrangement with the EU, such as the agreement under discussion, is a decisive step towards securing existing market access, as it brings dependable processes and improved legal certainty. At the same time, the InstA creates the basis on which concrete, practicable market access solutions can be developed. The SBA very much welcomes the agreement as a whole. From the point of view of the banking sector, however, there are still certain points that need to be clarified upon signing.
2019-03-26 00:15:00.000000
| Basel
Secure cloud banking: SBA guidelines pave way towards future
Swiss banks are very interested in the subject of cloud computing, but they have so far been reluctant to migrate their data to the cloud. This is because certain questions regarding the legal and regulatory frameworks remain unanswered. The SBA has therefore worked with member institutions, audit firms and cloud providers to draw up a set of guidelines containing recommendations intended to make it easier to move to the cloud. The guidelines, together with a video explaining cloud banking, are being published on 26 March 2019.
2019-03-20 08:20:00.000000
| Basel
Current developments in the residential investment property market - SBA considering amendments to self-regulation
The authorities have expressed a need for action in the residential investment property segment. This is due to their market analyses, their supervisory activities and lastly on the basis of a stress test. The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) is closely collaborating with the authorities in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the analysis. If the conclusion reached by the SBA is the same as that of the authorities, the SBA will consider making amendments to its self-regulation for the mortgage market.
2019-03-19 08:35:00.000000
| Basel
Change of leadership at Swiss Bankers Association - Jörg Gasser becomes new CEO of the SBVg
The Board of Directors of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) unanimously elected Jörg Gasser (49) as the association’s new CEO at its meeting today. Claude-Alain Margelisch (55), who has been with the SBA for over 25 years and served as its CEO for nine of them, wishes to pursue a change of career involving high-level mandates in both the private and public sectors and will therefore leave the association during the second half of this year.
2018-12-06 08:55:00.000000
| Basel
Switzerland - a global investment management hub
Investment management, in other words the management of investments for institutional and private clients, has established itself as a cornerstone and competitive advantage of the Swiss financial centre. Assets totalling CHF 3.4 trillion were managed under investment management mandates in Switzerland in 2017, around one-third of which for foreign clients. As a new study by the SBA and BCG shows, the Swiss investment management hub is unique and a key export industry of the Swiss financial centre.
2018-11-30 11:40:00.000000
| Basel
Protection of the Swiss stock exchange infrastructure: SBA supports Federal Council’s measure
Starting on 1 January 2019, a recognition obligation will be in place for foreign trading venues that wish to admit Swiss shares to trading. In the event that stock exchange equivalence expires, the EU trading venues will be denied this recognition on the grounds of the resulting discrimination against the Swiss stock exchanges.
2018-09-21 09:10:00.000000
| Basel
Opening corporate accounts for blockchain companies - Swiss Bankers Association publishes guidelines for its members
The number of blockchain companies in Switzerland has risen sharply. The SBA welcomes this trend and takes a positive view of the high market momentum, as it boosts Switzerland’s attractiveness as a financial centre. Banks see blockchain technology as an opportunity opening up an array of possibilities for the country as a financial and technology location. Within the context of its priorities, the SBA promotes and supports an innovation-friendly environment in the digitalisation arena. This also includes promoting conditions that support the sustainable growth of companies involved in blockchain technology.
2018-09-13 11:20:00.000000
| Basel
Bankers Day 2018: Shaping the future, creating scope for development
This year’s Bankers Day was held under the motto “Shaping the future, creating scope for development”. New financial technologies offer a broad range of opportunities and advantages for banks and customers. The banks are expanding their service offerings and are adjusting to rapidly transforming customer needs. As part of this process, the financial centre is combining its strengths such as quality, reliability and stability with innovative solutions.
2018-09-11 09:00:00.000000
| Basel
Scope for entrepreneurial freedom and open markets
At its annual media conference, the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) provided information about the current status of its key dossiers. The Swiss financial centre is stable and transparent at the international level. Looking to the future, focus must be placed on creating scope for entrepreneurial freedom and on open markets. Bankers Day 2018, the annual general meeting of the Bankers Association, will be held in Geneva on 13 September 2018 under the motto: “Shaping the future, creating scope for development”.
2018-08-30 09:30:00.000000
| Basel
Banking Barometer 2018: Growth despite ongoing challenges
The challenges in the banking sector persisted in 2017. The continuous rise in regulatory costs, the sustained period of negative interest rates as well as the political and legal uncertainties in the wake of Brexit and international trade tensions are characteristic of the current environment. However, the Swiss banks are back on the growth track. The aggregate annual profit of the 253 banks rose to CHF 9.8 bn, increasing by 24 percent compared to the previous year. Assets under management reached CHF 7,292 bn – a new record since the financial crisis.
2018-06-15 06:10:00.000000
| Basel
FinSA and FinIA establish modern customer protection
In its final vote, Parliament today approved the FinSA and FinIA draft legislations. In the lead-up to this outcome, the Swiss Bankers Association, together with other financial centre stakeholders advocated for modern and practicable investor protection. Today’s final vote marks and end to a major legislative project that has resulted in the modernisation of Swiss financial market law.
2018-06-10 10:15:00.000000
| Basel
SBA welcomes clear rejection of Sovereign Money Initiative
The Swiss electorate has clearly rejected a radical alteration of the monetary system. The existing monetary and financial system functions well and is stable. The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) welcomes the decision of the people and the cantons. With this decision, Switzerland is sending a clear signal of its confidence in the Swiss banking and monetary system. Companies and private individuals will thus continue to benefit from flexible loans, mortgages in line with the market and attractive account-related services.
2018-03-05 16:05:00.000000
| Basel
Äquivalenzanerkennung ist für den Finanzplatz prioritär
Die Banken brauchen einen verlässlichen Zugang zum europäischen Markt. Die SBVg erwartet, dass in den Äquivalenzverfahren rasch Fortschritte erzielt werden.
2018-01-23 09:30:00.000000
| Basel
PWMA and SBA Sign MoU: Closer Collaboration to Develop the Private Wealth Management industry
Collaboration and idea exchanges between Hong Kong and Switzerland on the development of the private wealth management industry and other related issues of mutual interest will be strengthened following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Private Wealth Management Association (PWMA) and the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) today in Bern, Switzerland.
2017-12-07 17:35:00.000000
2017-11-29 09:00:00.000000
| Basel
The financial sector is an important pillar for the economy
The financial sector remains one of the key sectors of the Swiss economy, even in a challenging environment, due to its direct and indirect impact. This fact is clearly shown by a study on banks and insurers in Switzerland conducted by Polynomics for the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) and Swiss Insurance Association (SIA). Despite decreasing value creation, the financial sector accounts for around 9.4 percent of the total Swiss gross value creation, which is above average compared with other countries. The financial experts polled by Polynomics as part of a consensus are cautiously optimistic about the growth forecast in the financial sector.
2017-09-14 09:00:00.000000
| Basel
Bankers Day 2017: Remaining at the top
This year’s Annual General Meeting of the banks in Switzerland is being held under the motto “Remaining at the top”. The banks are highly competitive. They differentiate themselves through innovation, professionalism and quality. But they must have framework conditions that allow them to successfully develop their business strategies. The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) is successfully contributing to the establishment of the best-possible framework conditions for its members.
2017-08-31 07:00:00.000000
| Basel
Banking Barometer 2017: Stability despite unfavourable environment
2016 was once again a difficult year for the banks in Switzerland. Regulatory requirements and the rising intensity of competition continued to put pressure on the banks’ margins. The low interest rate environment also posed challenges for the banks. Notwithstanding, most banks reported a profit last year, which amounted to CHF 7.9 bn (2015: CHF 15.8 bn, one-off effect resulting from high extraordinary income generated by a big bank). Aggregate operating net income was CHF 62.5 bn (-3.2%), which is slightly below the previous year, and therefore marks the first decline since 2012. The banks continue to consistently fulfil their role as an engine of the economy. The successful future of the banks depends on good framework conditions that increase the international competitiveness of the Swiss financial centre.
2017-06-27 10:00:00.000000
| Basel
Sovereign Money Initiative: Study shows repercussions for Switzerland
The study presented today by Philippe Bacchetta, a professor of economics, entitled “The Sovereign Money Initiative in Switzerland: An Assessment”, is the first and only analysis to date that examines the consequences of the introduction of a sovereign money system for bank clients, commercial banks, the central bank and the nation. The study shows that the initiative ignores the prevailing economic understanding and that if sovereign money were to be implemented, it would have significant negative implications for the Swiss economy. The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) firmly rejects the Sovereign Money Initiative, as it would be an irresponsible experiment with what is an efficient economy.
2017-05-24 08:30:00.000000
| Basel
August Benz appointed to Executive Board of the SBA
August Benz will become the new Head of the SBA’s Private Banking and Asset Management business area. He will assume his role as a member of the Executive Board at the beginning of July. August Benz is currently Managing Director and Head of Client Servicing at UBS Asset Management.
2017-04-07 00:35:00.000000
| Basel
The SBA adopts new areas of focus and strategic priorities
Under the leadership of Chairman Herbert J. Scheidt, the Board of Directors of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) has defined the focus of the association’s activities and the strategic priorities for 2017. Concomitant with this, the business priorities of the SBA’s office will be realigned and the Executive Board will be reinforced with the addition of new members.
2017-04-06 08:00:00.000000
| Basel
Swiss banks receive good marks
The level of trust enjoyed by the primary banks of Swiss citizens has once again increased, reaching an historically high level. This was revealed in a representative survey commissioned by the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA). According to the survey results, the banks are considered particularly solid and reliable; bank employees are viewed as competent. The progress made by the financial centre is recognised: almost half of respondents feel the banks enjoy a good and professional reputation internationally. In the view of the Swiss population, the banks will be among the winners in the trend towards digitalisation. Data protection and a high level of protection of privacy are considered important issues by the respondents. The Swiss population also recognises the importance of the banks for Switzerland as a business location; some, however, are concerned about the competitiveness of the country’s banks at the international level.
2017-02-14 09:30:00.000000
| Basel
Pension funds: fewer benefit cuts through improved investment performance
The question of how pensioners will support themselves economically is more topical now than ever. The political debate surrounding the “Pensions 2020” reform will be tabled in parliament during the spring session.
2017-02-02 10:20:00.000000
| Basel
2017-01-11 16:00:00.000000
| Basel
2016-12-07 08:00:00.000000
| Basel
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