Regulation

Regulation: Call for discerning regulation

In consequence of the global financial market crisis, far-reaching regulatory measures are expected in the banking sector. The Cantonal Banks do not see themselves as instigators of the crisis; on the contrary, they made many valuable contributions to the economic stabilisation process. Together with the domestically-oriented retail banks, they therefore advocate discerning regulation. Failing this, these institutions would incur significant additional costs in the future which would inevitably have a negative effect on the provision of services to their customers.

Regulation can result in smaller banks in particular – and these include Cantonal Banks – being subject to a disproportionate burden. They, too, are required to assess and comment on new proposals and to ensure their implementation. Since few of them have units specialising in these issues, it is often difficult for them to deal with the host of new regulations with the necessary care and attention and within what are generally very short deadlines. In order to be able to comply with all the regulations, many banks need additional staff capacity and frequently find themselves forced to upgrade their computer systems. That increases their fixed costs without any extra income being generated.

However, good regulation is clearly important. Society, the economy as part of society and the financial services industry in particular need clear, reliable operating conditions and thus clear rules as well. However, regulation must be within reasonable proportions, the various regulatory bodies should act in a coordinated manner and statutory requirements should be applied only where really necessary. Cost-benefit analyses may also increase acceptance of a regulation. These principles on which appropriate and efficient regulation should be based have also been recognised in the financial market regulation guidelines of the Federal Department of Finance.This does take account of the concerns about good regulation that have been repeatedly expressed of late by the industry. The Cantonal Banks can only support this.

Tax agreement between Switzerland and United Kingdom

On 24 August 2011, the Swiss Bankers Association announced the signing of the tax agreement between Switzerland and United Kingdom.
Please find the press release here.

Tax agreement between Switzerland and Germany

On 10 August 2011, the Swiss Bankers Association announced the signing of the tax agreement between Switzerland and Germany.

Since the requests submitted by the cantonal banks were taken into consideration in the political negotiations, the banks are not staking out a separate position. Instead, they are going along with the assessment of the Swiss Bankers Association.
Please find the press release press release of the Swiss Bankers Association below.

Film for interested customers

The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) explains in this animated film the core points of the tax agreement between Switzerland and Germany in a simple and comprehensible way.



www.swissbanking.org

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Kantonalbanken fordern eine gesamtheitliche und inhaltlich abgestimmte Eigenmittel-Regulierung

Der Verband der Schweizerischen Kantonalbanken (VSKB) befürwortet grundsätzlich eine starke Eigenmittel-Ausstattung der Banken. Die Mehrheit der Kantonalbanken verfügt traditionell über Eigenmittel, die weit über den Mindestanforderungen liegen. Unverzichtbar ist jedoch, dass die verschiedenen Komponenten der Eigenmittel-Anforderungen einerseits aufeinander abgestimmt sind und andererseits in ihrer Gesamtheit dazu führen, dass die verlangte Eigenmittel-Ausstattung in einem sachgerechten Verhältnis zum Risikoprofil einer Bank steht.
Lesen Sie hier die Medienmitteilung.

ERV-Stellungnahmen VSKB