Dossier on money laundering prevention

Preventing money laundering is an important part of FINMA's work. This page provides key information on this topic.
From the Risk monitor 2022

Money laundering and sanctions

The Swiss financial centre is a leading global cross-border wealth management hub for private clients. This makes it particularly exposed to money-laundering risks.

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From the Annual Report 2021

Money laundering: Focus of conduct supervision (2021)

In the year under review, FINMA analysed numerous offered and planned services in the crypto area. It provided the institutions with further details of its expectations in relation to the money laundering regulations, including in consultation with the self-regulatory organisations responsible for the money laundering supervision of numerous providers.

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From the Annual Report 2021

Money laundering supervision in numbers (2021)

Preventing money laundering plays an important role in the prevention of crime. Well-functioning anti-money laundering measures are also essential to the success of the financial centre. As part of its supervisory activity, FINMA strives to prevent money laundering.

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From the Risk monitor 2021

Risk situation in connection with money laundering (2021)

The Swiss financial centre is a leading global cross-border wealth management hub for private clients. This makes it particularly exposed to money-laundering risks. 

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From the Annual Report 2020

Money laundering: Focus of conduct supervision (2020)

Effective conduct supervision builds trust in Switzerland as a financial centre. FINMA once again set its focus on combating money laundering and terrorist financing during 2020, particularly in connection with blockchain-based transactions.

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From the Annual Report 2020

Money laundering supervision in numbers (2020)

Preventing money laundering plays an important role in the prevention of crime. A well -functioning anti-money laundering mechanism is also essential to the success of the financial centre. As part of its supervisory activity, FINMA strives intensively to prevent money laundering.

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From the Annual Report 2019

Money laundering: focus of conduct supervision

According to the Risk Monitor published for the first time in December 2019, money laundering remains one of the principal risks for FINMA’s supervised institutions and the Swiss financial centre.

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From the Risk monitor 2019

Risk situation in connection with money laundering

The Swiss financial centre is a leading global cross-border wealth management hub for private clients. This makes it particularly exposed to money-laundering risks.

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From the Annual Report 2018

Addressing global money-laundering scandals

In 2018 FINMA concluded its investigations and proceedings against institutions involved in recent global corruption and money-laundering scandals (Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, FIFA, Petrobras).

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From the Annual Report 2018

Progress in combating money laundering

In recent years, banks and asset managers have been involved in numerous money laundering affairs in relation to major corruption scandals. With regard to combating money laundering, FINMA therefore focused its supervisory activities on how institutions deal with international money-laundering cases.

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From the Annual Report 2018

At a glance: intensive money-laundering supervision

FINMA’s strategic aim is to have a long-term positive influence on institutions’ conduct in preventing money laundering. It therefore makes concerted efforts in the areas of supervision and enforcement to prevent money laundering.

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From the Annual Report 2017

Case law and practice for reporting requirements

Procedure for handling suspected illegal assets

The Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) specifies the procedures a financial intermediary should follow if it suspects assets might be illegal.

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From the Annual Report 2017

Money laundering prevention: a strategic goal

FINMA has set itself the goal of achieving a sustained impact on institutions in their efforts to prevent money laundering. Its focus in 2017 was on institutions’ reporting systems and their risk management.

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From the Annual Report 2017

Follow-up measures to the FATF country review

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) conducted its fourth country review of Switzerland from 2015 to 2016. It examines a country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing system, with a particular focus on financial market regulation.

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