AFBS - About Us

The Association of Foreign Banks in Switzerland AFBS was founded in 1972. It is, next to the Swiss Bankers' Association SBA, the banking association in Switzerland with the largest number of members. On 14 June 2022, the Association will celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The AFBS is represented on the Board of the Swiss Bankers' Association SBA and in nearly all its Steering Groups, Commissions and Committees. The AFBS is also represented on the board of the SIX Group, where the foreign banks account for an important share in trading volume and are an important shareholder. The Association is furthermore represented on the boards of economiesuisse, the Depositor Protection Scheme esisuisse, the Bank Employers' Association, the Swiss Finance Institute, and the Geneva Financial Centre Foundation.

The Association has 104 members: 64 members are affiliates of a foreign bank; 23 are branches. In addition, some foreign-owned non-bank services providers are members and a few Swiss banks and financial institutions are observers, which gives them access to the Association’s information and events.

The majority of AFBS Members are headquartered in Zürich, Geneva and Lugano. Some banks are domiciled in Basel, St.Gallen, Bellinzona and many have branches in other locations across Switzerland.

AFBS Members are international banks. This is reflected in their business activities which focus predominantly on international clients. The global network of the foreign banks is a major asset for their clients in Switzerland, both in private and corporate or institutional business.

The Association of Foreign Banks in Switzerland is an association as defined under Art. 60ss. of the Swiss Civil Code (CC). The rights and obligations of the members and the Association’s bodies, as well as the purpose of the Association, are regulated/defined in the Articles of Association.

Articles of Association in DE EN FR IT

AFBS News

AFBS News is published five times a year in English. It offers an insight into legal and regulatory developments from the perspective of foreign banks in Switzerland. AFBS News is available to all interested persons.

To subscribe for the AFBS Newsletter click here.

AFBSecure - Members' Only Information

All employees of the AFBS Members have access to AFBSecure, the members-only area which is password-protected and offers a wide range of information and reference documents, events and meetings.

As an employee of an AFBS Member you are entitled to free access to AFBSecure, the AFBS members-only website. You can register as an AFBS User and receive your personal login here: Registration

In your profile you can define your preferences in order to receive alerts on AFBS Publications and invitations to forthcoming AFBS Events.

AFBS Publications

One of the main activities of the Association’s Secretariat is to provide information to the AFBS Members. Information covers various topics relating to legal and regulatory matters in the area of banking and finance. The focus of interest is on Swiss matters and international topics which impact the Swiss financial centre in some way. In general, publications are issued in English:

• AFBS Info: Provides relevant information and updates in the areas of Legal & Compliance, Tax, Sustainable Finance, Human Resources, Digitalisation & Cybersecurity, Accounting & Risk Management and a special summary AFBS Info to the CEO.
• AFBS Summaries: In its monitoring work, the AFBS Secretariat prepares summaries of reports and publications of financial centre bodies. These summaries provide a succinct overview but can never replace a careful reading of the original documents themselves.
• AFBS Surveys: From time to time the AFBS conducts surveys on topics of relevance to the AFBS Members. Past and ongoing surveys are published here. Thank you for your participation.
• AFBS Checklist Regulatory: With the support of EY the AFBS prepares a synopsis of regulatory developments. It is updated twice a year and published in German, French and English.
• Brussels Weekly News: An international law firm provides a weekly one-pager on relevant EU-Swiss topics.
• Third-Party Offers: Listing of special offers that may be of interest to the AFBS members.

AFBS Events & Meetings

The AFBS organises numerous events throughout the year. They cover various topics which impact the foreign banks in Switzerland. Beyond legal and regulatory as well as tax matters, events deal with topics such as digital banking and cyber security, sustainable finance, human resources, training and education.

AFBS Events come in the format of Conferences and Roundtables. Participation is open to all employees of AFBS Members and is free of charge. They take place on-site in Geneva, Lugano and Zürich or through video-conferences.

• AFBS Conferences: Presentation by expert guest speakers on regulatory and strategic topics, in Geneva, Zürich and Lugano, or through video-conferences.
• AFBS Roundtables: Ad-hoc discussion groups on topical matters, depending on regulatory developments, interest and suggestions from member banks. In Geneva, Zurich and Lugano, or through video-conferences.
• AFBS Groups: Standing groups meeting in regular intervals to discuss topics of concern and share views and experience: Legal & Compliance, Human Resources, Trade Finance (Geneva), Corporate & Investment Banking (Zürich), AFBS Group Lugano, AFBS Group Retail (Geneva).

AFBS Secretariat

The Secretariat carries out the administrative work of the AFBS as directed by the Board and the General Assembly. The Secretariat consists of a team of three and is located in the centre of Zürich.

Members of the Secretariat

Membership

The Association of Foreign Banks in Switzerland admits the following, foreign-owned, FINMA-supervised institutions as active members:

1. banks as well as branches and agents in Switzerland of foreign banks;
2. wealth management companies, trustees, securities houses;
3. managers, management companies and agents of collective investment schemes.

Other legal or natural persons who identify with the Association’s goals but do not fulfil the above criteria, qualify for passive membership, and can obtain Observer status. They benefit from the same access to AFBS Info and participation in AFBS Events, but do not have the right of vote and eligibility at the Association's General Assembly.

Articles of Association in DE EN FR IT 

Interested in becoming a member?

Membership contribution: DOC

Application for membership: DOC

50 Years AFBS

A special event commemorated the 50^th Anniversary of the Association of Foreign Banks in Switzerland AFBS. The event took place on Tuesday, 14th June 2022 at the Landesmuseum in Zürich and offered the opportunity to exchange and network with professionals around the present situation and the outlook of the Swiss Financial Centre. Key representatives of the Swiss financial centre shared their views and discussed opportunities for the development and strengthening of the financial centre. The moderated panel discussion offered food for thought, invited participants to get involved and continued reflections during the ensuing informal networking dinner.

50 years association of foreign banks in Switzerland - a long or a short timespan? Very short if compared with the establishment of the "first foreign bank" in Switzerland in 1425 in Geneva by Cosimo de' Medici. Still short if compared with the establishment of the oldest foreign bank still present in Switzerland in 1872. A lot of things have happened in that "short" fifty years. Have a look at the anniversary video which gives you a quick overview.