UBS Notes Swiss Upper House's Proposals to Ease Planned New Capital Rules

By Joshua Kirby

UBS said it acknowledged comments from the Swiss upper legislature that a planned increase to capital requirements would limit the bank's competitiveness.

The economy committee of the Council of States, the upper chamber of the Swiss parliament, said in a statement Tuesday that it was in favor of adapting the Swiss government's planned stricter rules on capital backing for Swiss banks' foreign units.

The current proposals "too tightly limit UBS's competitiveness, and in doing so also harm the economy," the committee said, setting out its proposed amendments to the regulation.

UBS, the country's largest bank, said in response that it acknowledged the committee's efforts to consider alternatives to the government's proposals, which the bank calls "extreme."

"The committee has taken important facts and context into account to inform its recommendations," UBS said.

The Federal Council--Switzerland's executive-- had already this year watered down the proposals, which are aimed at preventing a repeat of the problems that sunk Credit Suisse earlier this decade. UBS subsequently integrated Credit Suisse at the urging of the Swiss government.

"UBS supports targeted adjustments to Swiss banking regulation that are internationally aligned, proportionate and address the root causes of the Credit Suisse crisis," the bank said.

Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 01, 2026 08:50 ET (12:50 GMT)