Who owns the Swiss National Bank?

Unlike most of the world’s central banks, which are run by the government, the Swiss National Bank issues shares to private investors. As of 2017 the Swiss government and Swiss banks held roughly 55% of the Swiss National Bank shares, and private investors held 23.6% of the shares. The remaining shares trade openly on the Swiss Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol SNBN. The stock also trades on the US over-the-counter (OTC) boards with the ticker SWZNF.

What is the function of the Swiss National Bank?

Like most central banks the primary function of the Swiss National Bank is to ensure price stability within the country. It is also concerned with creating conditions that are optimal for the growth of the Swiss economy. In addition to its primary functions the SNB is also responsible for issuing Switzerland’s currency, the Swiss franc. The Swiss franc is considered to be a safe haven currency by traders and investors, and it can appreciate dramatically during times of uncertainty or upheaval. Finally, the SNB is responsible for managing Switzerland’s gold reserves, which totalled 1,040 tonnes as of July 2020

Does the Swiss National Bank still use a fractional reserve system?

Switzerland’s central bank does operate on a fractional reserve system in which banks are only required to keep a fraction of total deposits on hand. Under this system the Swiss National Bank accounts for roughly 10% of the country’s money supply, while the remaining 90% is created by lenders as various forms of credit. In June 2018 Switzerland held a referendum vote known as the Vollgeld initiative, which would have ended the ability of lenders to write loans on more funds than they were holding. The referendum failed as voters worried passage would put too much power in the hands of the Swiss National Bank, and that it could potentially cause a Brexit-like panic.

Swiss National Bank (SNB) In Fundamental Analysis

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) is the central bank of Switzerland, and it has the responsibility to formulate the country’s monetary policy as well as administer Swiss franc banknotes. Switzerland’s prestigious status as a global financial safe haven centre means that the SNB is one of the most important central banks in the world. The SNB has a constitutional mandate to work in the best interest of the country.

It does this by ensuring price stability as well as by creating the appropriate monetary environment to support and sustain economic growth. The SNB is also the official banker of the Swiss Confederation and also manages the country’s forex and gold reserves. Unlike many other central banks, the SNB has issued shares to the public, and it is estimated that private investors cumulatively own about 18% of the bank.

Swiss National Bank History

The SNB, in its current form, started operations in 1907, courtesy of the Swiss Federal Act on the Swiss National Bank that was passed in January 1906. The bank has since had an interesting history, continually expanding its scope of services as well as consolidating its autonomy and independence. In its early years, the SNB would occasionally receive guidance on policy matters from the Federal Council of Switzerland. Notably, the bank was instructed to produce lower denomination banknotes during World War I from 1914-1917. The Federal Council devalued the Swiss franc in 1936 and a reserve managed by the SNB was created to be used in any future emergence.

Switzerland has always been a financial safe haven for investors, and during the 1970s global currency crisis, the country saw a huge increase in forex inflows. During that period, the SNB implemented various policies to protect the Swiss franc as well as to regulate the domestic credit market. Foreign deposits no longer yielded interest, and minimum bank reserves were instituted. In 1994, the Swiss National Bank was pronounced as a joint-stock company that serves under the administration and supervision of the Swiss Confederation. It would receive full autonomy and independence in May 2004 following the institution of Article 99 of the Federal Constitution.

SNB Governance

The SNB has 2 head offices in Berne and Zurich. There are 6 representative branches in some cities as well as 14 agencies operated by cantonal banks around the country. The operations of the SNB are overseen by a Bank Council that consists of 11 members; 6 appointed by the Federal Council (including the President and Vice President) and 5 appointed by shareholders. The bank has 3 departments with distinct responsibilities that help it to deliver on its mandate:

Department I covers Economic Affairs, International Affairs, Legal Services, Communications and Statistics.
Department II covers Finance, Risk Management, Financial Stability, Cash and Security.
Department III covers Money Market and Foreign Exchange, Asset Management, Banking Operations and Information Technology.

Roles and Functions of the SNB

Price Stability.The SNB has sought to keep inflation below 2% and uses medium-term inflation forecasts to guide its monetary policy decisions.
Note Issuance. The SNB produces and distributes Swiss banknotes that serve as legal tender both locally and internationally. The SNB is also tasked with coin distribution.
Implementation of Monetary Policy. The Swiss National Bank implements its monetary policy by setting interest rates as well as by actively participating in the forex market to keep the Swiss franc rate closer to its monetary environment targets.
Asset Management. The SNB manages Switzerland’s gold and forex reserves.
Cashless Payments. The SNB facilitates the settlement of cashless transactions through the Swiss Interbank Clearing (SIC).
Financial System Stability. The Swiss National Bank is mandated to ensure a stable financial system by creating a regulatory framework, and relevant financial infrastructure that will help identify and fix risks is the system.
International Markets Operation. The SNB is Switzerland’s representative in global institutions such as the IMF and G20.
Banker of the Confederation. The SNB is the bank of the Swiss Confederation, and it handles the issuance and custody of securities as well as forex transactions.

The SNB in Fundamental Analysis

The SNB is an active participant in the forex trading market and regularly changes interest rates to stay within its target inflation of less than 2%. Typically, the SNB will hike rates if inflation goes above 2%. This usually results in a stronger Swiss franc (CHF) as investors seek to take advantage of a higher-yielding currency. But the impact on stocks and bonds will be negative as borrowing becomes expensive to both businesses and consumers. Nonetheless, the SNB always strives to strike a sound balance between inflation and economic growth. This means that in some instances, the bank may keep interest rates low to stimulate the economy.

Removal of Swiss National Bank Euro Peg

In 2011, the SNB pegged the Swiss franc to the euro (EUR) at the rate of 1.2. The peg was set during the Eurozone crisis, and it helped to propel the CHF as a safe haven currency, but this hurt its export economy as the currency strengthened due to capital forex inflows. In 2015, the Swiss National Bank removed the peg due to prevailing global economic conditions. The Eurozone was set to implement an aggressive quantitative easing program that would weaken the euro and consequently the CHF.

It would have meant that the SNB would be required to literally print more francs just to maintain the peg. The impending danger of local hyperinflation informed the Central Bank’s decision to do away with the peg. The impact of the move in the forex market was huge, and the event remains one of the most significant in the market’s history. The CHF gained over 30% against the euro and over 25% against the US dollar in a single day.

Swiss National Bank main FAQs

Who owns the Swiss National Bank?
Unlike most of the world’s central banks, which are run by the government, the Swiss National Bank issues shares to private investors. As of 2017 the Swiss government and Swiss banks held roughly 55% of the Swiss National Bank shares, and private investors held 23.6% of the shares. The remaining shares trade openly on the Swiss Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol SNBN. The stock also trades on the US over-the-counter (OTC) boards with the ticker SWZNF.
What is the function of the Swiss National Bank?
Like most central banks the primary function of the Swiss National Bank is to ensure price stability within the country. It is also concerned with creating conditions that are optimal for the growth of the Swiss economy. In addition to its primary functions the SNB is also responsible for issuing Switzerland’s currency, the Swiss franc. The Swiss franc is considered to be a safe haven currency by traders and investors, and it can appreciate dramatically during times of uncertainty or upheaval. Finally, the SNB is responsible for managing Switzerland’s gold reserves, which totalled 1,040 tonnes as of July 2020.
Does the Swiss National Bank still use a fractional reserve system?
Switzerland’s central bank does operate on a fractional reserve system in which banks are only required to keep a fraction of total deposits on hand. Under this system the Swiss National Bank accounts for roughly 10% of the country’s money supply, while the remaining 90% is created by lenders as various forms of credit. In June 2018 Switzerland held a referendum vote known as the Vollgeld initiative, which would have ended the ability of lenders to write loans on more funds than they were holding. The referendum failed as voters worried passage would put too much power in the hands of the Swiss National Bank, and that it could potentially cause a Brexit-like panic.