Swiss National Bank

Schweizerische Nationalbank operates as the central bank of the Swiss Confederation. It deals mainly with the banks, acting as the bank of banks, and with various Federal agencies. The bank’s main functions are to pursue a monetary policy, which serves the interest of the nation as a whole, and prevention and combating of unemployment and inflation. Schweizerische Nationalbank’s other activities include investment in assets, such as foreign exchange, international payment instruments, and gold; facilitating payment transactions between banks; supplying cash and maintaining the supply of money; and management of international monetary relations. It also manages the country’s currency reserves; oversees the payment and securities settlement systems, and helps to shape the operating framework for the financial sector; compiles various statistical data, notably banking statistics and the balance of payments; and provides the Swiss confederation with banking services in the areas of payment transactions, as well as liquidity and securities management. The bank was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.