Proportionality

FINMA takes a proportionate and risk-based approach to its supervision of the Swiss financial centre. It relieves the burden on supervised institutions where appropriate and possible, deploys its resources where it identifies the greatest risks and thus strengthens the protection of the financial centre most effectively.

Small, particularly liquid and well capitalised banks and securities firms can participate in the small banks regime. By complying with the criteria they can benefit from reduced calculation and disclosure obligations pertaining to required capital and liquidity as well as from simplified qualitative requirements within the scope of FINMA circulars.

Small insurance companies in supervisory categories 4 and 5 can benefit from supervisory relief if they meet certain conditions. To do so, they must be particularly sound, well capitalised and liquid.

FINMA seeks to increase efficiency in regulation and supervision for small and particularly solid institutions. The goal is to reduce the regulatory burden on the smallest banks without jeopardising their stability and safety.