Positions and press releases
2018/09/21 09:10:00 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+1
| 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 GMT+1
| 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 GMT+1
2017/11/29 09:00:00 GMT+1
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+2
| 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 GMT+1
| 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 GMT+1
| Basel
2017/01/11 16:00:00 GMT+1
| Basel
2016/12/07 08:00:00 GMT+1
| Basel
2016/12/06 12:00:00 GMT+1
| Basel
2016/11/16 09:00:00 GMT+1
| Basel
Swiss banks publish further names relating to dormant assets
By law, Swiss banks must publish assets that have been dormant for a very long period of time on www.dormantaccounts.ch. Further names relating to dormant assets were published today. Since the beginning of 2015, Swiss banks have been obliged to publish assets that have been without contact for 60 years. The new names that were published are names for which it has not been possible to establish contact with the customer or his or her legal heirs since 1956.
2016/11/09 07:00:00 GMT+1
| Basel
2016/10/26 08:00:00 GMT+2
| Basel
Swiss financial sector remains an important pillar of the economy
The Swiss financial sector is performing well in the current challenging market environment. Digitalisation of the sector requires substantial investment from companies. At the same time, low interest rates, persistent pressure on margins and the cost of necessary regulatory adjustments are squeezing profitability. Despite this, the financial sector has still been able to expand its economic output this year moderately, meaning that it remains a central pillar of the Swiss economy. In 2015, related economic activities, including direct and indirect effects, accounted for a gross value added of around CHF 80 billion and around 400,000 full-time equivalent jobs. This is shown by the results of the economic impact analysis drawn up by BAKBASEL, commissioned by the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) and the Swiss Insurance Association (SIA).
2016/10/20 14:00:00 GMT+2
| Basel
2016/09/15 08:00:00 GMT+2
| Basel
Handover to the new Chairman of the SBA: achievements, challenges, priorities for the future
The financial centre is stable and well-positioned. It is actively tapping new areas of business, for example asset management or the renminbi-business, and is addressing the challenges posed by digitalisation. In order to continue carrying out its role as the engine of the economy, the financial centre requires the best possible framework conditions. The government and the authorities are fundamental in establishing these. Improved market access in the EU is also of great importance for the financial centre, which has traditionally had a very strong international focus.
2016/09/01 08:00:00 GMT+2
| Basel
Banking Barometer 2016: Swiss banks stable, but face significant challenges
The banks in Switzerland are in solid shape, despite the challenging national and international environment. The operating net income of the banks in Switzerland rose by five percent in 2015 to CHF 64.6 bn, and they provided the economy and private individuals with credit without interruption. Accounting for a 25 percent market share, the Swiss financial centre remains the undisputed leader in global cross-border asset management. Rising regulatory costs, pressure on margins and investments in technological developments are, however, accelerating structural change in the sector, which is also reflected in the key performance indicators: for the 2015/2016 reporting period, the number of banks in Switzerland decreased, as did employment in the banking sector.
2016/08/31 08:00:00 GMT+2
| Basel
Relaunch of the website www.swissbanking.org
Every day around 3,500 people visit the www.swissbanking.org website – welcome, dear visitor! In order to make this website even more efficient and easy for you to use, we have completely relaunched it.
2016/07/28 08:22:00 GMT+2
| Basel
2016/07/07 16:55:00 GMT+2
| Basel
Herbert J. Scheidt elected new Chairman of the Swiss Bankers Association
Following a professional and systematic selection process, the Board of Directors of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) today at its meeting unanimously elected Herbert J. Scheidt as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors as of 16 September 2016. Herbert J. Scheidt is Chairman of Vontobel; an office that he will continue to hold after assuming his new responsibilities at the SBA. He will succeed Patrick Odier, who in April 2016 decided not to stand for re-election this coming September after seven years in the role.
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