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Swiss National Bank says 90% capital plan for UBS a good outcome - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Swiss National Bank says 90% capital plan for UBS a good outcome

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 24, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: September 24, 2026

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Swiss National Bank Supports 90% CET1 Capital for UBS’s Foreign Units

SNB Comments on New Swiss Banking Regulations

SNB Vice Chairman Endorses 90% CET1 Backing

BERN, Sept 24 (Reuters) - A 90% Common Equity Tier 1 backing for UBS's foreign units is a "good amount", SNB Vice Chairman Antoine Martin said on Thursday, a day after Switzerland's upper house of parliament voted on new banking regulations.

Background: Regulatory Response to Credit Suisse Collapse

Switzerland is drawing up new banking rules to avoid another crisis following the 2023 collapse of Credit Suisse and its subsequent takeover by UBS.

Financial Stability Perspective

More backing of foreign participations with CET1 capital is better from a financial stability perspective, Martin said, reiterating the central bank's previous position.

"In that respect, 90% is a good amount of CET1 capital to back these foreign participations," he said. "Of course, 100% would have been even better from the perspective of financial stability."

SNB’s Role and Legal Mandate

Martin said that it's not the central bank's role to comment on the actions of parliament, but that the SNB has a legal mandate to contribute to financial stability.

SNB Leadership on Crisis Lessons and Regulatory Measures

Drawing Conclusions from Credit Suisse Crisis

"At the moment, it's still extremely important to draw the right conclusions from the Credit Suisse crisis," SNB Chairman Martin Schlegel said, adding the SNB has full faith in the government and in parliament to reach decisions in the interest of Switzerland.

Addressing Regulatory Weaknesses

"The proposed measures are actually important, and they really address some regulatory weaknesses that we identified in the Credit Suisse crisis," Schlegel said.

Reporting and Editing

(Reporting by Ariane Luthi, editing by John Revill)

Key Takeaways

  • The SNB supports strengthening CET1 capital backing for UBS’s foreign participations, following lessons from the Credit Suisse crisis (snb.ch)
  • Switzerland’s upper house approved a 90% CET1 requirement for UBS’s foreign units, rejecting a government proposal for full 100% backing, though the SNB deems full backing preferable (breakingviews.com)
  • The regulatory overhaul—part of ‘too big to fail’ reforms—aims to bolster resilience by ensuring that parent banks can absorb losses from foreign subsidiaries without endangering home capital adequacy (admin.ch)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What CET1 capital level does the SNB recommend for UBS's foreign units?
The Swiss National Bank says that 90% CET1 capital backing for UBS's foreign units is a good amount for financial stability.
Why are Switzerland's banking regulations being updated?
Switzerland is updating banking rules to prevent another crisis like the 2023 collapse of Credit Suisse and its takeover by UBS.
What does the SNB say about financial stability and CET1 capital backing?
The SNB states that higher CET1 capital backing, such as 90%, enhances financial stability by supporting foreign participations.
Does the SNB comment on parliament’s actions regarding new regulations?
The SNB does not comment directly on parliament's actions but emphasizes its mandate to contribute to financial stability.
What weaknesses are addressed by the proposed regulatory measures?
The SNB notes that the proposed regulations address weaknesses identified during the Credit Suisse crisis.

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