Swiss National Bank (SNB)

Swiss National Bank HQ in Berne

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) or Schweizerische Nationalbank is the central bank of Switzerland. It is responsible for the monetary policy and the issuing of Swiss franc banknotes. SNB is a joint-stock company under special regulations. About 65% of shares are owned by public institutions like cantons and cantonal banks. The remaining shares are traded on the stock market. Swiss National Bank manages the official gold reserves of Switzerland, which amount to 1,040 tonnes as of February 2018. The Bank was established in 1907 and employs about 900 people. With head offices in Berne and Zurich, it has representative offices in Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano and St Gallen. In April 2012, the Swiss Federal Council appointed Thomas Jordan to be the new Chairman of the Governing Board. From September 2011 to January 2015, the minimum exchange rate of CHF 1.20 per euro was the key monetary policy instrument of SNB. In January 2015, SNB decided to discontinue the minimum exchange rate to the euro. At the end of 2016, Swiss National Bank had total assets of CHF 746.502 billion, foreign currency investments of CHF 696 billion and sight deposits of domestic banks of CHF 468.2 billion. Banknotes in circulation amounted to CHF 78.1 billion.

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Zurich office:
Börsenstrasse 15
8022 Zurich
SWIFT code: SNBZCHZZ80A
Phone number: +41 44 631 31 11
Fax: +41 44 631 39 11

Berne office:
Bundesplatz 1
3003 Berne
Phone: +41 31 327 02 11
Website: www.snb.ch