Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 19, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleZurich urges the government to reconsider UBS capital rules, warning they could harm the financial sector's competitiveness and the local economy.
ZURICH, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Zurich, the home canton of Switzerland's biggest banks, has called on the federal government to reconsider plans to tighten capital requirements for UBS, saying they risk undermining the competitiveness of its financial sector.
The government has proposed that UBS, Switzerland's sole remaining global bank since it bought Credit Suisse in 2023, should capitalise its foreign subsidiaries by 100% rather than 60% at present, to cover potential losses abroad.
That proposal forms the core of reforms that UBS says would mean finding an additional $24 billion in capital.
Canton Zurich's government said the measures would hurt the region's competitiveness.
"Some of the proposed measures are disproportionate and significantly stricter than the regulations in comparable competitor locations," said the canton in a document published as part of wide-ranging public consultation.
"The stricter requirements increase the capital costs of the banks affected and limit their international competitiveness."
The canton said the regulatory costs of the package could also hit the local economy via lower tax revenues and potential job losses, and called for a general overhaul of the measures.
UBS opposes the proposed capital rules, and industry groups, cantonal governments and influential lawmakers have joined in warning that banking could be rendered uncompetitive.
The conference of cantonal finance directors this month backed making banks more resilient but urged the government to exercise restraint in drafting the new laws.
(Reporting by John RevillEditing by Dave Graham)
Capital requirements are regulations that determine the minimum amount of capital a bank must hold to ensure its stability and solvency, protecting depositors and maintaining confidence in the financial system.
The financial sector encompasses institutions and services that manage money, including banks, investment firms, insurance companies, and real estate firms, playing a crucial role in the economy.
A regulatory framework consists of the rules, laws, and guidelines that govern financial institutions and markets, ensuring their stability, transparency, and compliance with legal standards.
Banking regulations are laws and guidelines that govern the operations of banks and financial institutions, aimed at ensuring their safety, soundness, and compliance with financial standards.
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