In early May, the Federal Council published a message on the revision of investor protection laws permanently extending protection to savings accounts of up to CHF 100,000. The new rules are to be enshrined in the Federal Banking Law. The investor protection rules provide that all deposits and fixed-rate notes up to a limit of CHF 100,000 will be safeguarded as second-rank claims. In case of bankruptcy, they would have priority over all other unsecured claims and be payable within 90 days.

In 2008, in view of the precarious financial markets, Parliament decided by summary procedure to increase the investor protection guarantee from CHF 30,000 to CHF 100,000. The purpose of this measure was to stop the savings drain. This decision expires at the end of 2010. To avoid a gap before the new law comes into effect, the Federal Council has decided to prolong its validity for another year. Parliament should have enacted the revised law by then.