A-09-01

In its report of 10 April 2024 on bank stability, the Federal Council proposes the development of a senior managers' regime (SMR) as part of the "Too Big To Fail" (TBTF) framework. An SMR assigns specific responsibilities to the most senior managers and makes it easier for the supervisory authorities to identify those at fault. This commentary focuses on one of the 37 measures analysed by the Federal Council in its report (for a general commentary on the report, see[...]

Since the adoption of the too-big-to-fail regime in 2011, article 52 BL stipulates that the Federal Council must examine the provisions of articles 7 to 14b BL three years after the system comes into force and then every two years, compare them with the corresponding international standards abroad and report back to the Federal Assembly, if necessary with proposals for amendments to the law or ordinances. In its report on systemically important banks of 4 June 2021 (FF 2021 1487),[...]

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) welcomes Switzerland's progress in implementing the Too Big To Fail (TBTF) rules, but stresses that there is still work to be done. Its second peer review report of 29 February 2024 covers the period 2022-2023 and targets systemically important banks (SIBs) operating internationally. The FSB's ten recommendations can be summarised as follows: Increase FINMA's resources quantitatively and qualitatively: in addition to increasing the size of its teams, the FSB recommends a strengthening of expertise to[...]

On December 19, 2023, FINMA published its report on Credit Suisse. This report discusses the background to the collapse (I.), and draws some "lessons learned" (II.). I. In 1856, Alfred Escher helped set up a company that excelled in commercial lending. The Schweizerische Kreditanstalt borrowed from Paul or Virginie at a lower rate than that at which it lent to "Rail" or "Wagon SA", and grew rich on the interest differential. One thing led to another, and the bank moved[...]