The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) welcomes the Federal Council’s decision to address key lessons from the Credit Suisse crisis through its two additional consultations on banking stability. The SBA supports targeted improvements to the liquidity supply and the resolvability of systemically important banks. It acknowledges the Federal Council’s efforts to ensure a proportionate approach. However, the package of measures remains too extensive. The crisis at a single bank does not justify across-the-board tightening of regulations for other banks. Regulation must focus on areas where actual risks exist and where it makes a proven contribution to financial stability. The SBA also warns against FINMA becoming a ‘super-authority’, particularly with regard to its vastly expanded powers concerning early intervention, sanctions and the ability to intervene in normal business operations. The SBA will now analyse the proposals in greater depth.

The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) opposes the tightening of the Lex Koller proposed by the Federal Council. The proposal fails to achieve its objective of reducing housing costs and instead risks undermining Switzerland’s attractiveness as a business location and investment activity in the real estate market, with negative consequences also for pension provision.