1. General Situation
Q: What happened to the bank?
A: On 27 February 2026, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) announced the withdrawal of the banking license of MBaer Merchant Bank AG and initiated the liquidation of the bank. The liquidation process is conducted by appointed liquidators under the supervision of FINMA.
Q: Are client assets safe?
A: According to the books of the bank, there are sufficient assets to fully satisfy client claims and creditors. However, due to current operational restrictions in the payment system, payments and transfers must currently be processed in stages.
2. Cash Payments
Q: How much money can currently be paid out?
A: At present, up to CHF 100,000 per client can be paid out. This limit applies only to existing CHF cash balances.
Q: Why is the payment limited to CHF 100,000?
A: Due to current restrictions in the payment system, the bank cannot process larger cash payments at this time. This limitation is therefore operational and temporary.
Q: What if my balance is higher than CHF 100,000?
A: Clients may still submit a payment request, but currently only CHF 100,000 will be processed. Remaining balances will be handled at a later stage in the liquidation process.
Q: I already submitted a withdrawal request earlier. Do I need to submit the new form again?
A: Yes. For technical and operational reasons, all clients are asked to complete and submit the new form, even if they previously submitted an “Absonderungsbegehren” or withdrawal request to the bank or the liquidators.
Q: Will MBaer process invoices or other commercial payments?
A: No. MBaer will not settle any invoices or other commercial payments on behalf of the clients.
3. Payment Conditions
Q: What transactions will MBaer execute?
A: MBaer will only execute transfers of client balances to an account held in the same name at another bank as per previous communication. Further communication on this subject will follow.
Q: Where can payments be sent?
A: Payments can currently only be made:
- in Swiss francs (CHF)
- to an account in the same client name
- at a bank in Switzerland or Liechtenstein
Payments to accounts outside these jurisdictions may become possible at a later stage. The bank is working on it.
Q: When will payments be made?
A: At this stage, no immediate pay-outs can be expected. All transfers are subject to a detailed KYC/AML review process, which may take time. Clients should therefore expect that payments will not be processed in the short term.
4. Securities (Stocks, Bonds, ETFs)
Q: Can I transfer my securities?
A: Yes. Clients may request the transfer of their securities.
Q: Where can securities be transferred?
A: Securities can currently be transferred only to a custody account (depot):
- in the same client name
- at a bank in Switzerland or Liechtenstein
Q: How do I request the transfer?
A: Clients should complete the form provided by the bank and indicate the destination custody account.
All transfers are subject to compliance checks before execution.
5. Foreign Currency
Q: Can the bank convert currencies?
A: No. Currently foreign exchange transactions are not possible.
This means:
- currencies cannot be bought or sold
- balances cannot currently be converted into CHF
6. Fiduciary Deposits
Q: What happens to fiduciary deposits?
A: Fiduciary deposits are segregated client assets. Payment can be requested when the deposit reaches its contractual maturity date.
Once the fiduciary deposit matures, clients may request payment of the full amount of the fiduciary deposit (not limited to CHF 100,000), subject to the applicable payment conditions and compliance checks.
Payments are currently made in Swiss francs (CHF) and to an account in the same client name at a bank in Switzerland, in line with the operational restrictions currently applicable in the liquidation process.
7. Dividends, Bond Redemptions and Corporate Actions
Q: What happens to dividends, bond redemptions or other corporate actions?
A: Dividends and payments resulting from bond redemptions or other corporate actions are also treated as segregated client assets.
Once such payments are received by the bank or become due, clients may request payment of the full amount (not limited to CHF 100,000).
Payments will be processed subject to the same operational payment conditions and compliance checks that currently apply to other client payments during the liquidation process.
8. Compliance Checks
Q: Why do payments take time?
A: All payments and transfers must undergo compliance and anti-money-laundering checks (AML / GwG).
Transactions can only be executed after these checks have been completed.
The compliance and anti-money laundering (AML/GwG) checks to be undertaken by the liquidator will take time, meaning that payments and transfers will require longer processing and cannot be made immediately.
9. Submitting the Request Form
Q: How do clients submit the form?
A: The form must be:
- legally signed
- submitted in original by post or courier
Clients may additionally send a copy by email, but the original document is required before processing.
