[5] FINMA was founded on the 22 June 2007 with the passing of the Federal Act on the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMASA).

[3] This merged the EBK-CFB with the Federal Office of Private Insurance (FOPI) and the Anti Money Laundering Control Authority into one agency responsible for all financial regulation in Switzerland.

[3] Switzerland is home to UBS, one of the world's major banks, and given its significance to the Swiss economy, FINMA has a dedicated regulatory team overseeing its operations.

[10] As a state regulatory body, the FINMA is endowed with supreme authority over banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges, securities dealers and collective investment schemes.

[17] The FINMA provides supervision when there is a risk to creditors, investors and policy holders and can penalise individuals or authority, its decision, however, can be challenged in a court.

[19] FINMA is particularly vigilant about money laundering and the financing of terrorism and closely monitors the Swiss financial markets for AML/CFT compliance.

[22] The Executive Board is FINMA's operational management body and is responsible for ensuring that banks, insurance companies, stock exchanges, securities dealers and other financial intermediaries are supervised in accordance with the law and respective strategy.

[23] Anne Héritier Lachat was Chairwoman of the Board of Directors from 2011[24][25] until 1 January 2016[26] when Thomas Bauer, former Ernst & Young partner became Chairman.