ИДЕНТИФИКАЦИЯ БЕНЕФИЦИАРОВ ТРАСТОВ И ФОНДОВ В ШВЕЙЦАРИИ

Согласно новым рекомендациям Ассоциации швейцарских банкиров, швейцарским банкам придется идентифицировать многих бенефициаров трастов и фондов, которых раньше не требовалось лично идентифицировать. Практически все группы живущих выгодоприобретателей теперь придется вносить в список поименно.

Речь о так называемых «комментариях» выпущенных Ассоциацией к основному документу Agreement on the Swiss banks’ code of conduct with regard to the exercise of due diligence (CDB16), в котором описываются правила работы при проведении due diligence и установлении личности бенефициара при открытии счетов.

FINMA reduces obstacles to FinTech

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA has published a new circular facilitating video and online client identification. In addition to removing a number of unnecessary obstacles from its regulations, FINMA also supports the introduction of a new licensing category for financial innovators and a licence exempt area for start-up companies.

An increasing number of financial intermediaries interact with their clients via the internet and mobile devices. In this context, FINMA’s new circular on video and online identification (FINMA Circ. 2016/7), which comes into force on 18 March 2016, sets out the anti-money laundering due diligence requirements for digital business.

Digital client identification now possible

A key aspect of FINMA’s new rules is the establishment of business relationships (onboarding) via digital channels. Subject to compliance with certain requirements, financial intermediaries can onboard clients by means of video transmission, putting this form of identification on a par with in-person identification. As other forms of online identification, apart from video identification, are also permitted, the circular covers a range of methods of onboarding via digital channels.

Technology neutrality requires only minor regulatory adjustments

FINMA regards innovation as key to the competitiveness of Switzerland’s financial centre, but adopts an essentially neutral approach to certain business models and technologies. It therefore reviewed whether specific provisions in its ordinances and circulars disadvantaged some technologies and concluded that very few such obstacles existed. The new video and online identification circular is an important step towards eliminating them. The written client identification requirement for certain contracts contained in the “Guidelines on asset management” circular (FINMA Circ. 2009/01) is being removed to make the regulations fully technology-neutral.

FINMA supports new licensing category and sandbox

FINMA further supports the introduction of a new licensing category for financial innovators and a licence exempt area (sandbox). This licensing category would be for business models which carry out some banking activities, but with limited acceptance of client assets and no lending activity. Because the risks are lower and the scope of business limited, the licensing requirements would be less extensive than for a banking licence. For example, financial services providers who do not accept more than CHF 50 million in deposits could apply for this type of financial innovators’ licence provided they hold 5% of the deposits and at least CHF 300,000 capital as collateral. The issuance of such licences would lower the entry threshold for providers of payment systems, applications for managing assets digitally and crowdfunding platforms. A fully licence-exempt environment would be conceivable, particularly for start-up companies, up to a deposit threshold of CHF 200,000 and irrespective of the number of depositors. FINMA is currently discussing a range of ideas with the banking sector and the competent authorities.

Regulatory guidance can be found in a section of FINMA’s website devoted to FinTech. In addition, a central email address, fintech@finma.ch, has also been created for FinTech companies.

ШВЕЙЦАРСКИЕ БАНКИ ТРЕБУЮТ ОТ КЛИЕНТОВ КОПИИ УВЕДОМЛЕНИЙ О КИК ?

Швейцарский UBS интересуется, выполняют ли его российские клиенты закон о контролируемых иностранных компаниях (КИК), рассказал «Ведомостям» банкир, специализирующийся на private banking. По его словам, менеджеры банка обзванивают российских клиентов и предупреждают о необходимости предоставить копию уведомления о КИК. Пока банк еще не ввел официальных требований, но сделает это в скором времени, нужно готовиться. Один из клиентов UBS признался, что у него была беседа на эту тему с менеджером банка. «На вопрос, что будет, если я не смогу предоставить такое уведомление, менеджер ответил, что стандарты в UBS очень высокие, банк исполняет закон, поэтому с незаконопослушными клиентами они не могут работать», – рассказал он. Клиенты получали такие письма, подтвердил сотрудник UBS, чтобы они знали о налоговых рисках.

Такие же уведомления с начала 2016 г. получают клиенты Credit Suisse и швейцарского подразделения Rothschild Group, рассказывает налоговый консультант аудиторской компании: банк требует от клиентов отчитаться, что «они соблюдают требования закона и у них нет претензий от налоговых органов».

Банки требуют копии уведомлений о КИК или заключение консультанта, что такое уведомление не нужно, рассказывает консультант крупной компании, в основном это касается компаний, на счетах которых есть средства, подпадающие под категорию КИК.

О намерении ввести такое требование сообщили еще несколько небольших швейцарских банков, говорит он, не называя конкретные банки.

FINMA facilitates video and online identification

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA has established a regulatory environment to facilitate client onboarding through digital channels. It has drafted a new technology-neutral circular in which the anti-money laundering due diligence requirements now reflect digital business. The consultation on this circular runs until 18 January 2016.

An increasing number of financial intermediaries interact with their clients via the internet and using mobile devices. The provisions on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism should therefore reflect the rapid growth in the digitisation of financial services. The new FINMA circular thus defines the anti-money laundering due diligence requirements so that they are technology-neutral, facilitate digital business and eliminate any unnecessary barriers. The consultation on FINMA Circular 2016/xx "Video and online identification" runs until 18 January 2016. The circular will enter into force in March 2016.

Video identification of clients

Regulations now focus on the acceptance of business relationships (onboarding) through digital channels. In compliance with certain requirements, financial intermediaries can onboard clients via video transmission. FINMA has therefore put online identification of the contracting party on par with in-person identification.

Electronic confirmation of authenticity allowed

Other forms of online identification will also be possible. In compliance with certain requirements, the circular provides a variety of approaches to facilitate onboarding via internet. A key element of the rules is electronic confirmation of the authenticity of the client's ID which no longer requires in-person identification at the financial intermediary's place of business.

Another innovation is that the declaration of beneficial ownership no longer requires a handwritten signature which is then submitted in person or returned to the financial intermediary. Overall, the circular regulates alternative procedures fit for purpose in the digital era.