Swiss National Bank, Central bank in Bern, Switzerland
The institution serves as the central bank of the country with headquarters in both Bern and Zurich, supported by additional offices in Switzerland and Singapore. It steers monetary policy and ensures the stability of the Swiss franc through direct market operations and currency reserves.
The National Bank Act of 1905 laid the foundation for this institution, which began operations in June 1907 and ended the country's monetary fragmentation. Since then it has carried responsibility for issuing banknotes and managing the currency reserves of the confederation.
The seven-member Bank Council meets several times a year and supervises the executive board from a modern administrative building that also serves as a point of contact for official banking operations. Visitors can familiarize themselves with the regulated exchange desk where old notes are converted into valid currency without bureaucratic hurdles.
Anyone holding older banknote series can exchange them at any counter free of charge with no time limit applying. The main office in Bern is centrally located and open during regular business hours for such requests.
The share structure consists of 100,000 registered shares of which public institutions hold roughly two thirds and private shareholders the remaining third. This particular ownership structure ensures broad anchoring within the Swiss economy and society.
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