BSI Bank of Switzerland: Victim of growth or perpetrator of a crime?
The case is set in May 2016 when the Monetary Authority of Singapore withdrew the merchant banking license of the Singapore branch of Swiss private bank BSI Ltd. The reasons cited were violation of anti-money laundering regulations, pervasive non-compliance and gross misconduct by staff. The closure of the bank was precipitated by an ongoing scandal around its biggest client, 1MDB, a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund spearheaded by the Prime Minister Najib Razak. At the same time, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority announced criminal proceedings against the BSI group for failure to conduct statutory due diligence on transactions involving hundreds of millions of dollars linked to 1MDB and slapped on a fine of CHF 95 million. The case provides an opportunity to analyze the factors that led to the demise of BSI, one of the oldest banks in Switzerland and the sixth largest in the country. Did the lure of lucrative business persuade it to cross the line in terms of ethics and regulatory requirements? BSI appears to have pursued top-line growth at the expense of compliance. To what extent was the senior management responsible? Could BSI have better managed the balance between risk management and its growth strategy? If so, how?
To identify the contextual challenges of operating in complex high-growth markets. To understand the role of senior management in maintaining oversight. To recognize the balance between managing risk and compliance in pursuing aggressive targets. To assess the interface between the headquarters and the local subsidiary for functions such as audit, governance and conduct. To understand the global ramifications of a local breach.
2005-2016
Cranfield University
Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]
Harvard Business School Publishing
60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]
NUCB Business School
1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]
IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
The case examines how a New York-based 10-year-old start-up, Lemonade Inc., successfully disrupted the insurance industry. Powered by artificial intelligence, Lemonade's mobile app replaced brokers and bureaucracy with bots and machine learning. T...
This technical note presents a comprehensive framework for achieving adaptive advantage, which is the ability to consistently evolve at a speed that surpasses environmental and competitive change. In today's rapidly changing business environment, ...
Longevity was once seen by traditionalists as a proxy for good leadership, but successive generations attach less value to length of time served. As with anything, there are benefits and disadvantages. Here are the pros and cons of longevity to co...
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD Brain Circuits 25 November 2025
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications