Credit Suisse’s collapse is a jolt to a 167-year-old Swiss banking system. It was one of the biggest financial institutions in the world and the second-largest lender in Switzerland. It was classified as a global systemically important bank (GSIB), indicating its crucial role in the global financial system.

However, a series of regulatory issues, reputation, and financial losses resulted in its collapse and subsequent merger with UBS, the largest lender in Switzerland.

Timeline of Credit Suisse Collapse

Here are some important regulatory penalties and its compliance failure Timeline of Credit Suisse:

• 2014: Credit Suisse pleaded guilty to helping US clients evade taxes and agreed to pay a penalty of $2.6 billion to the US Department of Justice.
• 2016: Credit Suisse agreed to pay $5.3 billion to the US Department of Justice to settle claims that it had misled investors in the sale of mortgage-backed securities before the 2008 financial crisis.
• 2018: Credit Suisse was fined $47 million by the Swiss financial regulator FINMA for failings in anti-money laundering controls in its foreign exchange business.
• 2018: Credit Suisse agreed to pay a penalty of $10 million to the US Securities and Exchange Commission for violating anti-bribery and corruption laws in its investment banking business.
• 2019: Credit Suisse was fined $135 million by the US Department of Justice and the New York State Department of Financial Services for violating sanctions against Iran and other countries.
• 2020: Credit Suisse was fined £900,000 by the UK financial regulator for failings in its anti-money laundering controls.
• 2021: Credit Suisse was fined $197 million by the Swiss financial regulator FINMA for failings in risk management and anti-money laundering controls in relation to the bank’s business with high-risk clients.
• 2022: Fears of collapse caused a bank run, which led to significant losses. The 2022 financial statements recorded the worst loss since the global financial crisis.

Public confidence in Credit Suisse collapsed after the bank acknowledged “material weaknesses” in its bookkeeping practices. As a result, people began withdrawing their money, causing Credit Suisse’s stock to plunge by 30%. To maintain liquidity, Credit Suisse secured a $54 billion loan from the Swiss National Bank, but it was not enough to stop the “bleeding.” Eventually, UBS agreed to buy Credit Suisse for more than $3.25 billion.

Tax Evasion Services

The Credit Suisse Collapse highlights the negative power of bad risk management, transparency, and reputation. Credit Suisse’s troubles began with its involvement in allowing U.S. clients to evade taxes in 2014, which resulted in a hefty penalty.

Credit Suisse helped wealthy clients evade taxes by providing them with a range of services that allowed them to hide their assets and income from US tax authorities. Some of the methods used by Credit Suisse to facilitate tax evasion included creating sham entities and maintaining secret accounts.

One example of Credit Suisse’s involvement in tax evasion was the case of Roger Schaerer. He was a former Credit Suisse banker who pleaded guilty in 2014 to helping US clients evade taxes. He reportedly advised clients to carry cash in small amounts on trips to Switzerland. He helped deposit it into their Swiss bank accounts to avoid detection by US customs officials.

Schaerer’s actions were part of a broader pattern of behavior by Credit Suisse to help wealthy clients evade taxes.

Role in the Financial Crisis of 2008

In 2016, Credit Suisse agreed to pay a penalty of $5.3 billion to the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to settle claims that it had misled investors in the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) before the 2008 financial crisis. RMBS are securities that are backed by a pool of mortgages and were a significant contributor to the financial crisis.

The DOJ alleged that Credit Suisse had made false and misleading statements about the quality of the mortgages underlying the RMBS it sold, and had concealed the risks associated with those securities. These allegations included claims that Credit Suisse had knowingly sold RMBS containing loans that did not meet underwriting guidelines, and had provided inflated appraisals for the underlying properties.

The settlement represented one of the largest fines ever paid by a bank for misconduct related to the sale of mortgage-backed securities. In addition to the penalty, Credit Suisse also agreed to provide $2.8 billion in consumer relief to assist homeowners who were harmed by the conduct at issue.

The settlement was part of a broader effort by the DOJ to hold financial institutions accountable for their role in the financial crisis. Other banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs, also paid multi-billion dollar fines to settle similar claims.

The settlement highlighted the legal and reputational risks associated with misconduct in the sale of complex financial products and underscored the importance of robust due diligence, risk management, and compliance programs in the financial industry.

Violation of AML Guidelines

FINMA’s investigation found that Credit Suisse had failed to adequately identify and document the beneficial owners of accounts, failed to monitor and report suspicious transactions, and lacked appropriate internal controls and risk management processes in its foreign exchange business.

These failings were deemed to be particularly serious given the significant risks associated with the foreign exchange business, including the potential for money laundering and terrorist financing.

It’s worth noting that foreign exchange transactions are often used in money laundering schemes due to the ability to transfer large sums of money across borders quickly and with minimal regulatory oversight. Therefore, financial institutions engaged in foreign exchange transactions are subject to heightened scrutiny and regulatory requirements related to combating money laundering and other financial crimes.

FCPA violations

Credit Suisse provided employment opportunities and other benefits to family members of foreign government officials in order to win business in the Asia-Pacific region. This practice was found to be in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), which prohibits companies from offering bribes or other inducements to foreign officials in exchange for business.

The SEC’s investigation found that Credit Suisse had failed to implement adequate internal controls to prevent unlawful payments and did not properly train its employees on FCPA compliance.

Sanctions Violations

According to the settlement agreement, between 2002 and 2008, Credit Suisse engaged in a scheme to process transactions involving Iranian and other sanctioned entities, using methods designed to conceal their involvement and evade detection by US authorities. The bank used a variety of techniques, such as removing or altering information in wire transfer messages and structuring transactions in smaller amounts to avoid triggering sanctions-related alarms.

The DOJ and DFS alleged that Credit Suisse’s conduct violated various US sanctions programs, including those related to Iran, Sudan, Libya, and Burma. The settlement also resolved claims that the bank had violated New York State law by failing to maintain adequate controls and procedures to detect and prevent such conduct.

Luckin Coffee Scandal

The 2019 accounting scandal at Luckin Coffee further damaged Credit Suisse’s reputation. In 2020, the bank’s covert surveillance operation led to the resignation of the CEO, which again impacted its reputation.

Archegos Capital

The collapse of the US hedge fund Archegos Capital in 2021 was the most significant financial loss for Credit Suisse. The bank lost $5.5 billion in the scandal, which resulted in executives’ resignations and significant changes to Credit Suisse’s risk management policies.

Credit Suisse Collapse & Rumors

However, despite these changes, fears of collapse caused a bank run in 2022, which further damaged Credit Suisse’s reputation and led to significant losses.

Credit Suisse’s collapse proves that no financial institution is “too big to fail.” It is essential to have effective risk management policies and to ensure transparency to maintain public confidence. Financial institutions must act in the best interest of their clients and maintain their reputations to avoid significant financial losses. The lessons learned from Credit Suisse collapse should serve as a warning to banks to prioritize risk management function.

Financial institutions must learn from Credit Suisse’s mistakes and take proactive measures to maintain public confidence and ensure long-term sustainability. Certified Bank Forensic Accountant course offered by Riskpro Learning covers the global banking crisis and its causes in its syllabus.

The Credit Suisse collapse also highlights the need for effective regulation to prevent banks from engaging in risky activities.

Silicon Valley Bank triggered the global banking failures in 2023. This time the cause of banking failures is the rising interest rates. However, in the world of finance, the failure of a bank can have catastrophic consequences for the global economy. In recent history, there have been several instances of global banking failures that have resulted in significant economic and financial crises. In this article, we will explore the costly consequences of three global banking failures.

The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997

The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 was a significant economic and financial crisis that originated in East Asia. The crisis was triggered by a combination of factors, including a rapid increase in foreign investment in the region, an overheated property market, and high levels of debt.

As the crisis unfolded, several major banks in the region failed, including the Thai Danah Bank and the South Korean Hanbo Bank. The crisis also had a significant impact on other countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The consequences of the Asian Financial Crisis were significant. The crisis led to a significant decrease in economic growth in the region, resulting in a loss of investor confidence and a decrease in foreign investment. The crisis also had a significant impact on the global economy, leading to a decrease in the value of the stock market and other financial instruments.

The Latin American Debt Crisis of the 1980s

The Latin American Debt Crisis of the 1980s was another significant economic and financial crisis that had global consequences. The crisis was triggered by a combination of factors, including high levels of debt, high inflation rates, and a decrease in the value of commodities.

As the crisis unfolded, several major banks in the region failed, including the Banco Nacional de Mexico and the Banco de Credito del Peru. The crisis also had a significant impact on other countries, including Brazil and Argentina.

The consequences of the Latin American Debt Crisis were also significant. The crisis led to a decrease in economic growth in the region, resulting in a loss of investor confidence and a decrease in foreign investment. The crisis also had a significant impact on the global economy, leading to a decrease in the value of the stock market and other financial instruments.

The Global Financial Crisis of 2008

The Global Financial Crisis of 2008 was a significant economic and financial crisis that had global consequences. The crisis was triggered by a combination of factors, including a rapid increase in housing prices, a high level of debt, and a decrease in the value of financial instruments.

As the crisis unfolded, several major banks in the United States failed, including Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual. The crisis also had a significant impact on other countries, including the United Kingdom and Iceland.

The consequences of the Global Financial Crisis were severe. The crisis led to a significant decrease in economic growth, resulting in a loss of investor confidence and a decrease in foreign investment. The crisis also had a significant impact on the global economy, leading to a decrease in the value of the stock market and other financial instruments.

Causes of Global Banking Failures

Certified Bank Forensic Accountant course discusses the global banking crises in depth. Some of the causes highlighted in the training manual are noteworthy.

Global banking failures can be caused by a combination of factors, including economic, political, and regulatory issues. Here are some of the most common causes of global banking failures.

1. Economic Recession

One of the primary causes of global banking failures is a global economic recession. During a recession, the demand for loans decreases, resulting in a decrease in profits for banks. This can lead to a decrease in the value of bank stocks and a loss of investor confidence. If the recession persists for an extended period, banks can fail due to their inability to recover their loans.

2. Fraud and Mismanagement

Fraud and mismanagement are also significant causes of global banking failures. In some cases, banks may engage in fraudulent activities, such as misrepresenting their financial statements or engaging in insider trading. In other cases, banks may be mismanaged, resulting in poor investment decisions and the misallocation of resources. These activities can lead to significant losses for the bank, resulting in its failure.

3. Corruption

Corruption is another significant cause of global banking failures. In some countries, corruption is rampant, and banks may engage in corrupt activities to secure loans or to obtain government contracts. This can result in a loss of investor confidence and can lead to the failure of the bank.

Conclusion

The failure of banks can have severe consequences for the global economy. The Asian Financial Crisis of 1997, the Latin American Debt Crisis of the 1980s, and the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 are examples of how the failure of banks can lead to a significant economic and financial crisis.

To prevent these types of crises from occurring in the future, tighter regulation, increased transparency, and improved risk management practices are necessary. These measures can help prevent the failure of banks and minimize the costly consequences of global banking failures