Its a common question for all ''How swiss banks works' ? Here is the description about the SWISS BANKING which gives powerful information about all the structures and business. Content includes start up and present scenario about the banking in swiss.
3. Switzerland officially Swiss Confederation consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the
seat of the federal authorities.
The Swiss Confederation has a long history of ‘armed neutrality’ it has not been in a
state of war internationally since 1815—and did not join the ‘United Nations’ until
2002.
Switzerland is a prosperous nation with a per capita gross domestic product higher
than that of most western European nations.
GDP 2012 estimate - Total $363.421 billion
- Per capita $45,41.
4. Switzerland is not a member of the NATO, nor a member of the European
Union.
The rights of the individual Swiss citizens are protected by three political
safeguards
Chief Executive
The Referendum
The Initiative
5. • Credit Suisse
• Hyposwiss Private Bank
• Julius Bär & Co. AG
• UBS AG
Banque Bonhôte & Cie SA
Banque Cantonale de Genève
Banque Cantonale Neuchâteloise
Graubündner Kantonalbank
Hinduja Bank (Switzerland) Ltd
ICB Financial Group Holdings AG
SIX SIS AG
SIX x-clear AG
WIR Bank
Zurich Cantonal Bank
6. Banking in Switzerland is regulated by the Swiss Financial Market
Supervisory Authority (FINMA) , which derives its authority from a series
of federal statutes.
Swiss banks have earned a reputation around the world for providing
sophisticated and discreet banking services.
Services
Security
Secrecy
7. Banking began in the eighteenth century by way of the riches of
merchants.
Wegelin & Co., established in 1741, was the oldest bank in Switzerland
until it restructured into a new legal entity in 2013.
Hentsch & Cie and Lombard Odier both private banks were founded in
1796.
Pictet and Cie was established in 1805 as a merchant bank.
Hentsch & Cie were a founding member of the Swiss National bank
during 1852.
8. Private banks are those which are not incorporated, and hence the
entirety of their partners' assets are available to meet the liabilities
of the bank.
These banks have a very long tradition in Switzerland, dating back
to at least the revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685).
- most have become incorporated.
These services are directed primarily at “high net-worth
individuals”.
9. As in most of continental Europe, individuals usually buy and sell stocks and bonds
through their banks.
The Swiss banks collectively have a long reputation for managing investment
portfolios for their clients, and providing other services such as estate planning,
wealth management, trust companies, etc., for individual customers.
10. Switzerland has had an extremely stable
economy and infrastructure for many years.
Swiss bankers are also highly trained in
investing and know how to grow your money.
Swiss franc is considered one of the world's
premier currencies with virtually zero
inflation and has been historically backed by at
least 40 percent gold reserves.
Swiss banks are also known to have very
sophisticated investment services and
Internet banking.
11. Swiss law forbids bankers to disclose the existence of your account
without your consent.
In Switzerland, if a banker divulges information about a bank account
without permission, immediate prosecution is begun by the Swiss
public attorney.
Bankers face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to 50,000 Swiss
francs.
12. Swiss Bank Accounts and the Laws Article47 of the Federal Law ,1934
In following cases there is a duty for bankers to provide information
regarding bank account.
Civil proceedings
(such as inheritance or divorce).
Debt recovery and bankruptcies Criminal proceedings
(money laundering, association with a criminal organization, tax
fraud, etc.).
International mutual legal assistance proceedings.
13. The Swiss Federal Banking Commission (SFBC) may communicate
information only to the supervisory authorities in foreign countries
subject to three statutory conditions:
The information given can't be used for anything other than the direct
supervision of the banks and can't be passed on to tax authorities.
The requesting foreign authority must itself be bound by official or
professional confidentiality and be the intended recipient of the
information.
The requesting authority may not give information to other
authorities or to other public supervisory bodies without the prior
agreement of the SFBC
14. The Money Laundering Act sets forth requirements of account
holders' identification, and requires reporting of any suspicious
transactions to the Money Laundering Reporting Office.
According to the CIA World Factbook, Switzerland is "a major
international financial center vulnerable to the layering and
integration stages of money laundering.
Secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct
business through offshore entities and various intermediaries.
15.
16. Major banks of Switzerland :
UBS AG
Credit Suisse
Hyposwiss Private Bank
Julius Bär & Co. AG
17. Swiss Bank Corporation traces its history to 1854.
Swiss Bank's earliest predecessors was driven by the industrialization of the
country and the construction of railroads in the mid-19th century.
The onset of World War I put a hold on much of the bank's development.
Although SBC survived the war intact, it suffered the loss of its investments in a
number of large industrial companies.
18. On the eve of World War II, SBC was the recipient of large influxes of
foreign funds for safekeeping.
Swiss Bank began the 1990s as the weakest of the "Big Three" Swiss
banks but by the end of 1997 would be the driving force behind the
merger with Union Bank of Switzerland.
SBC opened new offices in the U.S. in the mid-1960s and it was also at this
time that SBC began to expand into Asia and opened representative offices
throughout Latin America.
19. Swiss Bank began the 1990s as the weakest of the "Big Three" Swiss banks
but by the end of 1997 would be the driving force behind the merger with
Union Bank of Switzerland.
The bank signaled its new posture in 1990 when it opened its new U.S.
headquarters, Swiss Bank Tower, A 29 floor building on 49th Street,
adjoining Saks Fifth Avenue.
On December 8, 1997, Union Bank of Switzerland and SBC announced an all
stock merger.
The all-stock merger resulted in the creation UBS AG, a huge new bank with
total assets of more than US$590 billion.
20.
21. UBS, the successor of the Union Bank of Switzerland, is among
the largest diversified financial institutions in the world.
UBS operated in all of the major financial centers worldwide
with offices in over 50 countries and 64,000 employees
globally.
22. Head office-
UBS AG
Bahnhofstr. 45
P.O. Box
CH-8098 Zurich
+41-44-234 11 11
Swiss Bank Corporation, major Swiss bank, now part of UBS AG.
It is a large integrated financial services company located in Switzerland.
History of Swiss Banking Code of secrecy is over 300 years old
The first Swiss banking clients were the kings of France
The Great Council of Geneva , in 1713 , established regulations Bank secrecy
was regulated only by civil law at that time.
23. If you have liquid assets worth $300,000 or more you may wish to
investigate Swiss 'Private' Banking further as their are a wide array of
services offered for substantial amounts.
Currently an estimated one-third of all funds held outside their country of
origin (sometimes called "offshore" funds) are kept in Switzerland.
You can do it yourself or seek the help of professionals who will open an
account for you.
The expenses will vary according to the bank where you want your
account opened, the services needed and can easily be upward of
15,000 US dollars + legal fees.
http://open-bank-account.com/switzerland.html