Davos
Switzerland should introduce a public register listing bankers who have violated professional duties, according to a senior executive at one of the country’s leading private banks, as the nation continues efforts to rebuild confidence in its financial sector after the collapse of Credit Suisse.
Stefan Bollinger, director at Zurich-based private bank Julius Baer, said such a register would help prevent repeat misconduct and strengthen accountability across the financial system. Speaking in an interview with Swiss-German newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Bollinger argued that transparency around professional breaches is essential to restoring the credibility of Switzerland’s banking industry.
Registering financial market participants has clear advantages, Bollinger said. This prevents bad actors from simply crossing to the other side of the street and carrying on as if nothing had happened. His remarks reflect growing concern within Switzerland’s financial community that existing oversight mechanisms have failed to adequately deter misconduct or hold individuals accountable.
The proposal comes amid heightened scrutiny of Switzerland’s banking culture following the dramatic downfall of Credit Suisse, once a pillar of the country’s financial system. Its collapse sent shockwaves through global markets and damaged the reputation of Switzerland as a haven of stability, prudence, and strong regulation.
Critics have long argued that while Swiss regulators impose fines on institutions, individual bankers often escape lasting consequences. Bollinger suggested that a public register would complement existing regulatory tools by ensuring that serious breaches of professional duty follow individuals throughout their careers, rather than being quietly absorbed by the system.
Supporters of the idea say such a register could improve market discipline, protect clients, and reassure international investors that Switzerland is serious about reform. They note that other professions, including law and medicine, already maintain public records of disciplinary actions in many countries.
However, the proposal is likely to face resistance from parts of the banking industry and privacy advocates, who may argue that public naming could be excessive or damaging if not carefully regulated. Questions also remain about who would manage the register, what thresholds would trigger inclusion, and how long names would remain listed.