meta_id 3049084

On April 9, 2026, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published FINMA Guidance 02/2026 on digital fraud risks for banks and persons under Article 1b of the Banking Act. The guidance follows a FINMA survey conducted at the end of 2025 among 19 banks across various supervisory categories, which identified significant gaps in operational risk management and anti-money laundering controls. FINMA's survey findings highlight that digital fraud has increased significantly since 2022, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as digital banking services expanded. Banks face dual exposure: clients become victims of digital fraud and bank accounts are misused to launder fraud proceeds. The guidance provides the findings and recommendations from FINMA’s digital banking survey, focusing on: Operational risk management in relation to digital fraud, including: Governance and risk management in relation to digital fraud risk. Identifying and responding to digital fraud trends. Controls and effectiveness reviews of fraud prevention measures. Governance and risk management in relation to digital fraud risk. Identifying and responding to digital fraud trends. Controls and effectiveness reviews of fraud prevention measures. Fraudulent use of accounts opened online. Money laundering prevention. The guidance establishes that banks and regulated persons must implement appropriate risk management frameworks to identify, limit and control digital fraud risks across all business activities. Key areas of focus include risks arising from establishing client relationships online and unauthorised account access. The guidance emphasises the importance of establishing robust systems of protection against fraud when implementing new digital technologies. It aims to raise awareness among regulated entities regarding digital fraud risks and support the effective implementation of existing regulatory requirements.