Geldwäschereibekämpfung und Compliance

Rules that reach beyond the banks

Swiss anti-money laundering law applies to banks and to every other financial intermediary, and its principles shape the expectations of trading houses, fiduciaries and advisers. Since 1 October 2026 it also covers certain advisory activities and is complemented by a federal register of beneficial owners.

For a foreign company, these rules become visible long before any question of wrongdoing arises. Swiss banks will ask about the beneficial owner, the origin of the funds and the purpose of the business relationship when an account is opened, and they will expect plausible documentation whenever transactions change in size or pattern. Preparing these documents early saves considerable time and avoids frustration.

Key questions for foreign companies

The first question is whether the company's own activity makes it a financial intermediary under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, which may be the case for payment services, asset management or the custody of crypto assets. If so, it must be affiliated with a recognised self-regulatory organisation or be supervised by FINMA, and it must establish internal know-your-customer procedures.

The second question concerns counterparties. Commodity traders, fiduciaries and advisers are expected to understand with whom they deal, to recognise indications of sanctions exposure or corruption and to document their assessment. Clear internal rules, regular training for staff and an orderly client file are the practical means by which a company shows that it has taken these expectations seriously.

In this section

The articles explain the Anti-Money Laundering Act, the reporting duty to MROS, the due diligence expected in commodity trading, the return of illicit assets to their countries of origin, and the new transparency and anti-money laundering rules that apply from October 2026.