Swiss banks operate at a high level of security. This is the result of consistent investment in powerful systems, the continuous development of clear standards, and ongoing awareness-raising among employees and customers alike. At the same time, however, the threat landscape is intensifying. Perpetrators, ranging from individual offenders to internationally organized networks, are increasingly using artificial intelligence to automate, scale and make their deception ever more convincing.
Police crime statistics clearly illustrate this trend.

In 2025, more than 54'000 cases of cyber-enabled economic crime were recorded in Switzerland, including around 40'000 cases of cyber fraud. These include the misuse of online payment systems and stolen identities, goods not delivered via online classified platforms, or online investment scams. The figures highlight not only the scale of the problem, but also why the question of effective prevention needs to be reconsidered.

Sovereignty Through Connectivity

Swiss banks are addressing these developments from a position of strength and with considerable experience. Modern authentication procedures and high-performance systems detect suspicious transactions in near real time. Yet fraud cannot be «patched away» by technology alone. If the deception occurs before the login, even the most advanced systems intervene too late. To effectively disrupt this chain, also known as crime disruption, technological upgrades within banks are not sufficient. What is decisive is coordinated cooperation among all actors involved along the entire fraud chain. This includes banks, public authorities, telecommunications providers, platforms and payment infrastructures.

Richard Hess, Head of Digital Finance at the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA), summarizes the ambition of the sector as follows: «We will never be able to eliminate fraud entirely. But we must ensure that, as an alliance of banks, authorities and technology partners, we are faster, smarter and better connected than those seeking to abuse the system. Effective protection only emerges through seamless interaction among all stakeholders.»

The Strategy of Networked Defense

The strategic foundation for this approach is provided by the SBA industry study «Collaborative Fraud Prevention». It identifies three key levers.
First, prevention through information. Initiatives such as EBAS, an independent information platform of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, or card security, a national prevention initiative of the card industry, demonstrate that awareness works. A well-informed customer who recognizes warning signs during login or card usage is the strongest firewall against social engineering attacks, which deliberately exploit the human factor through targeted manipulation techniques.

Second, technical signals at network level. The aim is to identify fraud patterns across networks and to take account of risk-relevant indicators already at the point of payment initiation, in full compliance with data protection requirements and without creating additional friction for customers.

Third, cross-industry collaboration. When time is the critical factor, rapid communication channels, clear responsibilities, and both personal and institutionalized networks are required, very much in the spirit of «knowing who to call in a crisis».

Why This Is Not Trivial

Calls for banks to «just block everything» underestimate the complexity of reality. Effective fraud prevention must always balance security with the rule of law, privacy protection and the risk of false positives. This is precisely why an ecosystem-based approach is required. Fraud also knows no borders. The Global Fraud Summit held in Vienna in March 2026 confirmed that cyber-based fraud is among the most defining threats worldwide. Artificial intelligence accelerates both attacks and defense. National approaches therefore need to be meaningfully embedded in an international context.

Conclusion: Trust Through Cooperation

For customers of Swiss banks, this approach ultimately means one thing above all: greater security. Banks are not waiting passively but are actively shaping the framework conditions for digital security. Combating fraud is a collective endeavor. By working closely with other industries and law enforcement, banks are closing gaps in the digital defense chain. The goal is to be faster, smarter and above all better connected than the opposing side. This is how Switzerland remains a safe haven for digital financial services, even in the age of artificial intelligence.

This article is published in collaboration with the Swiss Bankers Association.