
Credit Suisse Swiss is facing a challenging time as it seeks to navigate the post-crisis rules in the banking industry.
The bank is under pressure to meet the new capital requirements set by regulators, which are aimed at preventing a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis.
These rules, known as Basel III, require banks to hold more capital against their riskiest assets, making it harder for them to take on debt and increase their lending capacity.
Credit Suisse Swiss is struggling to adjust to these new rules, which have made it more expensive for the bank to operate.
Regulatory Issues
Credit Suisse Swiss has faced regulatory issues in the past, particularly with regards to its involvement in the global tax evasion scandal. The bank was fined $2.6 billion by the US Department of Justice in 2014 for helping wealthy Americans evade taxes.
The bank has also faced scrutiny from Swiss regulators, with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) imposing a fine of $200 million in 2015 for failing to prevent money laundering and other financial crimes. This fine was part of a broader effort to clean up the Swiss banking system.
Credit Suisse Swiss has taken steps to address these regulatory issues, including the appointment of a new CEO and the implementation of stricter anti-money laundering policies.
Regulator Seeks More Powers

The regulator is seeking more powers to oversee the industry. This move is in response to increasing public concern about the lack of accountability in the sector.
The regulator has identified a number of areas where it believes its powers should be strengthened. These include the ability to impose stricter penalties on companies that fail to comply with regulations.
Regulatory bodies often struggle to keep up with the pace of technological change. The regulator is seeking more resources to help it stay on top of emerging trends and issues.
The regulator's proposals also include a call for greater transparency in the industry. This would involve requiring companies to disclose more information about their operations and practices.
In some cases, regulatory bodies may be too focused on protecting the interests of established companies. The regulator is seeking to address this imbalance by giving more weight to the needs and concerns of consumers.
Post-Crisis Rules Ineffective?
After the chaos of 2008, regulators introduced tighter restrictions, particularly for banks deemed important to the global financial system.
Most central banks and national regulators have introduced annual stress testing to check whether banks can withstand severe economic shocks and market turmoil, while still supporting their customers.
Systemically important banks are meant to have enough capital and "living wills" in place to ensure they can fail in a relatively orderly way.
However, these living wills have yet to be tested by a real-life banking failure.
Switzerland's regulator, Finma, approved Credit Suisse emergency wind-down plans last year, but said some of its plans were "still not adequate".
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Credit Suisse Says Offer Too Low
Credit Suisse says the offer is too low, citing a valuation gap between the bank's shares and the proposed bid. This suggests that the bank's management team is not convinced that the offer reflects the true value of Credit Suisse.
The bid is reportedly around CHF 1.8 billion, which is a significant discount to Credit Suisse's market capitalization.
Credit Suisse's management team may be concerned that the offer undervalues the bank's assets and future growth prospects.
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Transaction Support
The takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS has official support from the Swiss government and regulatory bodies.
UBS will take over Credit Suisse in full, with a complete write-down of the nominal value of all AT1 debt of Credit Suisse in the amount of around CHF 16 billion.
The write-down will increase core capital, which is a requirement for the larger bank that will result from the takeover.
FINMA will grant transitional periods for the new bank to build up higher capital buffers, as required by current regulations.
FINMA will closely monitor the transaction and ensure compliance with all supervisory law requirements.
The Swiss regulator will also coordinate with international authorities, including the US Federal Reserve and the British Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
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Investigation Timeline
Credit Suisse's investigation into its dealings with the Russian oligarch, Igor Makarov, began in 2007, when the bank received a subpoena from the US Department of Justice.
The investigation focused on whether Credit Suisse had helped Makarov launder money through a complex web of shell companies and offshore accounts.

In 2008, Credit Suisse disclosed that it had been under investigation by the US Department of Justice, but did not provide further details.
The bank's efforts to cooperate with the investigation were hampered by the fact that many of its records were stored on servers in Switzerland, where they were protected by banking secrecy laws.
Credit Suisse ultimately paid a $100 million fine to the US Department of Justice in 2014 to settle the investigation.
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Current Situation
Credit Suisse is a major Swiss bank with a long history dating back to 1856. The bank has a strong presence in Switzerland and globally, with over 50,000 employees in more than 50 countries.
It's worth noting that Credit Suisse has a significant presence in the Swiss financial sector, with a market share of around 20%. The bank's headquarters is located in Zurich, Switzerland.
The bank's history is marked by several significant events, including the merger with the Swiss Bank Corporation in 1997. This merger created one of the largest banks in the world at the time.
Credit Suisse has a strong commitment to innovation, with a dedicated innovation team that focuses on developing new technologies and products.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Credit Suisse a Swiss bank?
Credit Suisse originated as a Swiss investment bank in 1905. Its roots in Switzerland have shaped its global financial services offerings.
Why did Credit Suisse collapse?
Credit Suisse collapsed due to a loss of client, investor, and market confidence resulting from poor strategic implementation, scandals, and management mistakes. This led to a severe erosion of trust and ultimately contributed to the bank's downfall.
Who owns Credit Suisse?
As of March 2023, Credit Suisse is owned by UBS Group AG after a government-brokered all-stock deal. The acquisition was valued at approximately CHF 3 billion (US$3.2 billion).
Is Credit Suisse now UBS?
No, Credit Suisse is not its own entity anymore. As of July 2024, it has merged with UBS, making UBS the contracting party.
Sources
- https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us/en/our-company/who-we-are.html
- https://www.euromoney.com/credit-suisse
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/19/swiss-regulator-calls-for-more-powers-after-credit-suisse-collapse.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/mar/15/credit-suisse-what-is-happening-at-swiss-bank-and-should-we-be-worried
- https://www.finma.ch/en/news/2023/03/20230319-mm-cs-ubs/
- https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/biggest-swiss-bank-ubs-offers-1-billion-to-buy-credit-suisse-report-3874746
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