The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Why should taxpayers foot the bill for rescuing Credit Suisse?

Hosted by:

I write about the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence technology and its possible impacts on society. Originally from England, I spent some time at the BBC in London before moving to Switzerland to join SWI swissinfo.ch.

And how can we make the banking system safer?

Switzerland has lost one of its ‘too big to fail banks’ after the emergency takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS. Swiss Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter put a brave face on the deal: “This is a commercial solution, not a bailout.”

But the government not only forced the takeover through, but promised CHF 9 billion of taxpayer money to absorb potential losses for UBS. The Swiss National Bank also committed itself to printing up to CHF 100 billion to keep the new combined banking entity afloat.

Such banking crises were supposed to be a thing of the past after 2008, but this is clearly not the case.

From the article Credit Suisse agrees to CHF3bn takeover by rival Swiss bank UBS

Join the conversation!

Contributions must adhere to our guidelines. If you have questions or wish to suggest other ideas for debates, please, get in touch!
sin
sin
The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

In Japan, there have been banking crises in the past, which were accompanied by the collapse of the bubble economy and the Asian financial crisis.
In the 1990s, a large amount of public funds were injected as part of the policy to rescue banks due to the collapse of the bubble economy. Public capital was injected not only into one financial institution, but almost all financial institutions, including major financial institutions.
Not only banks, but also specialized housing finance companies.
And at this time, the restructuring and consolidation of banks also proceeded.
As a result, a strong financial system and crisis management, although still incomplete, were formed.

The public bailout, at this time, was violently rejected by the public.
Nevertheless, as the economy declined and a number of financial institutions began to fail, concerns began to emerge about the lives of the Japanese people, and public opinion began to suggest that an injection of capital was unavoidable, leading to the injection of public funds.
Based on Japan's experience, the bailout was a policy that had to be implemented.
The lesson learned at that time was to improve the health of the banks.
In order for banks to become sound, the credits of the companies in which they invest must be strictly scrutinized and managed so that they do not run amok. On the other hand, it is also important to protect depositors and sound management, and I believe that balance is the core of a sound financial system.
The financial system is a public good. In the event of a crisis, it is important to reach a consensus on how to respond quickly.

Today, Japan is facing another crisis.
This time it is fiscal and financial. The question is how the central bank and the government will deal with stock prices that have been overprotected by government policies.

日本でも過去にバブル経済の破綻とアジア金融危機に伴う銀行危機がありました。
90年代バブル崩壊による銀行救済の政策として多額の公的資金注入が行われました。一つの金融機関だけでなく大手を含むほぼ全体の金融機関に公的資本が注入されました。
銀行だけでなく住宅専門金融会社へも投入されてます。
そしてこの際に銀行の再編と統合も進みました。
結果として未だ未完成ですが、強い金融システムと危機管理が形成されました。

公的救済、このとき激しい国民の拒絶反応が起こりました。
それでも経済が落ち込む中で破綻する金融機関が続出し始めると国民生活へも不安の懸念が出始め、資本注入はしょうがないのではないかという世論が出始めて公的資金投入に至りました。
日本の経験からすると救済措置はやらざる負えない政策だったのだとおもいます。
このときの教訓は健全化です。
銀行と企業は表裏一体で銀行の健全化のためには投資先である企業の債権も厳しく審査し処理して放漫経営にならないよう管理するといった仕組みです。その反面預金者や健全な経営に対しては保護をかけるといった仕組みも重要で、バランスこそ健全化のコアだとおもいます。
また、金融システムは公共財です。危機の際はどうやってコンセンサスをとって迅速に対応するかも重要だと学びました。

現在、日本は再び危機を迎えています。
今回は財政と金融。政府政策により過保護にしてしまった株価に中央銀行と政府がどう対処するのかが問われています。

Kei-11
Kei-11
The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

It is a democracy in which the people are responsible for the state, and they have to pay the bill.

It was because they were making risky investments, more like an investment bank than a typical savings bank.

Capital controls on capital ratios for loans and investments, regulatory ratios higher than BIS regulations.
Restrictions on derivatives and other highly speculative investments.

In short, they are not allowed to do anything other than solid business.

国家の責任は国民にある民主主義だから、ツケを払うことになった。

一般的な貯蓄銀行というより、投資銀行のようなリスクのある投資を行なっていたせい。

融資や投資に関する資本比率に対する資本規制、BIS規制よりも高い規制比率。
デリバティブ等の投機性の高い投資の制限。

早い話が手堅いビジネス以外をさせない事。

Malik
Malik

Certainly the global financial crisis of 2008 left bitter lessons to learn.
Why the same path of failure as we have seen in 2008, immense greed fueled by free rein or deregulation?

Malik
Malik

Economists around the world largely believed that Global financial crisis of 2008 was because of deregulation and greed of big Managers along with others factors. Alan Greenspan the Ex chairman of Fed Reserve during Bush era, was the advocate of deregulation. Now again same Republican Donald Trump was advocate of deregulation. Trump rollback the Todd Frank financial reform act consequently the US facing the banking crisis of 2023. The question arise is there some correlation between Greed of big Managers and deregulation? However it is difficult to measure or map the immense greed of human beings.

Rafiq Tschannen
Rafiq Tschannen

To spread the risk may be the new huge UBS should be split up again into smaller independent banks, not liable for each other. Just a thought...

cesardelucasivorra@hotmail.com
cesardelucasivorra@hotmail.com
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.

Every state, like Switzerland, must base its economy on 8 tariffs: the global debt, the treasury, the subsidiary liability of the private sector, the contributions of the working life, the pensions, the social benefits, the patrimonial liability and the insurance company that takes care of the previous tariffs. It is logical that Switzerland, like any other nation, can go bankrupt due to excessive global debt, since when historical financial liabilities, whether of private or official origin, endanger the state treasury, it can trigger a state crisis that conditions the activity of the public and private sector. Therefore, the Swiss Government may take over the joint subsidiary tax liability of a public or private entity, assessing in the first instance whether it is obliged to do so or not, since the operation may lead to an excess of debt, which is what ultimately affects the previous tariffs, endangering the treasury, and the funds of the insurance company that is ultimately responsible for the previous tariffs.

Todo estado como el de Suiza, debe basar su economía en 8 aranceles: la deuda global, el tesoro, la responsabilidad subsidiaria del sector privado, las cotizaciones de la vida laboral, las pensiones, las prestaciones sociales, la responsabilidad patrimonial y la aseguradora que se encarga de los aranceles anteriores. Lo lógico, es que Suiza como otra nación, pueda quebrar por exceso de deuda global, ya que cuando los pasivos históricos financieros, sean de origen o privado u oficial, pongan el peligro el tesoro del estado, puede desencadenar, un crisis estatal que condiciona la actividad del sector público y privado. Por tanto, el Gobierno de Suiza, podrá hacerse cargo de la responsabilidad subsidiaria tributaria mancomunada de un ente público o privado, valorando para ello en primera instancia, si está obligado o si no, ya que la operación, puede conllevar, un exceso de deuda que es lo que repercute en última instancia a los aranceles anteriores, peligrando el tesoro, y los fondos de la aseguradora que se encargan en último término de los aranceles anteriores.

Anonymous
Anonymous

the government should not be guaranteeing anything funds/monies that are marked as Investment. Should only be citizens normal everyday money that is guaranteed... The rest people have invested as a risk and the risk failed...

In another post I basically suggested: why are there so many banks when we just need a citizens bank for everyday transactions etc., etc., and if you want to take a risk, then transfer your funds to a Private Investment bank and then it is not guaranteed by the government.

People seem to forget they want to make profit but not the risk.
People seem to forget that Government is 'citizens/taxpayers'.
People seem to forget that Executives in Banks have collected huge bonuses for ???

There is a lot of hidden things normal citizens don't know, don't want to know... that is hidden by politicians and Bank people...

Quintus Francis Cerimon Fitzwalter
Quintus Francis Cerimon Fitzwalter
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.

Thank you.

Gracias.

Daniel Bernhard
Daniel Bernhard

BESUCH VON FRAU HOLLE
Ich freue mich immer wieder, wenn ich von Australien in meine geliebte Schweiz reisen darf. Besondere Freude bereitet mir die Reise durch die Schweiz im Zug. Die Lokomotiven sind nach beruehmten Schweizern benannt. So durfte ich auf meiner letzten Reise den Gotthard mit einem Zug der nach Friedrich Duerrenmatt benannt war erkeben. Schon nur die Namen der Schweizer Ortschaften wie Desentis Airolo, Andermatt wirken auf mich ein wie Ortschaften eines wundersamen Maerchens. Und doch hat Friedrich Duerrenmatt in seine Stueck " der Besuch der alten Dame" den Heimatsort von der ausgewanderten Milliardaerin Frau Zachanassian, die die Scheeiz wieder besuchte, Guellen genannt. Wohl in Anspielung auf die andere Schweiz. Die Schweiz der korrupten Banker die mit ihrer unersaettlichen Gier die Schweiz in den Abgrund ziehen wollten. Leider haben wir nichts von Friedrich Duerrnmatt Max Frisch,Jean Ziegler und allen anderen Landesprooheten, die uns vor der zerstoererischen Gier der Banker gewarnt haben gelernt. Wir haben auch nichts aus der juengsten Geschichte gelernt, denn die UBS musste ja vor weniger als 20 Jahren mit den Steuergeldern der Schweizer Buerger gerettet werden. Haben wir denn zumindest etwas von den Maerchen, die uns unsere Eltern und Grossmuetter als Kinder vor dem schlafengehen gelesen haben gelernt? In diesen Maerchen wurden die Boesen bestraft und die Guten belohnt. Wir alle, zumindestdie alteren Generationen erinnern uns an das Maerchen von Frau Holle und der Goldmarie und Pechmarie. Einpraegend auf mich wirkte der Pechkuebel der auf die Pechmarie nach nicht erfuellter Arbet fiel. Die Pechmarie wollte ja nur mit dem Gold, das die Goldmarie nach ihren guten Arbeit von Frau Holle erhielt belohnt werden ohne did erforderliche Anstrengung. Doch Frau Holle konnte die Pechmarie nicht belohnen weil sie faul war und ihre Bettlaken nicht ausreichend schuettelte. Ich erinnere much auch an das Bild der Goldmarie. Sie legte die Bettlaken ueber den Balkon und Klopfte sie kraeftig aus, sodass Frau Holle ruhig schlafen konnte. Wenn die Goldmarie die Betlaken kraeftig klopfte fing es an zu schneien. Dieses Bild hat mich als Kind sofort in den Schlaf gerissen. Der Schnee, der auf unsere wundervollen Berge viel. Ich will jetzt nicht alle Hoteliers in den Bergen, die vom Schietourismus leben dazu ermuntern die Duvets Ihrer Hotels im Herbst zu klopfen damit im Winter der Schnee auf die Schiepisten faellt. Nein. Vielmehr moechte ich die gierigen Banker der Credit Suisse, die user Land mit Schmach und Schande uebergiessen einer gerechten Strafe fuer Ihre frevelhaften Taten zufuehren. Die Schweizer, die sich fuer unser Land einsetzen und Gutes tun deren Namen soll unsere baerenstarken Lokomotiven, die seit Generationen von unseren genialen ingenieuren gebaut wurden und auf den Schienen und Tunels die von unseren Architekten gebaut wurden und Millionen von Fahrgaesten und milliarden Tonnen Waren ueber die Alpen transportiert haben stehen. Die Credit Suisse wurde ja unter der Fuehrung von Alfred Escher zur Finanzierung unserer Bundesbahnen ins Leben gerufen. Die gierigen Topmanager der Credit Suisse aber, die ungehemmt Bonis eingestrichen haben und unsere Ikone Credit Suisse skrupellos vernichtet haben und den guten Ruf unseres Landes in Abruf bringen sollen auf Abfallwaegen stehen und zwar so Lange bis sie Ihre Bonis zurueckbezahlt haben.

Anonymous
Anonymous
@Daniel Bernhard

some of your story reminded me of this: https://www.permaculturenews.org/2012/08/08/the-money-myth-exploded/

I try to encourage people to think about : where does money actually come from?
Who creates those notes?
Who creates that electronic money/digits/computer records?

today people talk about Democracy and other things and Sovereignty but I cannot work out how Liechtenstein uses Swiss Francs. I've only visited there once and was able to use CHF. They are a separate country and not joined ?? like the EU... so it is all business.. Where I think 'money' belongs to Citizens.... it is only for transacting, not for buying of itself...

so I'm interested for people to think about all this...

I say this as a person who just lives his life and that is it... I'm old enough to have seen many things but not enough and now I have some questions....

Socra-Alis
Socra-Alis
The following contribution has been automatically translated from JA.

I am not sure, but I think the government's response was one of the most reasonable ones to avoid a crisis. The public's tax dollars may have been wasted, but I think it was necessary to avoid greater losses.
However, there are suspicions that there were irregularities in the process leading up to the acquisition, among other things. We must conduct an investigation in the future and verify whether the response was appropriate.

私にはよくわからないが、今回の政府の対応は危機を避けるために妥当なもののうちの一つだったと思う。国民の税金は無駄にされたかもしれないが、より大きな損失を避けるために必要だったのではないかと思う。
ただ、買収までの過程で不正があったという疑惑などもある。今後調査を行い、妥当な対応だったか検証しなければならない。

Indigo-Lai-da-Sontga-Maria
Indigo-Lai-da-Sontga-Maria

Can somebody explain in detail for me the deal between UBS and Credit Suisse, especially the path about taxpayers foot the bill for the rescue?? I am not a Swiss and i have focused on my study in colleges recently so i could not followed closely the deal of Credit Suisse! Thank you very much

Malik
Malik
@Indigo-Lai-da-Sontga-Maria

1. UBS agreed to buy Credit Suisse for US$3.2 billion
in an all-stock deal brokered by the government of Switzerland and the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority ( FINMA)
The Swiss National Bank supported the deal by providing more than CHF 100 billion (US$104 billion) in liquidity to UBS following its takeover of Credit Suisse's operations, while the Swiss government provided a guarantee to UBS to cover losses of up to CHF 9 billion (US$9.6 billion) over the short term.
2. US$9.6 billion provided by the Swiss Govt as a guarantee to Union Bank Switzerland to cover losses, shoulder by Swiss Tax payers.
3. Swiss National Bank posted $143 billion loss in 2022. How it manage to provide US$104 billion liquidity to UBS?

max
max

Maybe in the end it will not cost too much. However, this forced takeover was a really dumb political decision. At one point BlackRock was interested and it would have been a much smarter choice. They could have carved out whatever was good of the bank and dump the rest without political interference. Now UBS has to do the dirty job and I hope they will succeed.

LoL
LoL
@max

It will cost a lot to us but no to them

jcla7123
jcla7123
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.

Switzerland made the serious mistake of reporting foreigners' bank accounts to their countries. This resulted in a multimillion dollar outflow of money from Swiss banks.

Suiza cometió el grave error de informar las cuantas bancarias de los extranjeros a sus países. Eso provoco una multimillonaria salida de dinero de los bancos suizos.

Hankaspy
Hankaspy

Taxpayers money is free!!!
So as long people won’t say anything politician will bail banks.
Very soon another bank will collapse.
I thought that it happened only in USA but I see that Switzerland is getting corrupt as well.

delleya
delleya
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

The huge bonuses received since 2008 by the Management, the Board of Directors as well as some managers (who took reckless risks) should be reimbursed because they all participated in the Credit Suisse debacle.

Les bonus mirobolants reçus depuis 2008 par la Direction, le Conseil d'Administration ainsi que certains gestionnaires ( ayant pris des risques inconsidérés ) devraient être remboursés car ils ont tous participé à la débacle du Credit Suisse.

sigi
sigi
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.

Why are not responsible persons first to the responsibility pulled, before the taxpayer to the cash asked? Thought the "responsible" garnieren so much money, because they carry Veratnwortung and are responsible???? But that is probably politics.

Wieso werden nicht Verantwortliche zuerst zur Verantwortung gezogen, bevor die Steuerzahler zur Kasse gebetenwird? Dachte die "Verantwortlichen" garnieren so viel Geld , wei sie Veratnwortung tragen und verantwortlich sind???? Aber das ist wohl Politik.

Anonymous
Anonymous
@sigi

the magic word for me here is: politics = politicians ... They are responsible...

Элякеляйнен
Элякеляйнен
The following contribution has been automatically translated from RU.
@Anonymous

One HBO show says that the one with the most heroin has the most power. That is, the corruptibility of power is not even discussed.

В одном сериале HBO говорится, что власти больше у того у кого больше героина. То .есть продажность власти даже не обсуждается.

DUTRUIT
DUTRUIT
The following contribution has been automatically translated from FR.

I find your article very biased. First of all, if there are additional losses, the first FS 5 billion are to be paid by UBS. Secondly, the SNB is giving a credit facility of SFr 200 billion which is earning interest. The SNB gives credit that UBS must repay.
Then, if there are still additional losses, UBS can use the guarantee of CHF 9 billion given.
Remember that in 2008, when UBS was rescued, the SNB made a good profit in this operation, but had to carry some of UBS's assets for a few years.
There is a strong chance that this situation will be repeated.

Je trouve votre article très tendancieux. Tout d'abord, s'il y a des pertes additionnels, les premiers FS 5 milliard sont à la charge de l'UBS. Ensuite, la BNS donne une facilité de crédit de FS 200 milliard qui rapporte des intérêts. La BNS donne du crédit que l'UBS doit rembourser.
Ensuite s'il y a encore des pertes additionnelles, l'UBS pourra utiliser la garantie de FS 9 milliard donnée.
Rappelons - nous que en 2008, lors du sauvetage de l'UBS, la BNS avait fait un bon profit dans cette opération, mais avait dû porter certain actifs de l'UBS pendant quelques années.
Il y a de forte chance que cette situation se répète.

LoL
LoL
@DUTRUIT

I disagree. UBS is enormous now witht he same troublesome clients as it already had but now with CS. So practically what SNB can do if UBS refuse to pay up? They will have to forgive them because they are the ones who pushed UBS in 1 week (never seen anything been done so quickly in Switzerland, imagine if in Covid they cared so much about us?) to buy it all. They should have divided CS between several banks. CS has worse reputation than UBS and it will damage UBS. Our company just dropped any connections with UBS because of it.

Anonymous
Anonymous
@LoL

good point: hey should have divided CS between several banks.
If this must happen and I disagree, except giving back Normal Citizens deposits. then I agree with you.. divide it between several of the banks operating now.

Orchid-Lago-di-Livigno
Orchid-Lago-di-Livigno
The following contribution has been automatically translated from ES.

Because of the poor, or sometimes non-existent, policy of control of banks by the authorities. It is inconceivable that the State does not fulfill its obligation to provide guarantees to savers, or investors, about the proper functioning and solvency of banks. It is very easy to resort to public funds to pay debts of private mismanagement. Financial activity control policies should be reversed everywhere in the world. There is no political will to do so and most public administrators turn a blind eye to bank defaults. There is a perverted power game between politicians and bankers and only one victim, the common citizen who still trusts that the bank will not take his money. If the bank is run by criminals, they should end up in jail and their assets seized.

Por la mala, o a veces inexistente, política de control de los bancos por parte de las autoridades. Es inconcebible que el Estado no cumpla su obligación de dar garantías a los ahorristas, o inversores, sobre el funcionamiento idóneo y la solvencia de los bancos. Es muy fácil recurrir a los fondos públicos para pagar deudas de la mala gestión privada. En todas partes del mundo deberían reverse las políticas de control de la actividad financiera. No hay voluntad política para hacerlo y la mayoría de los administradores públicos hacen la vista gorda ante los incumplimientos de la banca. Hay un juego de poder pervertido entre políticos y banqueros y una sola víctima, el ciudadano común que confía, aún, en que el banco no se quedará con su dinero. Si el banco está gobernado por delincuentes, estos deberían terminar en la cárcel y su patrimonio embargado.

Элякеляйнен
Элякеляйнен
The following contribution has been automatically translated from RU.
@Orchid-Lago-di-Livigno

Oversight and splicing should not be confused. "Black Rock has $100 trillion in assets. And leverage of 250. You think that's safe?

Не нужно путать надзор и сращивание. "Черная скала" имеет в активе 100 триллионов долларов. И плечо в 250. Думаете, что это надежно?

Magdalene
Magdalene

Fully agree. Why should the common or even struggling citizens pay the price for the foolish oversight of management? They have been so highly paid and leading the high life?

Giannis Mavris
Giannis Mavris SWI SWISSINFO.CH
The following contribution has been automatically translated from DE.
@Magdalene

The Social Democratic Party is calling for the state to claim damages from CS managers. What do you think of this idea?

Die Sozialdemokratische Partei fordert, dass der Staat bei den CS-Managern Schadenersatz fordert. Was halten Sie von dieser Idee?

LoL
LoL
@Giannis Mavris

Great, as it should be if I go bankrupt tomorrow my car will be confiscated to pay the damage. We should treat them the same, take their ferrari especially, bonuses and extra mentions. They don't deserve it their business failed and they still made a profit

Matthew Allen
Matthew Allen SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@LoL

Criminal liability for mismanagement is technically possible in Switzerland (abuse of office, reckless waste of company funds). But the trial of former Swissair executives showed that Swiss courts are loathe to enforce such allegations.

LoL
LoL
@Matthew Allen

Pitty. Switzerland is like any other country, if you steal 10k you go to prison but if you steal millions on millions you are totally fine in your mansion

Anonymous
Anonymous
@LoL

such a good point that if you went bankrupt the 'government/taxpayers' would say - your own fault and suffer baby!!

Anonymous
Anonymous
@Matthew Allen

politics.. because if I did something bad I'm likely to be sent back to my homeland and yet these People get away with it.

Rafiq Tschannen
Rafiq Tschannen

If I recall correctly during the last UBS 'rescue plan' the Swiss National Bank actually made a good profit. (purchasing shares when they were down and selling them when they were higher). Why was this not possible now with the Credit Suisse rescue? (let's face it, for the normal citizen like me this is all a bit complicated. I doubt whether our politicians understand the problems either, as they are 'just like us' ...

Matthew Allen
Matthew Allen SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@Rafiq Tschannen

You are quite right about the SNB profit on the UBS rescue: https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/bye-bye-bad-bank_swiss-bank-bailout-turned-poison-into-profit/37218080

This time it's a bit different. Back then the SNB took over UBS's toxic assets and assumed all the risk of possible losses. That turned out different - profit, not loss.

This time around, the taxpayer has been volunteered to pay for some of the potential losses UBS may incur in taking over Credit Suisse, including CS toxic assets that have to be written off.

The taxpayer is also on the hook for any defaults on SNB emergency liquidity lines (loans) to the banks. The SNB describes that process here: https://www.snb.ch/en/mmr/speeches/id/ref_20230323_tjnmslamr/source/ref_20230323_tjnmslamr.en.pdf

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR