How “secret” are Swiss banks?

In Switzerland we have traditionally had great respect for an individual’s privacy, and this has always included financial privacy. Surveys consistently show that the vast majority of the Swiss people want to maintain this privacy. However, the high level of confidentiality Swiss banks offer both their domestic and foreign customers is not absolute and certainly does not shield criminals. The rights to privacy can be suspended when a criminal investigation is underway, and Switzerland extends international legal assistance in cases where the crime in question is punishable under Swiss law. Our aim is to protect the privacy of the honest bank customer while exposing criminals to the full force of the law.