The new Swiss Financial Services Act (FIDLEG) will enter into force on 1 January 2020. It is designed, among other things, to strengthen investor protection and Switzerland’s position as a financial centre, as well as to create a level playing field for financial services providers.
Key information
We have put together the key information for you, as a customer, below:
Baloise Insurance collaborates with Baloise Bank SoBa as a specialised financial services provider, offering a combination of insurance and banking services. They are leaders in the field of integrated solutions for insurance, pensions and asset management for private customers and small and medium-sized enterprises in Switzerland. Baloise has a workforce of around 3,800 employees. Baloise Insurance and Baloise Bank SoBa are part of the Baloise Group, which has its registered office in Basel, Switzerland. Baloise’s shares are listed in the main segment of SIX Swiss Exchange. The Baloise Group employs approximately 7,200 people.
Baloise Bank SoBa AG is subject to the Swiss Banking Act (BankA) and is supervised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
- Contact details for Baloise Bank SoBa AG:
Baloise Bank SoBa AG
Amthausplatz 4
4502 Solothurn
+41 (0)800 806 806 - FINMA:
Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)
Laupenstrasse 27
3003 Bern
+41 (0)31-327 91 00
Information on economic ties and the market offering
Baloise Bank SoBa is an affiliated company of Baloise Asset Management within the Baloise Group. We use both our own and third-party financial instruments to implement the investment strategy in line with the “best-in-class” approach.
Best-in-class approach
We make the best products available to you without giving preference to our own investment products. Products are selected exclusively based on their performance and taking risk diversification considerations into account (best-in-class approach).
Best execution
We generally use the stock exchange with the highest levels of market liquidity.
We welcome your feedback, be it in the form of criticism or praise. Your feedback helps us to improve our products and services.
If we cannot find an amicable solution to your complaint, you can contact the Swiss Banking Ombudsman. He or she is the responsible ombudsman for Baloise Bank SoBa AG and acts as a neutral source of information and mediation that is free of charge.
In general, the ombudsman does not step in until the bank’s customer has addressed his or her complaint to the bank in writing and the bank has had the opportunity to comment.
- Swiss Banking Ombudsman
Bahnhofplatz 9
P.O. Box
8021 Zurich
You can find detailed information at www.bankingombudsman.ch/en/.
FIDLEG splits customers of financial services providers into three categories: private customers, professional customers or institutional customers. This classification ensures additional regulatory protection and is based on an individual’s personal financial circumstances/knowledge, his or her experience and financial expertise or the size of the company or professional treasury as defined by law. Natural persons, as well as small and medium-sized businesses, are generally classified as private customers, while major companies, pension funds and financial intermediaries are classified as professional or institutional customers. Unless we inform you otherwise, you will be classified as a private customer, meaning that you will enjoy the most extensive level of customer protection.
Provided that you meet the necessary requirements, you can apply to have your classification changed. Simply contact your customer adviser.
Transactions involving financial instruments are associated with opportunities and risks. This is why it is important that you are familiar with, and understand, these risks before making use of a financial service.
As a professional securities trader, Baloise Bank SoBa is subject to the Swiss Stock Exchange Act (SESTA).
The brochure entitled “Risks associated with trading in financial instruments” provides you with general information on the types of transactions and investments associated with particular risks.
You can also find information on the individual investment categories in the corresponding fact sheets. Make sure that you understand this information before concluding an agreement and that you contact your customer adviser with any questions.
You can obtain a hard copy of the brochure from your customer adviser or in any Baloise Bank SoBa AG branch on request.
The implementation of FIDLEG means that a key information document (KID) has to be made available whenever certain financial instruments are personally recommended to private customers.
The KID includes information on the product features, as well as on its risks and costs, and allows various financial instruments to be compared.
KIDs will be available to you if you seek investment advice from July 2020 onwards.
Costs and fees
Costs and fees may be charged by Baloise Bank SoBa AG and third parties (e.g. fund management companies) in connection with the provision of financial services.
Sales remuneration
Baloise Bank SoBa passes on any retrocession fees earned to customers automatically in full at the end of each year by crediting their account (excludes Invest Savings 3 and portable benefits accounts, which cannot be credited with such payments).
Further information on this topic is available at:
Value-added tax (VAT)
Certain services are charged plus VAT in cases involving individuals with their tax domicile in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein.
Dormant assets
Cases repeatedly arise in which contact with a bank customer is lost and the assets deposited at the bank subsequently become dormant. The normal fees and costs charged by the bank continue to apply in such cases. In addition, the bank will charge the customer any reasonable costs that it incurs for investigations as well as for the special handling and monitoring of dormant assets.