In accordance with its legal mandate, FINMA performs its tasks independently and has considerable autonomy. The approval of the strategic objectives and the annual meeting are two important steering tools for the Federal Council with regard to FINMA.

FINMA draws up its strategic objectives every four years. At the end of October 2024, its Board of Directors set out the objectives for the 2025–2028 strategy period. These were approved by the Federal Council during its meeting on 13 November 2024.

The objectives focus on strengthening preventive and effective supervision, as well as on the integrity and financial and operational resilience of supervised entities. Furthermore, FINMA intends to bring its expertise to the preparation of effective framework conditions. It will also focus on increasing its efficacy and efficiency as an authority, and on the effectiveness of its communication.

Discussion with FINMA senior management

On 13 November 2024, prior to the approval of the strategic objectives, the Federal Council met with the Chair of FINMA's Board of Directors, Marlene Amstad, and FINMA CEO Stefan Walter for the annual discussion of current supervisory and regulatory issues, as well as FINMA's strategy.

In the first half of 2025, as part of the ongoing follow-up work on its April 2024 report on banking stability, the Federal Council will also make an announcement on FINMA's supervisory instruments. It will take the expected PInC report on the Credit Suisse emergency merger into account when developing the too-big-to-fail regime further.

Federal Council approves FINMA's strategic objectives and meets with its senior management