Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority

History

Federal Banking Commission

Banking supervision was introduced in Switzerland by the Federal Act on Banks and Savings Banks of 1934, following unsuccessful attempts that had started in 1914 and triggered by the severe banking crisis of 1931. The 1934 legislation established the Federal Banking Commission (EBK-CFB) as a national prudential supervisor. For decades, however, the EBK-CFB staff was kept in the single digits on a very small budget. It was still only 10 in 1975, and grew to 35 in the late 1980s.

Creation of FINMA

FINMA was founded on the 22 June 2007 with the passing of the Federal Act on the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMASA). This merged the EBK-CFB with the Federal Office of Private Insurance (FOPI) and the Anti Money Laundering Control Authority into one agency responsible for all financial regulation in Switzerland.

Switzerland is home to UBS, one of the world's major banks, and given its significance to the Swiss economy, FINMA has a dedicated regulatory team overseeing its operations.

All Swiss banks must receive a banking license from FINMA. Since 2019, certain fintech companies can also apply for a "FinTech banking license". As of May 2025, four companies hold fintech banking licenses: Bivial AG, Relio AG, SR Saphirstein AG and Yapeal AG.

UBS and US tax affair

On 19 February 2009, the US government filed suit against UBS to reveal the names of all 52,000 U.S. customers, alleging that the bank and these customers conspired to defraud the US tax authority IRS of legitimately owed tax revenue. However revealing customer names was contrary to Swiss law and put UBS in a difficult position. Eventually UBS, with the support of FINMA, agreed to provide the names of 250 to 300 clients through FINMA and pay U.S. $780 million fines to settle the matter. FINMA used sections 25 and 26 of the Banking Act, provided for situations in which a bank is threatened with bankruptcy, to allow this to happen. Subsequently, in February 2009, the Federal Administrative Court of Switzerland ordered FINMA to stop the transmission to the U.S. tax authorities.

Responsibilities and functions

As a state regulatory body, the FINMA is endowed with supreme authority over banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges, securities dealers and collective investment schemes. It is responsible for combating money laundering and, if necessary, conducts financial restructuring and bankruptcy proceedings. In addition, it has supervisory powers with respect to the disclosure of participations and is the complaints body for decisions of the Takeover Board in the area of public takeover bids for listed companies.

The FINMA grants operating licences for companies and organisations subject to its supervision, monitors the supervised institutions with respect to their compliance with the requisite laws, ordinances, directives and regulations, as well as with the conditions for the granting of licences that must be complied with at all times. If necessary and to the extent permissible by law, the FINMA imposes sanctions, provides administrative assistance and regulates. FINMA is also responsible for ensuring that self-regulation is acknowledged appropriately. The FINMA provides supervision when there is a risk to creditors, investors and policy holders and can penalise individuals or authority, its decision, however, can be challenged in a court. It can also ensure compliance, issue warnings, cancel licenses and liquidate companies.

Supervision

FINMA takes a risk-based approach to its supervision of financial institutions, working to identify threats that could affect individual institutions or the entire financial system. FINMA is particularly vigilant about money laundering and the financing of terrorism and closely monitors the Swiss financial markets for AML/CFT compliance.

Organisational structure

The FINMA is made up of a board of directors, an executive board and an extended executive board.

The Board of Directors is a strategic management body and has seven to nine independent expert members appointed via parliament. It decides on matters of substantial importance, issues ordinances and circulars, and is responsible for FINMA’s budget. It also ensures internal controls by means of an internal audit unit and oversees the Executive Board. The Board of Directors appoints the CEO and elects the members of the Executive Board based on the CEO's proposals.

The Executive Board is FINMA's operational management body and is responsible for ensuring that banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges, securities dealers and other financial intermediaries are supervised in accordance with the law and respective strategy. The Executive Board decides on matters such as the granting of licences, key management, organisational and personnel issues, directives and supervisory matters of cross-divisional significance. The Executive Board prepares the necessary files and materials for decisions on items of business that fall under the remit of the Board of Directors and is responsible for implementing the resolutions of the Board of Directors and its committees.

Anne Héritier Lachat was Chairwoman of the Board of Directors from 2011 until 1 January 2016 when Thomas Bauer, former Ernst & Young partner became Chairman. Since 2021, serves as the chair.

In April 2025, FINMA has introduced a chief risk officer role to coordinate risk management across the authority.

Notes

References

References

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2. "FINMA at a glance".
3. Bundeskanzlei - P. "SR 956.1 Bundesgesetz vom 22. Juni 2007 über die Eidgenössische Finanzmarktaufsicht (Finanzmarktaufsichtsgesetz, FINMAG)".
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6. (2011-09-15). "UK and Swiss regulators under scrutiny". Financial Times.
7. "Authorisation requirements for banks".
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10. "UBS Warns US Tax Fraud Battle Could Be Its Ruin". DW.COM.
11. (2010-05-31). "The Swiss authorities under the pressure of the financial crisis and the disclosure of UBS customer data to the USA".
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20. "Money laundering supervision (2022)".
21. "How FINMA is organised".
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24. "FINMA: Federal Council elects Anne Héritier Lachat as Chairwoman of the Board of Directors". Federal Department of Finance FDF.
25. Ermes Gallarotti. (23 December 2010). "Bundesrat wählt Anne Héritier Lachat zur neuen Verwaltungsratspräsidentin der Aufsichtsbehörde: Eine Professorin an der Spitze der Firma". [[Neue Zürcher Zeitung]].
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27. "Thomas Bauer remplace Anne Héritier Lachat à la présidence de la Finma".
28. (13 March 2020). "Federal Council appoints Marlene Amstad as future FINMA Chair".
29. (2025-04-01). "Swiss market regulator FINMA restructures, deputy CEO to step down".