Investment Banking

UBS faces demand for $26bn more in capital as Swiss government outlines new rules

Officials want to avoid another collapse like Credit Suisse’s but the Swiss bank has hotly contested calls for a higher buffer

Sergio Ermotti, chief executive officer of UBS, has previously said the bank has enough capital to withstand a downturn
Sergio Ermotti, chief executive officer of UBS, has previously said the bank has enough capital to withstand a downturn Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

The Swiss government plans to force UBS to hold an additional $26bn in capital in a major blow to its global ambitions after its acquisition of rival Credit Suisse. 

Regulators have pressed ahead with a requirement for UBS to hold additional capital after its assets swelled to so-called ‘too big to fail’ levels after its acquisition of Credit Suisse in March 2023, which was pushed through at the request of the Swiss government.

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