Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority

FINMA supervises banks, securities firms and other financial institutions in Switzerland. Retail forex in Switzerland is offered mainly by licensed banks and securities firms.

What it means for a retail trader

A broker that is a Swiss bank is subject to bank-level capital and supervision, and eligible cash deposits are protected by the Swiss depositor protection scheme up to CHF 100,000 per client. Check on the FINMA list that the institution itself, not just a related company, is authorised.

How to check a firm

Search the firm’s legal name or licence number on the official register linked above. Confirm that the name, the number and the website on the register match the firm you are dealing with, and that its permissions cover the product you want to trade. Clone firms often borrow a real firm’s name and number but use a different web address.