The new rules aim to make banks safer and prevent risky behaviour by senior bankers.
Swiss flags flutter on the Swiss Parliament Building (Bundeshaus), after the weekly governmental meeting in Bern, Switzerland, Jan 29, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)
13 Aug 2026 01:31AM
ZURICH: Switzerland's government, drawing on the lessons of the collapse of Credit Suisse, on Wednesday (Aug 12) launched consultations on new banking rules that could limit bankers' bonuses.The Federal Council said the consultations would cover measures designed to "strengthen corporate governance", ensure banks are prepared for crises, and grant greater powers to the financial market supervisory authority (FINMA)."The aim is to strengthen resilience and confidence in the Swiss financial system whilst protecting our economy, taxpayers and the state," Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter told journalists in Bern.The proposed measures focus in particular on bankers' bonuses. They propose to withhold or recover bonuses from "the most senior or most highly paid managers at systemically important banks" in the event of rule-breaking or mismanagement. The goal is to avoid payment packages that encourage excessive risk-taking. "The Federal Council wants remuneration to be geared towards long-term profit," said Keller-Sutter. The consultation will start in late August and run until November.
