"Too big to fail" dossier

Systemically important financial institutions can jeopardise entire economies in the event of a disorderly failure and are therefore regarded as “too big to fail” (TBTF). Following the financial crisis of 2007/2008, the Swiss legislator promulgated special rules for the stabilisation, restructuring or liquidation of such institutions. Every year FINMA reports on the progress of this recovery and resolution planning.

Resolution report 2023

FINMA evaluates the recovery and resolution plans of the systemically important Swiss financial institutions on a regular basis, and did so once again at the beginning of 2023 for the 2022 reporting period. The Resolution report does not take account of subsequent events, in particular the merger of UBS and Credit Suisse. Overall, the planning work progressed further. The large banks Credit Suisse and UBS further developed their resolvability. Raiffeisen’s emergency plan was deemed ready to implement for the first time, while PostFinance must adopt a new strategy for recapitalisation in the event of an emergency.

To the content

Resolution report 2022

FINMA approved for the first time the recovery plans of the systemically important financial market infrastructures SIX x-clear and SIX SIS, subject to certain conditions. Meanwhile the two large Swiss banks Credit Suisse and UBS made further progress towards global resolvability. The emergency plans of the domestic systemically important banks PostFinance, Raiffeisen and Zürcher Kantonalbank are not ready to implement for the time being, as they have not met the capital requirements in full yet.

To the content

Resolution report 2021

FINMA noted further progress in its annual assessment of recovery and resolution planning by the systemically important Swiss financial institutions. The domestic systemically important banks (PostFinance, Raiffeisen and Zürcher Kantonalbank) have credible resolution strategies for the first time. The two large banks (Credit Suisse and UBS) have made further improvements to their global resolvability.

To the content

Resolution Report 2020

FINMA published a comprehensive report on recovery and resolution planning by the systemically important Swiss financial institutions for the first time in 2020.

To the content

Switzerland’s “too big to fail” regime

On its website FINMA provides detailed information about the “too big to fail” regulation in Switzerland, about its role as a resolution authority and the procedures for assessing resolvability, and about investor and client protection in the Swiss financial centre.

To the content

Backgroundimage