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Zürcher Kantonalbank

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FY2018 Annual Report · Zürcher Kantonalbank
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Annual Report

1 

Financial year
2018

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018Interview 
 
Close 
to you.

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Key figures (group)

in CHF million

Income statement 
Net result from interest operations

Result from commission business and services

Result from trading activities and the fair value option

Other result from ordinary activities

Operating income

Operating expenses

Value adjustments on participations and depreciation and amortisation of 
tangible fixed assets and intangible assets

Changes to provisions and other value adjustments and losses

Operating result

Extraordinary result

Changes in reserves for general banking risks

Taxes

Consolidated profit

Balance sheet (before appropriation of profit)  in CHF million
Balance sheet total

Mortgage loans

Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

in %

Provisions

Shareholders’ equity

Key figures 
Return on equity (RoE)

Cost  / income ratio (CIR) 1

Common equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1) 2

Core capital ratio (Tier 1) 2

Total capital ratio 2

Leverage ratio 2

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) 4

Customers’ assets 
Total customers’ assets

2018

 1,213 

 776 

 286 

 46 

 2,320 

– 1,430 

– 192 

 194 

 892 

 103 

– 200 

 – 7 

 788 

 169,408 

 81,256 

 85,537 

 255 

 11,852 

 7.1 

 61.4 

 17.8 

 20.2 

 20.2 

 6.8 

 127 

2017

Change in %

 0.9 

 0.8 

 – 14.4 

 49.2 

 – 0.7 

 – 0.2 

 60.4 

 n / a 

 13.7 

 n / a 

 n / a 

 – 34.9 

 0.8 

 3.4 

 2.7 

 5.1 

 – 56.3 

 5.6 

 1,202 

 770 

 334 

 31 

 2,336 

 – 1,434 

– 120 

 2 

 784  

 8 

 –

 – 11 

 782 

 163,881 

 79,087 

 81,381 

 585 

 11,228 

 7.3 

 61.1 

 16.5  3

 18.8  3

 18.8  3

 6.8 

 153 

in CHF million

 295,194 

 288,802 

2.2

Headcount / branches 
Headcount after adjustment for part-time employees, as at the reporting date

Number

Branches5

Profit distribution 
Share paid to canton to defray cost of capital

in CHF million

Distribution to canton

Distribution to municipalities

Total profit distribution

Additional compensation for state guarantee

Additional payments from public service mandate

Rating agencies 
Fitch

Moody’s

Standard & Poor’s

Rating

 – 0.6 

 – 28.5 

 – 

 – 

 – 1.4 

 – 3.5 

 6.8 

 5,087 

 75 

 5,117 

 78 

 13 

 230 

 115 

 358 

 22 

  140  

 AAA 

 Aaa 

 AAA 

 18 

 230 

 115 

 363 

 23 

 131 

 AAA 

 Aaa 

 AAA 

1  Calculation: cost / income ratio (excl. changes in default-related value adjustments 

4  Simple average of the closing values on the business days during the quarter under 

and losses from interest operations).

review.

2  In accordance with the provisions for systemically important banks.
3  Including effects stemming from the changeover to IRB and SA-CCR.

5  Including branches of Zürcher Kantonalbank Österreich AG in Salzburg and Vienna 

as well as six automated banks.

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Group structure

Zürcher Kantonalbank

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K

Swisscanto 
Holding Ltd.

Zürcher 
 Kantonalbank 
Finance 
 (Guernsey) Ltd.

Zürcher 
 Kantonalbank 
Österreich AG

ZüriBahn AG

Representative 
Offices

Swisscanto Fund Management  
Company Ltd.

São Paulo

Swisscanto Pensions Ltd.

Beijing

Swisscanto Asset Management  
International S.A.

Mumbai

Singapore

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Group mission statement

Our vision
Close to you

We support, advise and offer  solutions. 
Always, everywhere.  
Throughout your life.

— No. 1 in the Greater Zurich Area
— Nationally strong
— Internationally successful

Our goals
Powerful Swiss universal bank

— Happy clients
— Committed staff
— High financial stability
— Sustainable success

Our values
Inspiring
Motivate, think ahead, show courage

Responsible
Be reliable, create value, be present

Passionate
Be involved, enthuse, persevere 

Our roots
The bank of the people of Zurich

—  For the population and the  economy
—  Continuity in business policy
—  Economic, ecological and social 

engagement

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Interview
Zürcher Kantonalbank has 
 adopted a new group mission 
statement. An interview with 
Chairman Dr Jörg Müller-Ganz 
and CEO Martin Scholl.

Management Report
We derive our fortitude and 
 stability from our capital strength, 
full-service banking strategy, 
highly diversified income model 
and disciplined cost management.

6

20

Corporate Governance
We take our responsibility to the 
Canton of Zurich and its residents 
seriously. We engage in open, 
transparent dialogue with our 
stakeholder groups.

Financial Report
Zürcher Kantonalbank gener- 
ated consolidated profit of  
CHF 788 million in financial year 
2018. The operating result 
amounted to CHF 892 million.

57

87

Our 2018 financial reporting includes the publications on our financial year and our company profile. It illustrates how 
Zürcher Kantonalbank creates sustainable value for Zurich as an economic area and a place to live. This year’s thematic 
focus lies on Zurich as a centre of business and education. The cover features René Kalt, Director of Stiftung Innovations- 
park Zürich, Claudia Bürgler (right), Deputy Director of Innovationspark Zürich, and Susanna von Känel, responsible for 
Büro Züri at Zürcher Kantonalbank, photographed in the pavilion of the Innovation Park in Dübendorf.

Read our company profile to find out more about our commitment. zkb.ch/unternehmensprofil

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Contents

6  Interview

  11  In Brief
  20  Management Report
  57  Corporate Governance
  77  Compensation Report
  87  Financial Report
  180  Glossary
  183  Index
  186  Branches
  187  Contact

About the figures:
The amounts stated in this report have been rounded 
off. The total may therefore vary from the sum of the 
individual values.
0   

 (0 or 0.0) Figure that is smaller than half the 
unit of account used
Figure not available or not meaningful

–   

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6

Martin Scholl (left) and Dr Jörg Müller-Ganz at the newly modernised Zurich-Neumünster branch,  
which reopened in 2018

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018InterviewInterview

7 

“If you’re inspiring, you’re a step ahead 
of the rest”

Zürcher Kantonalbank has adopted a new group mission 
statement. Dr Jörg Müller-Ganz, Chairman of the Board 
of Directors, and Martin Scholl, Chief Executive Officer, 
explain what that means for employees and the future.

Mr Müller-Ganz, Mr Scholl, Zürcher 
Kantonalbank presented encourag-
ing figures again in 2018, despite  
the challenging environment. Why  
is that?

Müller-Ganz: For years now, the 
sustained success of our bank has 
been largely shaped by four factors: 
our values, ownership, strategy and 
organisation and staff. Values you 
associate with Zurich, including a 
focus on performance, reliability, 
transparency, accountability, restraint, 
continuity and sustainability, are in 
our DNA. Our owner representatives, 
Zurich’s Parliament, are another 
factor in our success – they define the 
scope of our business activities: a 
business policy focused on continuity, 
the requirement that we refrain from 
entering into any inappropriate risks 
yet generate appropriate profit, and 
finally the state guarantee, which 
exerts discipline over the governing 
bodies and staff and motivates them 
to act in moderation.

Scholl: Another success factor is the 
long-term strategy, which we have 
essentially been pursuing unchanged 
for 20 years. We strive for profit- 
oriented growth in our various client 
groups, in geographically clearly 
defined markets. Here we are helped 
by the fact that our organisation is 
characterised by high consistency and 
low staff turnover in key positions. 

Is there any danger of becoming 
spoiled by success?
Scholl: No. It’s a matter of mentality – 
much like athletes who have won a 
competition several times in a row but 
who are still aiming for top results. 
That’s why it’s so important for us to 
have people with the right kind of 
drive in the company. We want to 
combine the power of our 150-year-
old institution with the athletic spirit 
of a start-up.

Zürcher Kantonalbank launched  
its new investment offering in 2018.  
Has it met your expectations?

Scholl: Absolutely. Our clients place 
enormous trust in our new investment 
offering. That has a positive effect on 
the entire bank.

In 2018, you were able to wrap up 
the legal dispute with the US 
Department of Justice with a fine. 
All’s well that ends well?

Müller-Ganz: A USD 98.5 million 
penalty hurts. I’m still relieved, 
though, that we reached an agreement 
with the US Department of Justice  
on the bank’s legacy business with  
US clients. The fine will have neither  
a negative impact on our business 
performance for 2018 nor on our equity 
and distributions. We remain one  
of the best-capitalised banks in the 
world.

Which of the Board of Directors’ 
tasks were most intensive in 2018?
Müller-Ganz: In addition to many 
other things, we looked ahead to the 
succession planning for the Executive 
Board, since many members will reach 
retirement age at around the same 
time in a few years. In December, 
Board member Jürg Bühlmann, previ- 
ously Head of Logistics, was appointed 
as the new Head of Corporate Bank-
ing. Now we are working on promptly 
filling this new vacancy in the Logis-
tics business unit.

How will the Board of Directors 
ensure this succession plan?
Müller-Ganz: It’s based on sound 
groundwork. The Board of Directors 
is composed of individuals with an 
extremely diverse range of profes-
sional, entrepreneurial and specialist 
experience. This is a good prerequi-
site for taking a well-considered 
approach on multidimensional issues 
like these. For years now, our bank 
has been making a targeted effort 
towards promoting young talent at all 
levels of management, including the 
Executive Board. The result is that we 
always have internal candidates for 
every function. Plus, Zürcher Kanton-
albank is an attractive bank at every 
level of the employee hierarchy, also 
for people hired from outside. So you 
can expect us to find the most suitable 
staff for every function. 

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 20188

How does the bank promote staff  
at every level?
Scholl: Our managers cultivate the 
dialogue with their staff in such a  
way that they’re able to develop their 
employees’ skills and pinpoint 
interesting prospects. The intensity  
of these discussions has picked up 
even further since we introduced  
our “Performance & Development” 
management approach. With over 
5,000 jobs at our bank, we offer 
innumerable further development 
opportunities – even if somebody 
wants to try out something entirely 
different.

What is the relevance of innovations 
like ZKB TWINT, the SME Financial 
Assistant and the ZKB Real Estate 
Portal?

Scholl: While some clients still prefer 
using bank counters, others want to 
conduct as many banking transactions 
as possible online. The innovations 
you listed help us to pleasantly surprise 
our clients in the digital world. 
Incidentally, 20 years ago we became 
the first bank to open an online bank. 
We want to create proximity to our 
clients – both online and offline – and 
this is one of our strategic priorities.

The Board of Directors defined a new 
group mission statement during the 
year under review. What prompted 
this?

Müller-Ganz: Our world, economic 
and societal requirements as well  
as our clients’ needs and behaviour 
are in an accelerating state of trans-
formation; this has been the case  
for some time already of course, but 
the momentum of this transforma- 
tion continues to grow, increasingly 
producing new and disruptive solution 
models. We therefore decided to adapt 
and refine our mission statement to 
reflect these new requirements; using 
an evolutionary approach, not revolu-
tionary. 

What do the new company values 
mean?
Müller-Ganz: We are and will always 
be “responsible”. That lays the 
foundation for our business. We also 
remain “personal”, but want to be 
perceived as “passionate”, that is, we 
want to noticeably increase our own 
personal enthusiasm about the work 
we do and we want this to show 
through more strongly in our interac-
tions with clients. We took our old 
value of “competent” and stepped it 
up to “inspiring”. Our clients expect 
professional competence as a given, 
but we want to go above and beyond 
this by being “inspiring”. The Board 
of Directors expects all employees  
to think ahead and inspire our clients, 
partners and suppliers alike. If you’re 
inspiring, you’re a step ahead of the 
rest.

Responsible, passionate, inspiring: 
what do you want to emphasise?
Scholl: We strive to live by each and 
every one of our values every single 
day. But it’s about more than just 
setting an example. We want our 

values to motivate our employees. 
They give our staff a great deal of 
leeway, but also responsibility. For us, 
it’s important that employees don’t 
just sit back and wait for us to take the 
initiative, but rather take it them-
selves.

Which developments will pose a 
challenge to the bank over the next 
few years?

Müller-Ganz: Digitisation, globali- 
sation, automation: the pace of 
change is accelerating. The Board  
of Directors is responsible for creating 
the strategic conditions that will allow 
Zürcher Kantonalbank to continue 
meeting its clients’ needs as a secure 
and sustainably successful universal 
bank – over the course of the next 
decade and beyond. To do so, we are 
defining a path to navigate between 
seemingly contradictory aspects and 
aspirations: stability and develop-
ment, reliability and innovativeness, 
local roots and global needs, analogue 
and digital worlds, simplicity and 
complexity.

Does the strategy already reflect 
these challenges?
Scholl: 100 percent! What counts, 
though, is how we implement it. As an 
organisation, we want to embark on 
this journey with our clients and our 
staff – and make sure we don’t lose 
anybody along the way. Innovations 
need to be administered in doses to 
make sure everybody stays on board.

One strategic priority is to “become 
simpler and more agile”. But the 
regulatory burden in the financial 
market is growing...

Müller-Ganz: One important duty  
of the Committee of the Board is to 
help prevent legal regulations on the 
Swiss financial market from restrict-
ing the scope of national banks, and 

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018InterviewZürcher Kantonalbank in particular, 
even further.

Would you be willing to risk a market 
outlook for 2019?
Scholl: Interest rates will probably 
remain low for the time being and the 
threat of a recession is minor. Inves- 
tors should remain invested, but pay 
attention to quality and broad diversi- 
fication. We still consider equities to 
be more attractive than bonds. Recom- 
mending any “timing” is almost 
impossible, though, if only due to geo- 
political risks. Finally, greater volatility 
in trading could lead to opportunities. 

A growing number of insurance 
companies, online providers and 
pension funds are rushing into the 
mortgage market. Will your bank 
be able to defend its position as 
leader?
Scholl: While we’re growing with the 
market, we define ourselves by the 
services we provide, not price. Quality 
comes before quantity. History seems 
to be repeating itself with respect to 
some “new” competitors. There was a 
time around 20 years ago when we 
bought mortgages back from pension 
funds because they discovered that 
other asset classes had become more 
profitable again.

Zürcher Kantonalbank has to meet 
higher capital adequacy requirements 
from 2019 onwards. What does that 
mean?

Müller-Ganz: The Federal Council 
differentiates between the two globally 
active, system-relevant large banks 
and the three nationally active, system- 
relevant banks, of which Zürcher 
Kantonalbank is one. It defined the 
capital adequacy requirements for a 
potential crisis for the nationally 
active, system-relevant banks at the 
end of the year. When doing so, it 

factored in the state guarantee of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank and defined 
lower requirements. While these 
requirements will only apply in six 
years, we already exceed them thanks 
to our targeted equity capital policy.

What is Zürcher Kantonalbank doing 
to promote innovation in the Greater 
Zurich Area?

Müller-Ganz: Zürcher Kantonalbank 
is the largest private promoter of 
innovation – across all of Switzerland. 
We promote basic research through 
long-term cooperation with all four 
universities in the canton. We also 
enable young entrepreneurs to set  
up their own businesses by financing 
various platforms. Plus we donate  
space for start-ups in all relevant tech- 
nology and innovation parks in our 
canton. Finally, we support young, 
innovative companies through the 
provision of equity capital: we 
currently have a financial stake in  
100 start-ups. In addition, we recently 
launched a growth fund for institu-
tional investors, making CHF 150 
million available to promising young 
companies.

How do you interpret the public 
service mandate in today’s world?
Müller-Ganz: The focus is on ensur-
ing that the people and companies  
in the canton have access to financial 
services. What this means became 
apparent after the financial crisis of 
2008, for example. Zürcher Kan- 
tonalbank proved to be a safe haven 
for clients’ money back then. We 
continued to serve all companies as  
a reliable financing partner, while 
other banks severely restricted their 
lending. What’s more, we are fulfill-
ing the bank’s legal mandate to 
contribute towards efforts to address 
economic and social issues and 
support environmentally sustainable 

9 

development in the Canton of Zurich. 
Last year, we committed CHF 140 
million in a wide range of different 
ways to do just that.

The bank’s 150th anniversary is 
approaching. There is a controversial 
debate surrounding the cable car 
across Lake Zurich. Would you decide 
in favour of this project again?

Scholl: Yes. Even when we were 
planning this major project, experts 
told us that objections would be 
raised. According to surveys, however, 
our project with ZüriBahn enjoys a 
very high approval rating, even in the 
affected districts of Riesbach and Wol-
lishofen. To us, it’s not about market-
ing, but about creating an innovative 
project for the city and the canton. 
And the same applies to the Erlebnis-
Garten recreational park and Zeit- 
Reise, which takes you back 150 years 
in time.

Dr Jörg Müller-Ganz 
is an economist who was first elected  
to the Board of Directors in 2007 and has 
served as its Chairman since July 2011. 

Martin Scholl 
became Chief Executive Officer in 2007 
and has been a member of the Executive 
Board since 2002. He first joined the bank 
as an apprentice.

Interview: Stephan Lehmann-Maldonado

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11 

Zürcher Kantonalbank has successfully positioned itself 
as a universal bank with a regional base as well as a 
national and international network. We are not only the 
leading cantonal bank in Switzerland, but also one  
of the largest Swiss banks. With a market penetration 
rate of around 50 percent, we are the top-ranked bank 
in the Canton of Zurich in both retail and corporate 
banking. Since the acquisition of Swisscanto in March 
2015, we are also the third-largest fund provider in  
the country. Zürcher Kantonalbank is an autonomous 
public-law institution of the Canton of Zurich and  
benefits from a state guarantee. Our public service man-
date entails providing financial services for the public 
and businesses, supporting the canton in the perfor-
mance of its tasks in the economic, social and environ-
mental arenas, and ensuring that our actions are envi-
ronmentally and socially responsible. Our values are: 
respon sible, inspiring, passionate. We are part of life  
in the Canton of  Zurich.

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 201812

In Brief

Looking 
back

We are extremely satisfied 
with our key figures for 
financial year 2018. The 
return on equity amounted 
to 7.1 percent. The cost /  
income ratio was 61.4 per- 
cent. We have further 
strengthened our capital 
base in recent years, and at 
the end of 2018 had a total 
capital ratio of 20.2 per-
cent. This far exceeded  
the minimum regulatory 
requirement of 14.7 per-
cent (including a counter-
cyclical buffer). It does not 
include the CHF 575 mil-
lion in endowment capital 
that can still be called in 
from the Canton of Zurich. 
Use of this would raise  
the total capital ratio by  
0.9 percentage points.

The financial year in numbers

Switzerland’s only AAA bank
The rating agencies Standard & Poor’s, 
Moody’s and Fitch continue to award 
Zürcher Kantonalbank their highest 
ratings of AAA or Aaa. That makes us 
the only Swiss bank to be given top 
marks yet again by all three rating 
agencies. Our high ratings are due 
 in part to our sustained operational 
stability as a result of our diversi- 
fied business model as well as the 
extremely good capitalisation of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank. Other factors 
include the state guarantee, Zürcher 
Kantonalbank’s solid income base 
and the profitability this affords the 
bank, something which is attribut- 
able not least to its stable, lasting 
client relationships. In the view of 
ratings agency Standard & Poor’s, 
Zürcher Kantonalbank is among the 
safest banks in the world. Given its 
“stand-alone credit profile” of aa-,  
the bank’s creditworthiness is rated  
as extremely good, even without 

taking the state guarantee into 
account. The bank reported equity of 
CHF 11.9 billion at the end of 2018. 
The total capital ratio amounted to 
20.2 percent. These figures confirm 
our standing as one of the best-capi-
talised banks in the world. Based  
on our total assets of more than CHF 
169.4 billion, we are the largest 
cantonal bank in Switzerland and the 
fourth-largest bank in the country.

Strongly rooted in the canton 
We are the market leader for retail 
and corporate banking in the Canton 
of Zurich. While we also operate the 
canton’s densest network of branches 
and ATMs, our clients are conduct- 
ing a growing number of banking 
transactions via our support centres, 
eBanking and eBanking Mobile 
services. Over the course of the last 
year, we committed CHF 140 million 
to providing financial support in the 
Canton of Zurich in the economic, 
social and environmental arenas. 
Through more than 150 sponsorship 

Figures achieved

Indicators
Return on equity (RoE) 1

Cost / income ratio (CIR)

Total capital ratio 2

Group rating
Employee satisfaction 3
Brand performance 3

Customer satisfaction 4
Retail and commercial clients

Corporate clients

Private banking clients

Objectives

58 – 64 %

16 – 19 %

AAA, Aaa
≥ 70 points
≥ 60 points

≥ 75 points

≥ 75 points

≥ 75 points

2018
7.1

61.4

20.2

AAA, Aaa

–

–

82

86

82

2017

7.3

61.1

18.8

2016

7.4

61.7

17.5

AAA, Aaa
84
64

AAA, Aaa
72
66

–

–

–

75

83

79

1  Internally, we have been measuring profitability based on 
economic profit since 2015. Externally, we continue to 
state the ROE, but without a target bandwidth. 

internal rating-based method in relation to credit risk 
(F-IRB, applied since 2017).

3   Surveyed every two years; 2017 results, next survey  

2  The difference in the total capital ratio between 2016 

in 2019. 

and 2017 is mainly attributable to the changeover from 
the standard approach (SA-BIS, applied in 2016) to the 

4  Surveyed every two years; 2018 results, next survey  

in 2020.

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018In Brief

13 

commitments, we are also actively 
helping to make the Canton of Zurich 
liveable.

Milestones and material 
events

the submission of the dossier for the 
plan approval process to the Federal 
Office of Transport in autumn 2018. 

Diversified income
Our economic strength is based on  
a broadly diversified business model, 
which has an impact on our income 
structure. We therefore aim for qualita- 
tive growth, particularly in the invest- 
ment and asset management business. 
With nearly CHF 150 billion in assets 
under management, Swisscanto 
Invest by Zürcher Kantonalbank is 
also Switzerland’s third-largest fund 
provider. Commission business 
accounted for 33 percent of the bank’s 
operating income at the end of 2018, 
with the net result from interest opera- 
tions contributing 52 percent, and  
12 percent stemming from the trading 
business.

Profit
With consolidated profit of CHF  
788 million, 2018 marks yet another 
gratifying result. The appropriation  
of profit includes a dividend of CHF 
358 million. Of this, CHF 243 million 
will go to the canton and CHF 13 mil- 
lion will be used as payment for the 
cost of capital. Around CHF 115 mil- 
lion will go to the municipalities.

Important employer
5,855 people work at Zürcher Kanton-
albank (group) in 5,087 full-time  
positions. With 410 traineeships in  
the areas of banking, IT, logistics and  
general administration, we are one  
of the largest training centres in the 
Zurich region.

New group mission statement
Zürcher Kantonalbank’s mission 
statement was revised during the year 
under review. The change was made 
alongside the introduction of our new 
brand values: responsible, inspiring 
and passionate. The group mission 
statement describes the identity of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank and serves as  
a compass for our conduct and the 
future development of our company 
and our subsidiaries.  

Anniversary
Zürcher Kantonalbank will be cele- 
brating its 150th anniversary in 2020. 
Our bank has been uniquely shaping 
and promoting the way people live 
and work in the canton since 1870. To 
express our deep sense of solidarity 
with the region, we would like our 
anniversary activities to be a continu-
ation of the factors that have always 
been behind each and every thing we 
do: building bridges, providing inspira- 
tion and creating encounters. We will 
be celebrating our anniversary with 
three lighthouse projects – ZüriBahn 
(cable car), ErlebnisGarten (recrea-
tional park) and ZeitReise (historical 
exhibit) – as well as numerous other 
activities.

ZüriBahn will connect the right lake 
shore with the left shore for five years 
and not only serve as an attraction  
for locals and tourists offering an 
amazing view of Zurich and the Alpine 
panorama but also inspire the solu- 
tion-finding process for transportation- 
related issues of the future. The design 
and architecture of ZüriBahn’s cabins, 
supports and stations have already 
been finalised. Key framework condi- 
tions related to the realisation of the 
ZüriBahn project were clarified upon 

ErlebnisGarten will be an inspira- 
tional park landscape at Zurich’s Landi- 
wiese recreational area. The plan 
includes: a restaurant pavilion, 
cultural high-lights from our approxi-
mately 150 sponsorship partners, 
hanging gardens with native Swiss 
plants, space to work and installations 
that offer plenty of room to play. The 
building permit request was submitted 
in autumn 2018 and the permit to start 
work on ErlebnisGarten is expected  
in spring 2019. ErlebnisGarten will be 
freely accessible to the public for 45 
days, from the end of May to mid-July 
2020.

ZeitReise will be an installation 
partially housed in a pavilion of 
ErlebnisGarten. This exhibit will 
present the history of our bank and that 
of the Canton of Zurich within the 
context of Switzerland’s social and 
economic history. It will be an interac-
tive display of the bank’s history, from 
its origins in the 19th century to the 
present day and beyond. This will all 
be made possible by historians of our 
bank, who have dedicated years to 
combing through Zürcher Kantonal-
bank’s historical archives for interest-
ing and unusual stories in collabora-
tion with external historians and 
experts.

Agreement with US Department  
of Justice

Zürcher Kantonalbank has concluded 
the US Department of Justice’s investi-
gation into the bank’s legacy business 
with US clients with a Deferred 
Prosecution Agreement (DPA). Under 
this settlement, the bank has promised 
to make a payment of USD 98.5 mil- 
lion. The agreement will have no nega-

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018 
14

In Brief

tive impact on the bank’s 2018 financial 
results, its capital strength, or on  
the distribution of profits to the canton 
and municipalities. Zürcher Kantonal-
bank has successively adjusted its 
cross-border wealth management 
business since 2009. It is committed 
to a strict tax-compliant business 
policy, and in terms of geographic 
coverage focuses on selected core 
markets with an emphasis on Europe.

Digital identity
The SwissSign Group AG was founded 
in 2018 as a joint venture to create  
and implement a digital identity in 
Switzerland. Zürcher Kantonalbank 
has joined together with Swiss Post, 
SBB, Swisscom and other banks and 
insurance companies to form a broad- 
based, state-affiliated group of spon- 
sors for this newly founded joint 
venture. This group’s declared goal is 
to work out a solution for creating a 
digital identity in Switzerland – the 
SwissID. The planned SwissID would 
enable people to safely navigate the 
digital world and simplify the use of 
online services. A widely accepted 
digital identity would make it possible 
to structure and conduct business  
and administrative processes on the 
Internet much more efficiently. 

In addition, Zürcher Kantonalbank 
represents Switzerland’s cantonal 
banks on the “Digitisation” expert 
commission recently founded by the 
Swiss Bankers Association.

Swisscanto Funds Centre  
sold to Clearstream

Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd., London 
(SFCL), a wholly-owned subsidiary  
of Swisscanto Holding Ltd., was 
acquired by a post-trade services 
provider of the Deutsche Börse Group, 
Clearstream International S.A. With 
the fund platform market fragmented 
and currently undergoing global 
consolidation, significant growth is 
mainly attainable outside Switzerland 
or by actively participating in the 
consolidation process. In that context 
and given our standing as a bank that 
focuses on the Greater Zurich Area, 
we decided to sell the platform. 
Zürcher Kantonalbank will still be one 
of SFCL’s main distribution partners 
in the future. 

Changes in the Executive Board  
of Zürcher Kantonalbank

The Board of Directors of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank elected Dr Jürg Bühl- 
mann as new Head of Corporate 
Banking during the year under review. 
He will be taking over for Heinz Kunz, 
who will be stepping down from his 
position as Head of Corporate Banking 
at the end of 2019. Jürg Bühlmann  
will hand over his function as Head of 
Logistics in mid-2019.

Innovation Park
Innovation is the motor that drives  
our economy. When innovation 
combines with entrepreneurship, this 
lays the foundation for outstanding 
and sustainable pioneering achieve-
ments. Switzerland still tops the list  
of highly innovative countries and 
Innovation Park Zurich is now helping 
to hone Zurich’s competitive edge as  
a business location. Stiftung Innova-
tionspark Zürich is the foundation 
working to create a new platform for 
research, development and innova-
tion at Dübendorf airport. It was 
jointly founded and financed by the 
Canton of Zurich, ETH Zurich and 
Zürcher Kantonalbank; the bank  
is also involved in the foundation’s 
Board of Trustees. The Innovation 
Park’s pavilion opened its gates in 
spring 2018, and that in turn signalled 
the start of this intergenerational 
project.

Green bond successfully placed
In a challenging market environment, 
Zürcher Kantonalbank issued its  
first green bond, which was met with 
encouraging demand. The volume  
of the bond, which was issued in 
accordance with international stand- 
ards (ICMA Green Bond Principles), 
reached CHF 325 million with a 7-year 
term. Funds generated through green 
bonds are earmarked for use in 
projects and investments in the area 
of climate and environmental protec-
tion. Given that sustainability is part 
of our public service mandate, it goes 
to follow that it is also a strategic  
goal of Zürcher Kantonalbank. The 
proceeds from the issue will there- 
fore be used to refinance existing and 
future ZKB environmental loans. 
Zürcher Kantonalbank is the first 
Swiss financial institution to issue a 
green bond in Swiss francs.

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018Streamlining of the branch network
Our clients’ needs are changing con- 
stantly and the importance of tradi- 
tional counter-based business contin- 
ues to decline. Today, well over 90 
percent of clients withdraw their cash 
from ATMs while the popularity of 
cashless payments is also on the rise. 
At the same time, use of digital chan- 
nels, like eBanking and eBanking 
Mobile, is increasing markedly. In light 
of these changes, Zürcher Kantonal-
bank has decided to close its Embrach, 
Erlenbach, Marthalen, Bonstetten, 
Hausen a. A., Langnau a. A. and 
Zurich-Albisrieden locations by mid- 
2020. The locations affected are 
branches that primarily offer counter- 
based services and are used mainly 
for making deposits and withdrawals.
The ATMs will remain in each of 
these municipalities and all affected 
members of our staff will be offered 
jobs within the bank.

“Kantonalbank” tram stop
The tram stop outside the City site  
at Bahnhofstrasse 9 was renamed at 
the time of the timetable change in 
December. It is now called “Kanton-
albank” (previously: “Börsenstrasse”). 
The “Börsenstrasse” tram stop was 
named after the former stock exchange 
 [Börse], which was built in 1877 at  
the corner of Bahnhofstrasse / Börsen-
strasse (Bahnhofstrasse 3) and which 
saw active trading until 1930. As the 
“Börsenstrasse” tram stop is directly 
in front of Zürcher Kantonalbank at 
Bahnhofstrasse 9 – and not in the 
Börsenstrasse – the new name should 
make the stop’s geographical location 
clearer for passengers.

Impressive customer satisfaction
The 2018 study reveals yet another 
significant improvement in customer 
satisfaction across all business units. 
We received extremely good marks 
for the service quality offered at the 
info desks, counters and in the support 
centre as well as for our advisory 
quality and client focus. The survey 
results show that our clients trust us 
and want high-quality advice. Com- 
mitment, a desire to improve and a 
high affinity for service reinforce our 
claim of being responsible, inspiring 
and passionate – close to you.

Corporate clients:  
magic milestone achieved

In Corporate Banking we achieved a 
market penetration rate of 50 percent 
in the Canton of Zurich. Plus, more 
than one-third of the companies in 
Zurich call us their principle bank. 
That makes us the clear number one 
in Corporate Banking in the Greater 
Zurich Area. 

New investment offering  
successfully launched

The model employed in our new 
investment offering blends the services 
of client advisors with expert knowl-
edge and state-of-the-art technology. 
The focus is on the personal risk 
tolerance of our clients. With this new 
approach, we recorded strong growth 
among both traditional asset manage-
ment mandates and the new advisory 
mandates. Client assets were boosted 
by CHF 6.4 billion to CHF 295.2 bil- 
lion during the year under review. 
The net new money inflow was CHF 
18 billion.

In Brief

15 

Sustainable investment solutions
Swisscanto Invest by Zürcher  
Kantonalbank, the asset management 
division of Zürcher Kantonalbank, 
expanded and consolidated its 
portfolio of sustainable investment 
solutions during the year under 
review. Its solutions differ from tradi- 
tional investments in that companies 
are evaluated in accordance with 
sustainability criteria before any 
investment is made by the fund. Two 
product lines were defined: “Respon-
sible” and “Sustainable”. Both of these 
implement the concept of sustaina- 
bility to different degrees. The Respon- 
sible approach avoids companies  
with the lowest sustainability ratings 
from the very start while the Sustain- 
able approach exclusively considers 
companies that not only earn an attrac- 
tive return but also benefit society. 
Both product lines are available for 
both equities and bonds. Zürcher 
Kantonalbank has been managing 
sustainable investments for 20 years 
and is a pioneer in this area. Our 
funds are also monitored externally 
by an interdisciplinary board of 
proven sustainability specialists. 
Swisscanto Invest actively exercises 
its voting rights and has developed  
its own voting guidelines. Last but  
not least, all our sustainability funds 
bear the European Transparency 
Code logo.

Private Markets Initiative
Swisscanto Invest by Zürcher Kanton-
albank launched a private equity  
fund with participations in innovative 
companies in their growth phase.  
This fund offers qualified investors 
opportunities to earn attractive yields  
and gives them easy access to unlisted 
Swiss growth companies that are 
currently in the expansion phase.  
The fund also helps close the gap for 
follow-up financing and improves 

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 201816

In Brief

Commercial apprenticeship  
of tomorrow

Rapidly changing client needs, digital 
transformation, regulation, new 
competitors: what does that mean with 
respect to the skills required of banking 
 specialists? That is the focus of our 
“Employees of the Future” project. 
The first step we took was to review the 
commercial apprenticeship and adapt 
the curriculum. As one of the largest 
providers of vocational training in the 
Canton of Zurich, Zürcher Kantonal-
bank wants to actively shape the future 
of the commercial apprenticeship  
and keep the programme’s quality 
high. We therefore began looking at 
the requirements of commercial 
apprenticeships at an early stage and 
worked on ways that these could be 
taken to the next level. The new curric- 
ulum involves shorter, alternating 
assignments and links them to the 
skills that apprentices need to acquire. 
Efficient and systematic learning and 
working, the use of technical aids 
when providing advisory services, con- 
ceptual skills and empathy will be 
areas of focus. Successful, motivated 
graduates who have completed their 
apprenticeship also have the opportu-
nity to complete their first assign- 
ment within the framework of a newly 
launched thematic programme. 

Switzerland’s appeal as a financial 
centre to young companies. The 
growth fund is the first product offered  
by the Private Markets Initiative of 
the Asset Management division of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank. With capital 
commitments of around CHF 150 mil- 
lion as of December 2018, interest  
in this fund has significantly exceeded 
expectations. This initiative address-
es institutional investors’ growing 
need for private market investments. 
Other exclusive investment vehicles 
are planned in the areas of private 
equity and private debt.

New banking packages
With the revision of our “ZKB 
inklusiv”package solutions, we offer 
our clients a clear and simple range  
of combinations between personal  
and savings accounts, debit and credit 
cards. We also launched a digital 
product advisor, which looks at a wide 
range of client needs, including 
saving, online shopping and making 
payments abroad, and offers a product  
recommendation on that basis. The 
product advisor makes it easier for  
our clients to select their banking 
products.

We have revised our range of offer-
ings to better meet the needs of small 
and medium-sized enterprises as well. 
Our new “SME Package” comprises 
comprehensive advisory services and 
quick, secure payment transaction 
solutions with discounts. This lets us 
make our clients’ day-to-day lives 
easier while also helping to simplify 
their processes.

Smart search for real estate
A commute of no more than 45 
minutes, a school within a one-kilo-
metre radius and, if possible, a local 
recreational area within this range 
too: these and other criteria can be 
entered into the search function of 
our real estate hub at zkb.ch/clever-
suchen to help prospective buyers 
find the property that perfectly meets 
their needs. By the end of 2018, we 
had expanded the digital self-service 
options for people wishing to buy 
their own home and linked them to 
personal advisory consultations.

Workplace of the future
Since Zürcher Kantonalbank values 
short, quick decision-making paths 
and personal communication among 
staff, it has equipped all employees 
with new laptops to help them work 
more flexibly – at their own work-
place, on the bank’s premises, during 
advisory consultations or from home. 
The office concept is also being 
revised as part of a strategic spatial 
planning initiative. Zürcher Kantonal-
bank provides its staff with modern 
workspaces and tools, which it updates 
on an ongoing basis. Among other 
things, we take into account the latest 
findings with respect to collaboration, 
recent technological developments 
(digital workplace) and user-friendly 
workplace and room design. Flexible 
working methods promote entrepre-
neurial thinking and action, customer 
proximity, creativity, motivation, 
satisfaction and productivity. The goal 
is to simplify collaboration while also 
boosting efficiency and the quality 
of both internal and external services.

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018In Brief

17 

tion and procedures, and creating  
the necessary IT set-up and systems 
to offer employees a flexible work 
environment.

Our investment and retirement 
planning business continues to be a 
strategic priority for us. We show our 
clients how they can build up assets  
in the long term amid a low interest 
rate environment and take the growing 
importance of private retirement 
planning into consideration.

To differentiate ourselves within the 
banking sector, we invest in innova-
tive solutions. We create physical and 
digital proximity to our clients and 
aim to offer them user-friendly, trans- 
parent and secure banking services. 
We are constantly expanding our range 
of online services in order to guaran-
tee a high level of availability. Our 
clients should experience our brand 
promise through every channel.

Outlook

We expect the environment 
to remain challenging in 
2019. Nevertheless, we are 
confident in our ability to 
generate attractive results 
again in 2019 thanks to our 
extremely sound footing, 
balanced business model 
and clear strategy. As a 
strategically well-positioned 
universal bank, we aim to 
systematically expand our 
market leadership in the 
years ahead.

Despite major challenges on the 
geopolitical agenda, such as the US- 
China trade conflict, Brexit and 
unresolved structural problems in the 
EU, we expect global economic growth 
to continue in 2019, albeit at a much 
lower pace. In terms of monetary 
policy, the US Federal Reserve will 
continue to normalise interest rates, 
while the European Central Bank will 
not raise the key rate before autumn 
2019. The further increase in volatility 
in the financial markets represents a 
return to normality.

Competition in the banking business 
will presumably continue to grow in 
the years ahead, and the digitisation, 
industrialisation and consolidation 
trends will continue to present the 
financial centre with challenges.
Together with the political commu- 
nity, the aim must be to improve  
the framework for Switzerland as a 
financial centre. Freely accessible 
markets, in particular within the EU, 
are vital for Switzerland as a small, 
open economy. At the same time,  
we must strengthen people’s trust  
in the financial centre even further  
and highlight the important role 
playedby banks, particularly that of 
domestic banks, with respect to 
society and the economy.

Since the general conditions will 
remain challenging, we need to 
respond swiftly and appropriately to 
changes with a view to safeguarding 
the long-term success of our bank. 
Through the use of appropriate tools 
and structures, we are gearing our 
organisation to operate in this environ- 
ment and remain agile on the market. 
For example, we are further developing 
our leadership tool “Performance & 
Development”, bringing our business 
units closer together physically in order 
to boost the efficiency of collabora-

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Management Report

  20   The bank of the people  

of Zurich
  20  History  
  21  Public service mandate

  26   Group mission statement  

and strategy

  26  Group mission statement  
  27  Our strategy

  30   Business environment  

and risk assessment
  30  General economic situation  
  31  The Swiss banking centre  
  32  Regulation  
  33  Risk assessment

  35   Banking services for individuals  

and companies

  37  Retail & Commercial Clients  
  38  Private Banking  
  42  Corporate Clients  
  43  Financial Institutions & Multinationals

  47  Employees
  51  Business development

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20

Management Report

The bank of  
the people  
of Zurich

Over the past 150 years, the 
Canton of Zurich has developed 
into an economic and cultural 
centre. And at its side, Zürcher 
Kantonalbank has grown as 
well. We continuously seek out 
ways of meeting our present- 
day challenges in order to fulfil 
our public service mandate. If 
our business activities are suc-
cessful, everybody wins: the 
canton, the communities, the 
companies – to the benefit of 
everybody in Zurich.

History
Zürcher Kantonalbank was founded in 1870 as the “Bank 
of the people of Zurich”. As a universal bank with a com-
prehensive range of products and services, we offer a 
counterweight to the major and private banks. Our vision 
has remained unchanged since the bank was first found-
ed: close to you.

Founding years
When Zürcher Kantonalbank opened its first counter back 
on 15 February 1870, it did so during a time when private 
banks largely neglected to serve tradesmen, employees 
and small factory owners who needed mortgages and had 
other capital-related requirements for their agricultural 
and commercial businesses. This is where the “Bank of 
the people of Zurich” was to step in, at least that was the 
idea of Johann Jakob Keller, a member of the Cantonal 
Parliament and one of the driving forces behind the bank’s 
founding.

The Canton of Zurich provided the endowment capital, 
guaranteed the bank’s liabilities (state guarantee) and ap-
pointed its most senior governing bodies. The public service 
mandate and therefore the bank’s social responsibility were 
then written into law.

Upswing
Zurich’s economy experienced an enormous upswing 
towards the end of the 19th and in the early 20th century, 
which triggered rapid growth both in terms of the canton’s 
population and rent levels. The mortgage portfolio of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank grew significantly.

Despite war- and crisis-related setbacks between 1914 
and 1950, Zürcher Kantonalbank remained a reliable pil-
lar  of  support  within  the  canton.  By  virtue  of  its  legal 
mandate, it refused to engage in speculative transactions 
and even survived the credit crisis of the early 1930s.

Mortgage and commercial bank
Zurich evolved into one of the world’s most important 
financial centres during the second half of the 20th cen-
tury. Zürcher Kantonalbank responded to this development 
by expanding its range of products and services and en-
larging its business volume in the process. The main focus 
of the bank’s operations during these years was on the 
savings and mortgage business. 

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018Management Report

21 

Leading universal bank
Towards the end of the century, the mortgage bank had 
evolved into an innovative universal bank with an inter-
national network, which allowed it to address the needs 
of an increasingly global economy. The real estate crisis 
in the mid-1990s also forced Zürcher Kantonalbank to 
make some adjustments. The bank reorganised and focused 
on client segments.

Stability and sustainability
2008 brought the financial industry’s biggest crisis since 
the 1930s. Zürcher Kantonalbank’s business model, which 
focuses on income diversification and sustainability, proved 
successful in the midst of a global crisis of confidence. 
While the trading business collapsed to some extent, the 
interest arbitrage business continued to provide a steady 
income stream. In the Greater Zurich Area, Zürcher Kan-
tonalbank achieved a position as market leader among 
private, corporate and business clients. It expanded its 
business structure to nine business units and launched a 
growth initiative that was expected to boost income even 
further. The Swiss National Bank categorised Zürcher 
Kantonalbank as systemically relevant in 2013 on the 
basis of its importance as the market leader in the Swiss 
canton with the strongest economy. Ownership of Swiss-
canto and its fund management company was transferred 
to Zürcher Kantonalbank in 2015. 

Public service mandate
Zürcher Kantonalbank is an independent public-law insti-
tution under the cantonal law of Zurich. We have a pub-
lic service mandate from the Canton of Zurich. The scope 
of this mandate is formulated in the Cantonal Bank Act 
and the Guidelines for the Fulfilment of the Public Service 
Mandate of the Board of Directors.

Market economy and state guarantee
The endowment capital forms the corporate capital of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank and is provided by the Canton of 
Zurich. The canton also provides the bank with a state 
guarantee. In doing so, it is liable for all the bank’s (non-sub-
ordinate) liabilities should the bank’s resources prove in-
adequate. This is a security measure that has never had 
to be drawn upon.

In exchange for the provision of the state guarantee, we 
pay annual compensation to the canton, the amount  
of which is specified in the regulations. This came to CHF 
22 million in 2018. 

Profit distribution to the canton and municipalities 
Zürcher Kantonalbank fulfils its public service mandate on 
the basis of a business strategy aimed at long-term con-
tinuity. It is based on market-oriented principles and in-
tended to achieve an adequate level of profitability. Zürch-
er Kantonalbank will pay a dividend of CHF 358 million 
for 2018. The canton uses this to first cover capital costs 
incurred for the refinancing of its endowment capital 
(2018: CHF 13 million). Of the rest, two-thirds go to the 
canton and one-third to the municipalities. Hence, the 
people of Zurich gain a share of CHF 236 per person in 
the success of the bank.

Threefold mandate 
The public service mandate enshrined in the Law on Zürch-
er Kantonalbank consists of the service mandate, the 
support mandate and the sustainability mandate.

The service mandate is designed to ensure that the 
people of the canton are provided with banking services. 
Further, we help solve economic and social problems in 
the Canton of Zurich under the support mandate – always 
in accordance with sustainable criteria as dictated by the 
sustainability mandate. Our business activities therefore 
benefit the canton, the municipalities, companies and the 
population. In the next section, we will look at what this 
public service mandate means in practice.

The service mandate
The service obligation is at the heart of our public service 
mandate. Its purpose is to ensure that the people and 
companies in the canton have reliable access to banking 
services. This includes payment transactions, the investment 
and financing business and services that cover their other 
financial needs.

We offer a wide range of products, including state-of-
the-art digital solutions, to satisfy this service mandate. 
We operate the canton’s densest network of ATMs and 
branches. For more complex transactions, our client ad-
visors are available to provide personal consultations. The 
bank can also be contacted by phone, via the electronic 

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 201822 Management Report

Public service mandate in the Canton of Zurich

Service mandate 
We provide people and businesses in the canton  
with  comprehensive banking services. 

Support mandate 
We assist the Canton of Zurich in the economic,  
social and environmental arenas.

Sustainability mandate 
Our operations in all areas follow a sustainable  
business model. 

Sustainability

S

e

r

v

i

c

e

Canton  
of Zurich

p

r

o

v

i
s
i

o

n

Support

channels of the eBanking and eBanking Mobile services, 
via the smartwatch app and through various social media 
channels. Zürcher Kantonalbank also performs services 
outside the scope of services provided by traditional uni-
versal banks. We provide non-cost-covering micro- loans 
and operate a pawnbroking agency, for example.

We make an ongoing effort to expand our state-of-
the-art applications. Today, around half of our clients have 
an  eBanking  agreement.  Our  goal  is  to  offer  them  an 
excellent experience across all our channels.

Promotion of home ownership
We have been promoting home ownership and affordable 
housing for decades. First-time buyers of residential prop-
erty benefit from ZKB starter mortgages, which have a 
reduced interest rate that is lower than the normal ZKB 
fixed-rate mortgage. All in all, ZKB starter mortgages worth 
more than CHF 5.3 billion were granted in 2018. 

Commitment to SMEs 
We put a special focus on the concerns of small and  
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up 99 per-
cent of Zurich’s businesses. Zürcher Kantonalbank has 
supported SMEs since it was first founded and, for several 
years now, has also been providing support to innovative 
start-ups. This support is offered at different levels and 
can include funding as well as specific support measures. 
With an annual investment volume of between CHF 10 
million and CHF 15 million, we are one of the largest 
providers of risk capital in Switzerland.

The support mandate
As the canton with both the largest economy and the 
largest population in the country, the Canton of Zurich is 
responsible for addressing numerous economic and social 
issues. The support mandate obligates us to help the 
canton resolve these issues. Nowadays, our support fre-
quently comes in the form of sponsorship commitments. 
For detailed information about our activities in this area, 
please go to zkb.ch/sponsoring.

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018 
Management Report

23 

Sponsorship
With more than 150 sponsorship partners in the areas of 
nature, culture, sport, social activities and entrepreneurship, 
we make a daily contribution towards making the canton 
an appealing place to live and work. We are committed 
to protecting our natural resources, preserving social co-
hesion and strengthening the competitiveness of the Great-
er Zurich Area. It only goes to follow that we advocate a 
balanced relationship with nature and wildlife as well as 
sustainable mobility, cultural diversity, equal opportunity, 
innovation and entrepreneurship.

In all likelihood, anybody who spends time in the Can-
ton of Zurich has already encountered and taken advan-
tage of our offerings. Here’s a small sampling of our com-
mitments:

Environment & mobility

Züri Velo  Promoting sustainable mobility is a matter of 
great concern to us. In April 2018, we collaborated with 
the City of Zurich and PubliBike to launch the Züri Velo 
bike rental system. Any of our clients with an eBanking 
agreement who also use the eBanking Mobile app enjoy 
a 20 percent discount on PubliBike’s entire bike sharing 
network in Switzerland.

Culture & stage

Schauspielhaus Zürich  Every season features around 20 
new productions on the performance schedule of Schau- 
spielhaus Zürich. Attracting 150,000 patrons every year 
to its two buildings, Pfauen and Schiffbau, Schauspielhaus 
Zürich is not only the largest stage for spoken theatre in 
Switzerland but also one of the most prominent in all of 
Europe. We have been helping to ensure the success of 
this theatre since 2017 and our clients have the option of 
upgrading their tickets to better seats.

Zwingli – der Reformator  Ulrich Zwingli’s reformation left 
an indelible mark on our society, culture and economy, 
one which can still be felt today. Our support for the 
feature film “Zwingli – der Reformator” is an important 
contribution towards preserving our cultural and historical 
heritage. 

Awards  We present awards every year to reward people 
for their extraordinary contributions towards the arts. 
These are divided into four categories – literature, theatre, 
music and film – and include the ZKB Schiller Award, the 
prizes awarded during the Zurich Theatre Spectacle and 
the ZKB Jazz Award, to name just a few.

Zurich Zoo  We have been supporting Zurich Zoo for 
decades. A savannah landscape, Lewa Savanne, is sched-
uled to open there in 2020. Last year, we organised a 
charity concert at the Schauspielhaus to help promote this 
unique project. Since we feel very strongly that everybody 
should have an opportunity to enjoy the zoo’s nearly 400 
different species of animals, we organised events includ-
ing a zoo day for people with autism as well as a tour of 
the zoo for people suffering from dementia and their 
family members.

Zauberlaterne 
In 2019 we are starting a new partnership 
with the Zauberlaterne, or Magic Lantern, a film club for 
children. This non-profit association has 75 film clubs 
across Switzerland and presents high-quality, age-appro-
priate films. Zauberlaterne not only aims to familiarise 
children with the world of cinema, but also to raise aware-
ness of the importance of a responsible approach to audio- 
visual media. More than 80 showings are planned in the 
Canton of Zurich for the current season, which goes from 
September 2018 to June 2019.

ZVV nighttime network  We have served as the main 
sponsor of the ZVV nighttime network for 16 years to 
make sure nighttime revellers get back home safely. This 
offer eliminates the mandatory nighttime supplement of 
CHF 5 on every trip on the ZVV nighttime network for 
youths and students with a ZKB youngworld package.

Literaturhaus Zürich  Literaturhaus Zürich celebrates its 
20th anniversary in 2019 and we have been supporting 
it since 2000. It organises more than 100 public events 
every year including readings by authors, discussions, 
lectures, symposiums and workshops. It is located in the 
Museumsgesellschaft (Museum Society) building at Lim-
matquai 62.

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Sport & health

Recreational sports and ZKB ZüriLaufCup  Through our 
commitment to recreational sports, we are able to promote 
the good health of people throughout the canton. The 
regional gymnastics festival in Dinhard, for example, prof-
ited from this engagement in 2018. In 1986 we initiated 
the ZKB ZüriLaufCup, Switzerland’s largest and oldest 
series of races, and remain its main sponsor to this day. 
The new season, comprising 13 events held across the 
canton, was kicked off in January 2019.

“Hosenlupf” in the canton  “Schwingen”, a form of wrest-
ling native to Switzerland, has been popular for centuries. 
Top athletes use speed, dexterity and strength to force 
their opponents into the sawdust – showing fairness and 
a great deal of respect at all times. Our decision to support 
the Zürcher Kantonalschwingfest (Swiss Wrestling Festival 
of the Canton of Zurich) and the Zürcher Kantonal-Schwing-
erverband (Swiss Wrestling Association of the Canton of 
Zurich) is based on these shared values.

Spitex  Spitex organisations work to ensure the well- 
being of people in need of care and practical assistance 
in their own homes. This type of support is provided to 
more than 40,000 people in the Canton of Zurich. Zürcher 

Use of sponsorship funds

15 %

27 %

24 %

34 %

Various  
(regional sponsorship, 
 communication, reserve)
27 %
Society  
(culture, sport, health) 
34 %
Environment (nature) 
24 %
Business  
(career and education, 
 business support)
15 %

Kantonalbank is a sponsor of the cantonal Spitex Associ-
ation.

Entrepreneurship & education

Start-ups and universities  We promote young companies 
at different levels to ensure that the Canton of Zurich is 
an attractive place to do business, both now and in the 
future. Every year, we finance between 60 and 90 young 
companies and also provide innovative start-ups with risk 
capital. We are also increasingly supporting projects that 
combine science with business, as evidenced by the sup-
port we provide to Zurich’s universities and their initiatives 
(e.g. Zurich Information Security & Privacy Center and the 
Center for Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability), 
the Technoparks in Zurich and Winterthur and the ZKB 
Technopark Pioneer Award. We also co-founded Innova-
tion Park Zurich, which is located on the grounds of Düben-
dorf airport.

Dual system of vocational training  The dual system of 
vocational training is one of the secrets to Switzerland’s 
success. We promote this system as a member of the Pro 
Duale Berufsbildung Schweiz association. We also have a 
commitment to Berufsmesse Zürich, the country’s largest 
career fair, and present an annual sustainability award, 
the ZKB Nachhaltigkeitspreis, to vocational trainees.

Neustarter Stiftung   Some people want to shift gears 
before retiring and take their careers in a completely 
different direction. The Neustarter Stiftung is a foundation 
devoted to precisely this, and its “Reboot 50plus / Post-ca-
reer Career” campaign is designed to inspire, motivate 
and network. Neustarter Stiftung is the successor organ-
isation of the Tertianum-Stiftung, a foundation we have 
been supporting for decades.

Pro Juventute “Money Management”  We support Pro 
Juventute in its efforts to teach children how to manage 
money and prevent young people from accumulating debt. 
This is particularly important because children are exposed 
to consumer desires from a very young age. Pro Juventute 
has been committed to the concerns and needs of children 
and young people for over 100 years. 

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25 

The sustainability mandate
Sustainability is an integral aspect of our business model. 
That means we incorporate environmental, social and 
economic criteria into everything we do. This mindset is 
reflected in our products, the way we manage our staff, 
our commitments and how we configure our value chain. 
For example, we use 100 percent green “naturemade 
star” electricity, which helps us gradually reduce our CO2 
emissions. Our head office was built in compliance with 
the MINERGIE renovation standard and is much better 
insulated than required by the criteria set forth in the 
standard. 

Products and services
Our products and services allow us to have the biggest 
impact. ZKB environmental loans, for example, have been 
encouraging environmentally friendly construction and 
renovations for more than 25 years now. They grant 
property owners a reduction in the interest rate due on 
their selected ZKB fixed-rate mortgage for a five-year 
period. For these terms to be granted, however, several 
criteria must be met, including MINERGIE or 2000-Watt 
Site certification, which are seals of approval for energy- 
efficient buildings.

Our  Sustainable  Investments  product  line  helps  our 
clients invest responsibly. We launched our first sustainable 
investment solutions more than 20 years ago and currently 
manage assets of more than CHF 11 billion, which are 
invested in accordance with sustainability criteria that take 
environmental friendliness, fairness and corporate govern-
ance into consideration. 

Apart  from  that,  we  also  have  a  commitment  to  a 
variety of organisations dedicated to promoting sustain-
able development – including the Minergie Association 
and the Sustainable Construction Network Switzerland. 
The Sustainability Report for 2018 shows how Zürch-
er Kantonalbank exemplifies sustainability as an integrat-
ed business principle. In the section of the report prepared 
in accordance with the requirements of the Global Re-
porting Initiative (GRI), all key indicators are presented in 
accordance with the GRI standard. Our current operation-
al environmental programme for 2018 – 2022 is running 
successfully and right on target. 

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Management Report

Group mission 
statement  
and strategy

Our vision is “Close to you”.  
Our mission statement describes 
our identity and serves as a 
compass for our conduct. Our 
strategy describes the path we 
need to follow in order to fulfil  
our public service mandate, 
both now and in the future:  
we want to become simpler  
and more agile, strengthen  
our investment and retirement 
planning business and create 
proximity, both online and  
offline.

Zürcher Kantonalbank is characterised by continuity and 
stability. As the market’s leading bank, we have a respon-
sibility to address economic, social and technological 
developments and, in keeping with our standing as a 
pioneer, to come up with promising solutions for them.
We align our strategy, our organisation and our pro-
cesses in a way that ensures our ability to act flexibly in 
the market so that we can continuously fulfil our role as 
the bank that’s “Close to you”.

Group mission statement
The group mission statement serves as a compass for our 
conduct and the future development of our company and 
our subsidiaries.

The more fast-paced the environment, the more im-
portant it is that a long-term vision, goals and values guide 
our actions. Our Board of Directors has reformulated what 
this means in today’s world in a new mission statement.
Yet one thing is unalterable, and that is the fact that 
we will always be a bank dedicated to the people and 
companies of Zurich. We engage in economic, environ-
mental and social activities to fulfil our public service man-
date.

Stakeholder groups
We want to enthuse our clients. In order to position our-
selves successfully in this rapidly changing world, we 
continuously strive to improve our understanding of prox-
imity: in the future, we want to advise our clients not only 
as financial experts, but also expand their own financial 
expertise, provide them with them lifelong support and 
offer them solutions to challenges they are not even aware 
of yet.

As an institution under public law, we are accountable 
in particular to our owner, the Canton of Zurich. Because 
of this, we conduct our business activities with a focus on 
maximum financial security and reliability at all times.

Since this is only possible through the efforts of com-
mitted employees who identify with our vision, goals and 
values, we provide them with comprehensive, long-term 
support. We do this not only so they can actively contrib-
ute to the development of our organisation, but also to 
enable them to successfully enhance their qualifications 
and skills.

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Management Report

27 

Close to you 
We support, advise and offer solutions.  
Always, everywhere. Throughout your life.

Internationally  
successful

Nationally strong

No. 1 in the  
Greater Zurich Area

Our values
In line with our broader understanding of proximity, we 
have redefined our values to be more active and succinct: 
responsible, inspiring and passionate. These three values 
shape and reflect our culture and the conduct of our staff.
We conduct ourselves responsibly in every situation 
and with respect to all stakeholder groups. We are a reli-
able  partner,  make  a  positive  impact  and  are  at  hand 
when needed. Responsible decisions always also focus on 
creating sustainable added value – for both society and 
the environment.

Those who take initiative and inspire do not wait to 
see what others do. We think ahead, anticipate trends, 
show courage and assume a pioneering role, and in doing 
so motivate others. If we internalise our value of “inspir-
ing” within our culture, we will become the bank that sets 
the pace beyond the Zurich area.

Our  actions  do  not  revolve  around  processes  but 
around people – regardless of whether these contacts take 
place online or in the physical world. Our passion is pal-
pable, because we invest our heart and soul into every one 
of our encounters and in everything we do, our commit-
ment is full of enthusiasm and perseverance. 

Our strategy
We are a universal bank and a leader in our home market, 
the Greater Zurich Area. For certain client segments, we 
also provide services throughout Switzerland and in se-
lected other countries.

Despite this excellent basis, we must still face the chal-
lenges presented by our modern-day world – globalisation, 
digitisation, regulation of the financial sector, demograph-
ic change – and find contemporary solutions for our clients.
Our  strategy  tells  us  which  path  we  must  take  as 
Zürcher  Kantonalbank.  It  defines  our  future  business  
activities and priorities.

Broad-based universal bank
We firmly believe that the only way for us to fulfil our 
broad public service mandate is by being a universal bank. 
This puts us in a position to offer the full range of banking 
services from one source and generate added value in the 
process.

We issue clear value propositions for each of our client 
segments: Retail & Commercial clients, Private Banking, 
Corporate Clients and Financial Institutions & Multination-
als. We support our clients at every stage of life and in all 
business circumstances, fully in line with our company 
values: responsible, inspiring and passionate.

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Management Report

Strategy

Group mission statement

Group strategy

Sales

Retail & Commercial 
Clients

Private Banking

Corporate Clients

Financial Institutions 
& Multinationals

Channels

Core business areas

Monetary 
transactions

Borrowing 
business

Loans

Investments &  
pensions

Trading & capital  
markets

Functions

Logistics

Finance

Risk

Personnel

Our core business includes monetary transactions, the 
borrowing business, loans, the investment and retirement 
planning business as well as the trading and capital mar-
ket business. Our entire value chain is focused on the 
Greater Zurich Area, where our proximity to the market 
and systematic, cross-divisional collaboration give us a 
competitive edge. We also offer certain services across 
Switzerland and selected services internationally.

We pursue a diversification strategy: we generate our 
income in several different business areas to spread risks. 
To achieve broad income diversification, we aim for qual-
itative growth in the investment and asset management 

business. We wish to grow mainly organically. Our focus 
is on the Greater Zurich Area. We are not planning any 
substantial expansion abroad or disproportionately risky 
business.

Three strategic priorities
We have defined three priorities, which will enable us to 
systematically implement our strategy. We want to become 
simpler and more agile, strengthen the investment and 
retirement planning business and create proximity across 
all channels, both online and offline.

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29 

duty to show clients how they can build their assets over 
the long term – always in line with their risk profile. We 
reached a milestone with the launch of our new investment 
offering.

At  the  same  time,  demographic  trends  are  putting 
retirement benefit plans – especially the AHV and pension 
funds – under more and more pressure. The importance 
of individual pension arrangements (pillar 3) is rising as a 
result. Rising life expectancy and better long-term health 
are also ushering in a trend towards flexible retirement 
arrangements. To accommodate this development, we 
have expanded our retirement and financial planning ser-
vices even further and launched new products, including 
a pillar 3a pension fund with an equity weighting of 75 
percent. Given that any changes made to retirement plan-
ning, investments and taxes can impact the other areas, 
our clients appreciate the fact that they receive competent 
support for their third phase of life.

Create proximity both online and offline
Because our clients expect to be able to conduct their 
banking transactions around the clock and from any  
location, we are continuing to develop our digital inter-
faces such as eBanking, eBanking Mobile and cashless 
payment options. 

We firmly believe, however, that personal advice is still 
indispensable when it comes to more complex financial 
matters, a stance confirmed every day by both our clients 
and our client advisors. Which is why we are also upgrad-
ing our advisory services. We will invest further in both 
our branches and the expertise of our staff. 

Whether contact takes place in the digital or physical 
world is no longer important. What matters is that we 
harmonise our client interfaces. The digital self-service 
options will become more personalised and personal ad-
visory services will become more digital. Our brand prom-
ise is to be “Close to you”, and we want our clients to 
experience this consistently.

Become simpler and more agile
Agility is a prerequisite for responding swiftly to changes 
in a complex environment. We want to keep our business 
model, our organisation, our infrastructure and our pro-
cesses both agile and flexible.

This  lets  us  vastly  simplify  the  financing  process  for 
owner-occupied properties, for example. Prospective buy-
ers can now use the “clever search” tool to conduct a 
more targeted search for the properties that would best 
suit their wants and needs. The new approach employs a 
matching score that focuses their search on relevant needs 
rather than merely a geographic location. This is possible 
because we link specific, individual needs – like a child’s 
walk to school, shopping opportunities or the commute 
to work – with real estate offers and information. In doing 
so, the online tool creates an ideal starting point that can 
be seamlessly integrated into the consultation.

When we say “simpler and more agile”, we also refer 
to structuring our products and services in every business 
area  in  a  clear,  easy-to-understand  way.  We  do  this  to 
ensure that our clients can navigate quickly through our 
broad range of offers. Our banking packages, for example, 
bundle several different services together. We constantly 
strive  to  streamline  our  processes  and  automate  them 
where this makes sense. We are making ongoing additions 
to the range of self-service options in eBanking and eBank-
ing Mobile. Our new investment offering is also structured 
in a way that ensures every step in the investment process 
is efficient and effective. Any efficiency we gain as a result 
benefits the services we provide our clients.

Last but not least, we also promote agility internally. 
We offer our employees interesting platforms for person-
al development and encourage them to take responsibil-
ity for their own actions. One of the consequences of this 
was that we replaced the static annual objective-setting 
agreement with the dialogue-oriented “Performance and 
Development” approach. 

Strengthen the investment and retirement planning 
business
The investment and retirement planning business is our 
second priority. With interest rates still at a historically low 
level, the current environment makes it nearly impossible 
to generate returns through conventional savings. In line 
with our brand promise of being “Close to you”, it is our 

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Business  
environment and 
risk assessment

Ten years after the outbreak  
of the financial crisis, the Swiss 
economy and financial centre 
appear to be in strong shape. 
Digitisation represents an oppor-
tunity for banks. However,  
competition in the industry is 
becoming fiercer, and regula- 
tory requirements are likely to 
be tightened further. 

General economic situation
While 2017 was regarded as a year of steadily rising share 
prices, exceptionally low volatility and a very good global 
economy, 2018 was a year characterised by significant 
change. The fantastic start to the year for the global eq-
uity markets was followed by an unexpectedly sharp 
correction of around 10 percent in February. There were 
many factors behind this downturn, including concerns 
that the US Federal Reserve (Fed) would increase interest 
rates too rapidly. The markets enjoyed a surprisingly fast 
recovery over the subsequent months, before suffering 
the next tangible decline in October.

Investors worried in particular about a potential slow-
down of the global economy. The main driver behind this 
was the trade dispute that the United States initiated with 
China. The President of the United States Donald Trump 
levied tariffs on goods from the Asian superpower in sev-
eral escalation steps. In return, China likewise issued puni- 
tive tariffs on US goods.

Meanwhile, the tailwind in monetary policy dropped 
once again in 2018. In the United States, at least, the Fed 
raised key interest rates several times due to the good 
economic situation. In Europe, Switzerland and Japan, the 
monetary policy remained very loose. There is still a long 
way to go in these regions before interest rates are nor-
malised. While US yields continued to rise, the yield on 
the Swiss Confederation bond in 2018 continued to fluc-
tuate  around  the  zero  line.  The  US  dollar  appreciated 
against most currencies, while the commodities markets 
tumbled in the second half of the year.

There  were  important  changes  on  the  geopolitical 
stage. For example, US President Donald Trump improved 
relations with North Korea, which was still perceived as a 
threat last year. Of greater concern to the financial mar-
kets, however, was United Kingdom’s wrangling to leave 
the EU following the Brexit referendum decision made by 
its people. The value of the British pound fell significantly 
 due to the unclear outcome of the Brexit negotiations. 
The  dispute  over  Italy’s  planned  budget  deficit,  which 
from the perspective of the EU was too high, caused re-
sentment between Italy and the EU and created uncer-
tainty. All the same, Rome came around in December and 
made concessions regarding its new debts.

In 2018, there was a significant increase in volatility 
on the  financial markets, which we  see as a return to 

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31 

normality after two years of unusually low market fluctu-
ations. In light of the geopolitical uncertainties, it is worth 
keeping a cool head and examining the still intact mac-
roeconomic fundamentals. Despite all the prophecies of 
doom, we assume that solutions will yet be found for 
many of the prevailing political problems.

So  what  is  the  outlook  for  the  global  economy  in 
2019? The global economy has bravely held its own to 
date and is still operating at a satisfactory level. Despite 
the upswing in the US which is already in line to break 
records in terms of its length, an imminent recession there 
seems unlikely. This also applies to most of the other in-
dustrialised countries. Although the majority of leading 
economic indicators point to a slowdown in global eco-
nomic  growth,  the  strong  growth  in  the  employment 
markets of the industrialised nations – which is usually 
accompanied by wage growth – has caused household 
incomes to rise, with a significant portion of this likely to 
flow back into consumer spending. The more expansive 
fiscal policies of major countries will also continue to pro-
vide support for the economy.

The strong growth in the United States in 2018 is not 
sustainable. Even with the anticipated 2 percent deceler-
ation in economic output in 2019, however, the US econ-
omy  is  still  a  long  way  from  a  worrying  slowdown.  In 
export-oriented Switzerland, the economy will likewise 
shift down a gear in 2019, as from an economic point of 
view it is dependent on European and global demand. 
Despite stagnating real wages, private consumption will 
be one of the pillars of growth over the next few quarters. 
Following growth of 2.7 percent this year, we anticipate 
GDP growth of 1.7 percent for 2019.

We expect the US Fed to maintain its more restrictive 
monetary policy with two further interest rate hikes in 
2019. In the euro zone, we do not expect the European 
Central Bank (ECB) to raise interest rates before autumn 
2019. The Swiss National Bank (SNB) wants to avoid any 
upward pressure from being exerted on the Swiss franc 
and  is  therefore  unlikely  to  raise  the  key  interest  rate  
before the ECB.

The Swiss banking centre
In September 2008, around ten years ago, the financial 
crisis was triggered by the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, 
which in turn impacted the real economy. Contrary to the 

negative forecasts at the time, the Swiss financial centre 
still makes an important contribution to the Swiss econ-
omy. Just under 260 banks account for almost 5 percent 
of the local value chain and for over 7 percent of taxes. 
In addition, the Swiss banking sector provides as many 
jobs as it did before the financial crisis. Switzerland is still 
the number one in the world for cross-border private 
banking. 

Switzerland – a competitive market
Margins have come under pressure in many business  
areas, and competition in the Swiss market is particularly 
fierce. The major Swiss banks have rediscovered their home 
market, while foreign banks are also re-entering the Swiss 
market. In addition to Postfinance, to which the Federal 
Council now also intends to grant authorisation to enter 
the mortgage business, pension funds and life insurers 
have also discovered this business area for themselves.

The general conditions in banking operations remain 
challenging. Banks have to face up to increasingly strin-
gent international and national regulatory requirements, 
find the right solutions to meet changing client needs, 
make good use of the opportunities offered by digitisation 
and deal with the negative interest rate environment.

Despite all of this, Swiss banks are back on track in 
terms  of  growth.  Assets  under  management  have  in-
creased, and the commission business has experienced a 
revival. In the interest business, the banks recorded an 
increase in mortgage lending. There were no large-scale 
loan defaults. At the same time, the banks continued to 
focus on cost management.

Increase in client activity
Although the financial markets trended sideways and their 
performance was much less euphoric than in 2017, client 
activity in asset management was, in fact, higher. As inter-
est rates in Europe and Switzerland remained stuck at record 
low levels and there did not seem to be an end to the 
“investment crisis” in sight, the banks attempted to increase 
the penetration rate of asset management mandates.

Negative interest rates in Switzerland remain challeng-
ing for the banks. It costs a great deal of money to use 
savings for refinancing, which is why there is an increasing 
shift to bonds. Growth on the mortgage market is grad-
ually slowing. In the case of investment properties, de-

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Management Report

mand appears to have been met in some regions, while 
there is an oversupply in others. Additionally, fixed-rate 
mortgages are expiring and being renewed with lower 
interest rates. We do not expect to see a turnaround in 
terms of interest rates until the end of 2019 at the earliest.
In the corporate lending business, companies are in-
creasingly evaluating alternative sources of financing such 
as the capital market. Most SMEs are confident about the 
future.

Digitisation solutions
Digitisation is helping new fintech companies to gain a 
foothold in the market. It is also providing the established 
banks with numerous opportunities – partly through col-
laborative partnerships with innovative fintech start-ups. 
These collaborative partnerships are seen by most financial 
services providers in Switzerland as a key means of pro-
viding solid quality at reasonable prices.

Most of the institutions working in retail banking over-
hauled their mobile banking solutions in 2018. Ultimate-
ly, however, the digital channels are more useful for main-
taining the loyalty of existing clients than for acquiring 
new clients, not least because digitisation provides a wide 
range of clients with easy access to banking services.

Regulation
After the financial crisis, a trend towards tightening super- 
visory law began, which is becoming more pronounced. 
This means that financial products, services and markets 
are subject to more comprehensive regulation.

Supervisory legislation
Based on the latest standards issued by the Basel Com-
mittee (Basel III), FINMA has revised numerous circulars 
and introduced stricter regulations, for example with regard 
to credit risks (Circular 2019 / 02) as well as risk diversifi-
cation and interest rate risks (Circular 2019 / 01), both of 
which entered into force on 1 January 2019. The new 
Capital Adequacy Ordinance for systemically relevant 
domestic banks likewise entered into force on this date. 
In parallel to this, the restructuring law set out in the Swiss 
Banking Act (BankA) is being revised and the regulations 
on deposit protection are being amended in reaction to 
the EU package of measures of November 2016, which 
are intended to strengthen bank resilience. 

Increased transparency
Switzerland has implemented the agreement on the auto- 
matic exchange of information (AEOI) and the multilater-
al agreement on the exchange of country-by-country 
reports (ALBA). This relieves some of the pressure exerted 
on the Swiss financial centre.

The Swiss Federal Act on Tax Reform and AHV Financ-
ing (STAF) remains a challenge. The aim of the proposal 
is to create competitive tax conditions in Switzerland – 
despite the replacement of existing tax regimes – which 
are more in line with international standards. The popu-
lation should also benefit from the link between the tax 
reform and AHV financing. 

Investor protection
The Swiss Financial Services Act (FinSA) and the Swiss 
Financial Institutions Act (FinIA) are scheduled to enter 
into force, along with the ordinances, on 1 January 2020. 
It is in the interests of our clients that all financial service 
providers will be required to comply with these standard-
ised rules, which are designed to ensure sufficient investor 
protection. Legislation sets out the established practice, 
but it goes into further detail for areas such as information 
obligations. FinSA / FinIA adopt the main provisions set out 
in the European MiFID II / MiFIR regulations. Zürcher Kan-
tonalbank has already anticipated the requirements as far 
as possible with the “new investment offering”. 

Combating money laundering
Another area on which regulators are focusing is the 
combating of money laundering. The current agenda 
includes the revision of corporate law in line with the 
recommendations made by the Global Forum to increase 
transparency as well as the revision of the Anti-Money 
Laundering Act and anti-money laundering legislation 
based on the recommendations of the Financial Action 
Task Force on Money Laundering.

Data becoming increasingly important
Data and the way in which it is handled is constantly 
growing in importance in light of increasing digitisation. 
This megatrend is reflected in regulatory terms in, among 
other things, the strengthening of data protection, increas-
ing regulation to support digital business models (fintech) 
and the growing need for effective cyber security. 

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33 

The pending revision of the Swiss Federal Act on Data 
Protection (FADP) is a reaction to the new, more stringent 
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) issued by the 
EU. The aim of the revision is to maintain the current 
equivalence with EU data protection legislation. This is all 
the more important as the GDPR is designed for extrater-
ritorial application in various scenarios, which means that 
it would apply directly to Swiss companies unless there 
was an equivalent Swiss regulation. Maintaining the prov-
en principle-based character of the FADP is also in the 
interest of Swiss SMEs.

In the fintech sector, the legislative project for the cre-
ation of an electronic identity (Swiss Federal Act on Elec-
tronic Identification Services, E-ID Act, BGEID) currently 
stands  out  from  numerous  other  regulatory  initiatives 
because of its importance for the basic infrastructure of 
a functioning digital world. The Swiss Federal Govern-
ment issues Swiss passports, ID cards and Foreign Nation-
al Identity Cards in order to provide a transparent means 
of identification for the physical world. In addition, an 
electronic proof of identity (a so-called “E-ID”) is now to 
be created for the digital world. Discussions are being held 
in parliament as regards the legal basis needed for this 
E-ID. The legal basis would give rise to a legally recog-
nised, user-friendly and secure solution that can be used 
throughout the digital world and that sets a benchmark.

Risk assessment
Zürcher Kantonalbank fosters a risk culture that is geared 
towards responsible behaviour and ensures that risks are 
handled professionally. Every aspect of risk is monitored 
on an ongoing business. The Executive Board and the 
Board of Directors are provided with comprehensive reports 
on credit, market and liquidity risks, compliance risks, 
operational risks and reputational risks on a quarterly 
basis.

A task for the Board of Directors
Risk management is practised at every level within the 
bank. The Board of Directors is responsible for the man-
agement of overall risks – it approves the principles for 
risk management and compliance, the Code of Conduct, 
the framework for group-wide risk management and the 
risk tolerance regulations at group level. The Board of 
Directors is responsible for assuring a suitable risk and 

control environment within the group and arranges for 
an effective internal control system (ICS). It also approves 
transactions involving major financial exposure. 

Credit, market and liquidity risks
All in all, the risk profile of Zürcher Kantonalbank did not 
change much in 2018.

With our credit policy, we observe a risk policy geared 
towards continuity. The evaluation of environmental and 
social risks forms an important part of the credit assess-
ment process. In line with our public service mandate, 
Zürcher Kantonalbank consciously takes on higher risks 
by providing equity financing to start-ups.

In the lending business, the volume of mortgage loans 
also increased in 2018, growing by 2.7 percent to CHF 
81.3 billion. The lion’s share of real estate financing is used 
for properties owned by private clients in the Greater Zu-
rich Area. In light of the latest price trends on the real 
estate market for investment properties, we have reduced 
the  maximum  loan-to-value  ratio  for  new  financing  in 
individual segments. There were no material changes in 
the rating structure of the various credit portfolios.

In the trading business, we pursue a strategy geared 
towards client transactions. The “Value at Risk” risk indi-
cator for trading in 2018 was comparable to that of 2017. 
Asset and liability risk management continues to be im-
pacted by the negative interest rates in Swiss francs. The 
key figures for liquidity risk indicate a comfortable liquid-
ity situation for Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Operational and compliance risks 
In terms of operational risks, we are focusing on limiting 
cyber and process risks. The bank is responding to the 
dynamic threat situation by implementing technical pro-
tective and awareness-raising measures as well as by 
constantly formulating and developing rule- and model- 
based detection and monitoring measures.

As in the previous years, the regulatory changes show 
that an increasing number of requirements are being im-
posed on Zürcher Kantonalbank. This increasing complex-
ity requires adjustments to constantly be made.

In the previous financial year, Zürcher Kantonalbank 
reached a settlement with the US Department of Justice 
(DoJ) in connection with its legacy business with US cli-
ents. The cross-border asset management business has 

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been adjusted gradually since 2009. Zürcher Kantonal-
bank is committed to a strict tax-compliant business policy, 
and in terms of geographic coverage focuses on selected 
core markets with an emphasis on Europe. 

Further information on risk management and the risk 
profile is available in the Risk Report (Note l in the Finan-
cial Report).

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Banking services 
for individuals  
and companies

In a challenging market envi-
ronment, we have delivered  
a strong performance in all 
business areas. Our efforts to 
consistentlyalign our bank 
structure with the needs of  
our clients have really paid off.  
We are constantly working  
to provide our clients with an  
excellent client experience 
across all channels, regardless 
of whether it is in the physical 
or digital world.

35 

In order to understand the financial needs of our clients 
as accurately as possible and to develop the best solutions 
for them, we differentiate between the following client 
groups: Retail & Commercial Clients, Private Banking, Cor-
porate Clients as well as Financial Institutions & Multina-
tionals. We offer specialist services to each of these client 
groups and have organised our business units according-
ly. Each of these business units posted healthy results in 
the year under review. This reflects the trust that our clients 
have in us, and is confirmation that we are on the right 
track in terms of our strategy.

Number 1 in the Greater Zurich Area
Our economic strength is based on a broadly diversified 
business model. We are the number 1 address in the 
Canton of Zurich for basic services such as payment trans-
actions and savings. Almost half of all Zurich residents 
have an account with Zürcher Kantonalbank. At the end 
of 2018, we had around 878,000 relationships with retail 
clients. With a market share of around 50 percent, we are 
the market leader in both retail and corporate banking. 
In terms of loans, we are the clear number 1 in the Great-
er Zurich Area. Furthermore, we are one of the preferred 
partners in a number of client segments, both in Switzer-
land and internationally in a selection of other countries. 
With Swisscanto Invest by Zürcher Kantonalbank, we are 
also the third-largest fund provider in Switzerland.

Client proximity
We ensure proximity to our clients every single day, wheth-
er it be during advisory consultations or in our client 
lobbies. To this end, we run around 70 branch offices and 
thus have the densest network of branches and ATMs in 
the Canton of Zurich. Both retail and corporate clients use 
our branches as important points of contact for advice, 
which is why we modernised our three branches in Regens- 
dorf, Richterswil and Zurich-Neumünster. In view of the 
changing client needs in terms of being able to make 
payments anywhere and at any time as well as the simul-
taneous upgrading of digital channels, we also made 
substantial investments in our eBanking, eBanking Mobile 
and cashless payment solutions in the year under review. 
We continuously tailor our digital services to the needs of 
our clients and add new functions, where necessary.

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Management Report

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Digitisation  
and innovation

Digitisation influences  
the way in which we work 
and the demands of our 
clients. We meet the chang-
ing needs of our clients  
by constantly developing 
our banking services. 
Every business unit within 
Zürcher Kantonalbank is 
working on promising new 
solutions.

We foster a corporate culture that 
supports innovation at every level. All 
of our divisions are constantly looking 
to develop innovations that provide 
economic benefits. As part of the 
annual strategic planning and con- 
trolling process, we develop solutions 
for every client segment in the bank. 
To this end, trends are analysed 
systematically and across all indus-
tries, innovation is promoted and 
meaningful partnerships and collabo-
rations are examined. Numerous 
innovations – such as the “new invest- 
ment offering” – have made a major 
contribution to the bank’s success in 
the past financial year.

Projects and processes

Including clients in product  
development

In order to find out exactly what  
our clients value, we are taking a new 
interdisciplinary approach. This 
approach factors client perspectives 
into the initial stage of a product or 
service being created, which leads  
to well-rehearsed procedures and 
entrenched assumptions also being 
scrutinised.  

Smart search for real estate
Since the end of 2017, our website has 
featured the “clever search” function, 
which allows visitors to define their 
specific needs when searching for  
a residential property to buy or rent. 
By the end of 2018, we had further 
expanded the digital self-service 
options for people wishing to buy 
their own home. We do not want to 
use this function as a means of 
replacing the advisory discussion,  
but wish to seamlessly link up the 
channels for financing advice by 2019.

Swisscom as a partner  
in payment transactions

Since March 2017, Swisscom has been 
processing payment transactions for 
Zürcher Kantonalbank reliably and 
stably. Thanks to the successful out- 
sourcing of this processing, the quality 
and efficiency of this work was further 
optimised. Furthermore, the new 
international payment transaction 
standards as set out in ISO 20022 are 
now available to all clients. 

Digital identity
In collaboration with Swiss Post, 
Swiss Federal Railways, Swisscom 
and other banks and insurance 
companies, we founded the Swiss 
Sign Group at the start of 2018. The 
aim of this group is to create a solution 
for a digital identity for Switzerland – 
the SwissID. The SwissID will allow 
users to operate securely in the digital 
world, and it will make online services 
easier to use. In addition, Zürcher 
Kantonalbank represents the Swiss 
cantonal banks in the “Digitisation” 
expert commission recently founded 
by the Swiss Bankers Association.

From a hackathon to a kickbox
Different mindsets and perspectives 
are important drivers of innovation. 
We thus conducted our very first 
hackathon for our employees in 2017. 
A hackathon – a new word coined  
by joining “hack” and “marathon” 
together – is a collaborative event in 
which the participants organise 
themselves into small, cross-func-
tional teams. The aim is to develop 
ideas for a given task or to find solu- 
tions for given problems in the 
shortest possible time. 22 agile teams 
delivered impressive performances, 
showcasing their creativity, commit-
ment and team spirit. Some of the 
ideas developed were taken further  
in 2018 by means of a “kickbox” –  

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37 

an empowerment programme for 
promoting innovation. In this pro-
gramme, we apply a systematic 
method that motivates employees  
to actively and independently tackle  
the realisation of business ideas.

Commitment to innovation  
management

We have been a member of the  
“F10 Fintech Incubator & Accelera-
tor” innovation centre since 2017. 
This allows us to work together with 
other companies to further develop 
digital transformation within the 
financial sector. It also offers us an 
opportunity to provide start-ups with 
professional guidance. In addition, 
we have strengthened our collabora-
tion with the “Bluelion” incubator. 
Another example of our commitment 
to innovation is the ZKB Technopark 
Pioneer Award – one of the most 
important innovation prizes in 
Switzerland. 

Retail & Commercial Clients
Our support centre provides advice and support for more 
than 600,000 retail and 40,000 commercial clients, and at 
the same time acts as the central processing centre for 
Zürcher Kantonalbank. Our wide range of services includes 
the execution of our daily business activities, the business 
opening and closing, maintenance of master data as well 
as availability and deputisation management. We also offer 
a telephone service (with over 700,000 calls made to the 
service in 2018) and deal with complex issues relating to 
legal estates and court-appointed guardians. A wide range 
of cutting-edge digital self-service options also bring us 
close to our clients. We are constantly developing services 
that are provided via mobile channels in particular, as they 
are becoming increasingly important. As a result, clients 
can carry out their banking activities regardless of the time 
or location via the eBanking and eBanking Mobile services 
as well as our smartwatch app. We are of the opinion that 
security, user-friendliness and service quality are of the 
utmost importance, which is why we continuously review 
and optimise our processes. 

Self-service options expanded
To ensure that our clients are provided with an excellent 
experience on all of our channels, we are constantly de-
veloping our eBanking and eBanking Mobile services as 
well as other channels, including the smartwatch app. The 
constantly available self-service options are to become 
more comprehensive and easier to access. For example, 
clients can now block debit cards and order replacement 
cards and new PINs in both eBanking and eBanking Mo-
bile. The new payment functions in eBanking Mobile are 
also proving to be worthwhile, as the app can now be 
used to scan both red and orange payment slips as well 
as to make all types of payment, incl. domestic and inter-
national payments. 

Further development of the TWINT payment app
Working together with other large Swiss financial institu-
tions, we launched the TWINT payment app in spring 
2017. It has since become established in Switzerland. 
TWINT users can send and request money in a process 
that is as easy as sending a text message. In addition, 
TWINT can be used to make payments at an ever-increas-
ing number of store checkouts and online shops. We have 

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Management Report

introduced the option of charging payments to multiple 
accounts and credit cards, as well as a simple TWINT 
payment process for small businesses. As at the end of 
2018, over 1 million people had registered as TWINT users 
across Switzerland, with this number looking likely to 
increase. 

Banking packages revised
We have revised the image of our banking packages and 
launched the new “ZKB inklusiv Basis” package on the 
market. The cost-effective basic package is suitable for 
young clients or those who are looking for a new package 
following the expiration of their “ZKB young” or “ZKB 
student” package. The package provides everything a 
client needs – from an account to a credit card – from a 
single source. The offering is aimed at both existing and 
potential clients who want a streamlined package at a 
low price. The sales figures show that there is a great deal 
of interest being shown in this starter package. There has 
also been great demand for the other banking packages. 
In total, more than 165,000 clients use one of the four 
“ZKB inklusiv” packages and thus take part in our bonus 
programme.

Single-family homes under  
CHF 1 million

The map is skewed  
according to the number 
of detached houses  
< 1 million. Municipal- 
ities with the same 
number of inexpensive 
properties are shown  
in the same size. The 
colour of each area rep-
resents the percentage 
of low-cost properties  
in the municipality.

 < 2 %
 2.1 % to 5 %
 5.1 % to 10 %
 10.1 % to 20 %
 20.1 % to 30 %
 30.1 % to 35 %
 35.1 % to 45 %
 45.1 % to 50 %
 > 50 %

Andelfingen

Bülach

Winterthur

Kloten

Zurich

Affoltern  
am Albis

Wetzikon

Rüti

Private Banking
Our Private Banking client advisors are on hand to meet 
the various needs of a discerning clientele. The client 
advisors will act as your personal primary contact for any 
questions you may have on investment, financing, taxes, 
pensions and succession planning. Additional specialists 
may also be consulted, depending on the complexity of 
the matter. We provide comprehensive solutions to meet 
individual client requirements and support more than 
180,000 Private Banking clients at every stage of their 
lives. Our client satisfaction survey revealed that this is 
really appreciated. 

In  the  year  under  review,  we  focused  on  providing 
support to our clients in connection with the “new invest-
ment offering”.

Asset management and investment advice  
up considerably
The launch of our “new investment offering” at the start 
of 2018 has had a positive impact on all business units 
within our bank. 

The declared goal for the new investment advice ser-
vice is to create added value for clients and the bank itself. 
This goal is based on our model of success, which is made 
up of three levels:

The client stands at the heart of everything we do and 
is in personal contact with the client advisor, who acts as 
the intermediary between the requests of the clients and 
the knowledge of the experts. Personal contact forms the 
first level of the model. CIO and expert knowledge make 
up the second key level, with clients benefiting from the 
bank’s pooled expertise. The third level of success is built 
on future-oriented technology, which can be used to com-
pare each client portfolio with the CIO reference portfolio 
and show the differences. 

The new advisory approach is always based on the 
portfolio context. The client is always provided directly 
with expert opinions and the best investment proposal.
A tablet is available to use throughout the entire advi-
sory process to help illustrate complex ideas in a clear and 
simple manner. Furthermore, the eBanking platform also 
features extensive advisory functionality.

We  posted  strong  growth  in  both  traditional  asset 
management mandates and new advisory mandates. Cli-
ent assets increased by CHF 6.4 billion to CHF 295.2 bil-

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39 

with such loans benefit from an interest-rate reduction of 
up to 0.8 percentage points on their selected ZKB fixed-
rate mortgage for up to five years. In 2018, the total 
volume of ZKB environmental loans taken out stood at 
approximately CHF 1.2 billion. Our environmental loans 
are used to construct new buildings and carry out renova-
tions with proven energy-efficient characteristics. It is vital 
here that such projects receive the relevant certification 
from the GEAK, i.e. the building energy certificate issued 
by the cantons. In 2018, we extended the criteria for such 
loans to include 2000-Watt Site certification for super-
structures. This supports energy-efficient construction 
projects.

Greater demand for ZKB starter mortgages
In line with our public service mandate, we have support-
ed first-time home buyers for over 30 years by providing 
them with ZKB starter mortgages. To get them off to a 
good start, we grant them a reduced interest rate in 
comparison with the normal ZKB fixed-rate mortgage. In 
2018, the ZKB starter mortgage portfolio amounted to 
CHF 5.3 billion. This corresponds to year-on-year growth 
of 9.2 percent.

Mortgage loans  
(in CHF billion)

2018

2017

2016

81.3

79.1

77.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

lion in the year under review, while net new money inflow 
amounted to CHF 18 million.

Leading position in the mortgage business
We finance half of the owner-occupied homes in the 
Canton of Zurich. We thus find ourselves in the excellent 
position of being the market leader. There is fierce com-
petition within the mortgage market, and the low interest 
rate environment and the negative interest rates are caus-
ing an increasing number of players from outside of the 
industry to force their way in. Our strategy remains the 
same and will continue to focus on the quality of our loans. 
Our affordability calculation therefore continues to be 
based on the imputed minimum interest rate of 5 percent, 
which is a sustainable rate.

In the year under review, our mortgage loans increased 
by CHF 2.2 billion to CHF 81.3 billion. This corresponds 
to an increase of 2.7 percent, whereas the market as a 
whole (just banks, excluding mortgage investment com-
panies and insurers) grew by 3.6 percent. Clients preferred 
terms of 2, 5 and 10 years. The share of fixed-rate mort-
gages (including ZKB starter mortgages and ZKB environ-
mental  loans)  in  the  total  mortgage  portfolio  was  91 
percent at the end of the year.

Zurich real estate market valued
For the first time ever, Zürcher Kantonalbank valued every 
single-family home in the Canton of Zurich (more than 
100,000 properties) using publicly accessible data as the 
basis and visualised the geographical price distribution on 
a digital map. The new map application makes it easy to 
obtain a detailed picture of the real estate market within 
a specific region. The prices for purchasing residential 
property in the Canton of Zurich increased by 3.7 percent 
in 2018. The transaction prices actually paid remained at 
the same level, however, as older properties were traded.

Criteria expanded for ZKB environmental loans
There are many old buildings that still need to be renovat-
ed and thus represent an opportunity to significantly reduce 
the energy consumption of a property. In line with our 
sustainability mandate, we provide our clients with assis-
tance in this process. Thanks to our ZKB environmental 
loans, we have been promoting energy-efficient construc-
tion and renovation for over a quarter of a century. Clients 

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Unrivalled 
 commitment to 
the promotion 
of innovation

Switzerland and Zurich are 
world leaders in the area  
of research. It is crucial that 
this excellent research is 
successfully transferred 
into the economy. Zürcher 
Kantonalbank makes a 
significant contribution 
here by providing wide- 
ranging support for basic 
research and making office 
space available to young 
companies, as well as help-
ing such young companies 
to network and secure 
equity financing. As part  
of the “Pioneer” initiative 
alone, Zürcher Kantonal-
bank has granted over 
CHF 125 million in start-up 
and development financ-
ing since 2005. A further 
contribution will be made 
by Swisscanto Invest’s 
Swiss growth fund, which 
was launched at the end of 
2018 and secures follow- 
on financing for start-ups.

New companies in traditional  
sectors, such as a painting business  
or a medical practice, are part of  
the regular financing business of the 
Zürcher Kantonalbank. In 2018, 
Zürcher Kantonalbank provided CHF 
36.4 million in funding to practically 
120 start-ups. The bank also works 
closely with the “GO! Ziel selbststän-
dig” association, helping people  
to become freelance entrepreneurs 
with ZKB micro-loans.

“Pioneer” for start-ups
For start-ups with new, innovative 
products and services, the traditional 
forms of financing are only suitable  
to a limited extent in view of the in- 
creased risks and the often tight 
liquidity – especially before entering 
the market, when a prototype is being 
further developed for mass produc-
tion, and the first clients are being 
acquired. To meet these financing 
needs, Zürcher Kantonalbank 
launched the sustainable “Pioneer” 
start-up financing initiative in 2005, 
which provides innovative start-ups 
with risk capital on a targeted basis. 
By setting aside provisions for risk 
financing, the bank provides risk 
capital to recently founded companies 
with new, innovative business ideas  
at an early stage of the business cycle. 
An innovative company is one that 
offers a product, a service or a distribu-
tion model that does not yet exist  
on the market.

As part of the “Pioneer” programme, 
Zürcher Kantonalbank has supported 
around 200 innovative young compa- 
nies with over CHF 125 million since 
2005. As a result, companies exhibit-
ing a growth rate that is above average 
have created more than 1,200 new 
jobs. Over 80 percent of the financing 
was arranged in the Canton of Zurich, 
primarily in the form of equity. With 

this commitment, the bank partici-
pates in future profits, depending on 
how the start-ups perform. In addition, 
the high level of commitment can be 
attributed to the public service man- 
date. The mandate to support innova-
tion is taken directly from the Law on 
Zürcher Kantonalbank. The bank’s 
purpose is “to contribute to addressing 
economic and social issues in the 
Canton of Zurich” and “in doing so, it 
shall particularly take into account the 
concerns of small and medium-sized 
companies”. 

Widespread participation  
in the start-up ecosystem

By providing all four universities in  
the canton with support in fundamental 
research, the bank ensures that the 
conditions for start-ups in the Greater 
Zurich Area are excellent. ETH Zurich 
is supported in the field of information 
security, while the University of Zurich 
is supported in the fields of sustaina-
bility and behavioural economics. 
Entrepreneurship is promoted at Zurich 
University of Applied Sciences, and 
creative industries are focused on at 
Zurich University of the Arts. This 
positive environment includes numer- 
ous other institutions such as the 
Technoparks in Zurich and Winterthur, 
the Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich, 
the Startzentrum Zurich, Startup 
Invest, Venture Incubator and the 
planned Innovation Park in Dübendorf. 
In this start-up ecosystem, Zürcher 
Kantonalbank is involved in all areas as 
an investor, donor, sponsoring partner 
and co-sponsor as well as participating 
in executive committees, boards  
of directors and foundation boards. 
Special mention must go to the 
“investiere” platform, in which Zürcher  
Kantonalbank is a significant minority 
shareholder. The platform provides 
start-ups with risk capital, expertise and 
a network to drive their growth. In 

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41 

2018, CHF 30 million was invested  
in 34 start-ups via “investiere”. By 
presenting the ZKB Technopark 
Pioneer Award, providing helpful 
information platforms for company 
founders and maintaining a close 
network with partner organisations, 
Zürcher Kantonalbank underpins its 
position as a key supporter of start-
ups.

within Switzerland. The new fund is 
aimed at institutional investors that 
have a medium to long-term invest-
ment horizon and are qualified for 
illiquid investments. With capital 
commitments in line with the target 
volume of around CHF 150 million, 
the fund significantly exceeded 
expectations within less than three 
months in December 2018.

Our partnerships
Universities
–– Swiss Federal Institute  
of Technology Zurich

–– University of Zurich
–– Zurich University of Applied Sciences
–– Zurich University of the Arts 

Innovation parks
–– Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich
–– Technopark Zurich
–– Technopark Winterthur
–– Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich
–– BlueLion
–– Grow

Platforms for transferring knowledge, 
networking and financing
–– ESA BIC Switzerland
–– F10 FinTech Incubator & Accelerator
–– Fasoon
–– gruenden.ch
–– investiere | venture capital
–– Runway Startup Incubator
–– Startup INVEST
–– startupticker.ch
–– Startzentrum Zurich
–– Swiss Fintech Innovations
–– Venture Incubator
–– GO! association Microloans

Composition of the “Pioneer”  
start-up portfolio

3 %

22 %

24 %

5 %
7 %

14 %

15 %

10 %

Biotech
24 %
Medtech
14 %
Healthcare IT 
10 %
ICT 
15 %

Fintech
7 %
Cleantech
5 %
Hightech1 
22 %
Consumer 
Products 
3 %

1   Collective term for nanotech, sensor technology, robotics, materials, etc.

New Swisscanto Invest growth fund
For many promising young companies, 
it is often difficult to secure long- 
term growth financing after a success-
ful start-up phase. The growth fund 
launched by Swisscanto Invest at the 
end of 2018 aims to address this critical 
point. The fund invests in companies 
in the expansion phase that have 
successfully navigated the high-risk 
start-up phase. The portfolio compa-
nies already have an experienced 
management team, established corpo-
rate structures and sophisticated 
products or services with great market 
potential. By providing risk capital in 
the growth phase, Swisscanto Invest 
closes a financing gap and helps 
increase the attractiveness of Switzer-
land as a business location.

The new growth fund draws on the 
expertise that Zürcher Kantonalbank 
has acquired as one of the most active 
supporters of and investors in Swiss 
start-ups. Thanks to this know-how, it 
can identify the most promising high- 
growth companies. Following the 
selection and investment phases, the 
responsible investment managers 
actively support the high-growth 
companies. The fund focuses on 
companies with innovative technolo-
gies and business models in the 
health, information and data services, 
environment and energy sectors. It  
is planned that around 70 to 80 per- 
cent of the investments will be made 

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42

Management Report

Worry-free home ownership in the third phase of life
Almost 50 percent of homeowners in the Canton of Zurich 
are over 55 years old. Nevertheless, many people in this 
phase of life feel insecure about their mortgage solution 
because their income usually declines. Very few pensioners 
who finance the purchase of their own home default on 
their mortgages, however. Therefore, financing for clients 
in the third phase of life is not a problem for Zürcher Kan-
tonalbank.  This  includes  the  continuation  of  existing  
financing as well as increases in the amount being financed, 
for example to carry out renovations or to cover living 
costs. 

Pension advice for private individuals
The first two pillars of the Swiss pension system are in 
need of reform. This is why we proactively and systemat-
ically address our clients’ pension needs. The areas of 
pensions, taxes and investments are generally connected 
to one another, which is why a holistic approach usually 
offers more scope for financial planning. In doing so, we 
frequently make it possible for clients to realise their 
wishes and dreams – and thus come closer to our goal of 
being the number 1 pension contact in the Greater Zurich 
area.

Corporate Clients
Our employees in the corporate client business accompa-
ny companies through every phase of the business life 
cycle and support them in overcoming the financial chal-
lenges they will face – from the foundation of the com-
pany to succession planning. As a universal bank, we are 
in a position to put our entire range of services into op-
eration for companies in a targeted manner – in other 
countries too, if necessary. In this respect, our specialised 
corporate client advisors act as personal contacts for all 
financial matters. We place a great deal of emphasis on 
our credit exposure to small and medium-sized enterprises 
(SMEs). 

Thanks to a consistent lending policy, we make a sig-
nificant contribution to the functioning of the economy 
by supplying credit to SMEs in the Canton of Zurich as 
well as to medium-sized and large companies throughout 
Switzerland. Our credit exposure to companies increased 
to CHF 26.1 billion in the year under review, which rep-
resents positive growth of 4.8 percent.

The negative interest rate situation was once again a key 
topic in the year under review, particularly among our 
larger clients. There was a tangible increase in demand 
for capital market and bond financing on the market. In 
addition, the para-banking sector and crowdlending plat-
forms have enjoyed greater public recognition as provid-
ers of financing solutions. Looking to the future, we would 
like to further simplify our business processes for financing 
SMEs so that we can realise even greater client benefits.
Overall, the corporate client business recorded a pos-
itive result, with growth in mortgage and corporate loans 
as well as in the leasing business and, above all, in fixed 
assets.

Magic 50 percent mark reached
We are extremely delighted to have achieved a market 
penetration rate of 50 percent in the corporate client 
business in the Canton of Zurich. Just over one-third of 
Zurich companies even call us their principal bank. We see 
growth opportunities in expanding our business with  
existing clients. Occupational pensions also play a very 
important role, both from a company perspective and for 
the individual entrepreneur. In this area, we established 
ourselves as a broker of pension solutions last year. 

SME package launched
Start-ups stimulate Zurich’s economy. One of the products 
we offer is an SME package for start-ups and new clients, 
which includes all of the banking products an SME will 
need for everyday business as well as discounted access 
to SecureSafe, a central cloud storage facility in which all 
business documents can be stored and accessed securely 
at any time and from any location.

SME financial assistant now an established tool
In November 2017, we launched a practical tool for liquid-
ity planning for small and medium-sized enterprises within 
our eBanking platform. The tool provides companies with 
a quick and easy overview of their income and expenses. 
In addition, various business development scenarios can 
be simulated within the tool. SME clients can also benefit 
from new discounts on business software, a secure cloud 
solution and the provision of payment terminals.

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43 

Mobile payment terminals introduced
One of our main priorities is to provide our clients with 
effective and efficient cash management. In order to make 
payment processing easier for companies, we have intro-
duced the mPRIME mobile card reader from Six Payment 
Services. This solution makes it easy to turn a smartphone 
or tablet into a mobile payment terminal, thus allowing 
companies to accept payments flexibly and regardless of 
their location. In the next few years, we will face the chal-
lenge of digitising our processes in sync with those of our 
corporate clients – so that communication can take place 
smoothly on our various interfaces.

ensure that these companies have access to professional 
advice and a wide range of services with fair conditions. 
For this reason, we provided almost 4,100 non-cost-cov-
ering micro-loans of less than CHF 200,000 for SMEs in 
2018. Capital goods leasing is increasingly important in 
this area. For SMEs and the agriculture sector in particular, 
this represents a liquidity-preserving alternative to a tra-
ditional investment loan. Zürcher Kantonalbank is a major 
provider of capital goods leases throughout Switzerland. 
Overall, in the joint distribution network with other can-
tonal banks, nearly 3,000 lease agreements with a volume 
of approximately CHF 265 million were concluded.

Start-ups and entrepreneurship promoted
In 2005, we launched the “Pioneer” initiative (see “Com-
mitment to promoting innovation” on page 40) with the 
aim of meeting the financing needs of innovative start-ups 
and making risk capital available. During the year under 
review, a total of CHF 24.5 million in risk capital financing 
was approved for 49 promising start-ups.

Start-ups in traditional sectors are part of our normal 
financing business. In the year under review, we provided 
CHF 36.4 million in funding to almost 120 company start-
ups.  We  also  work  in  partnership  with  the  “GO!  Ziel 
selbstständig”  association,  helping  people  to  become 
freelance entrepreneurs with ZKB micro-loans.

Succession planning offering expanded
Thousands of Zurich-based SMEs need to work out their 
succession plans and require both financial and specialist 
support during this phase. Our priority is to ensure that the 
generational change at SMEs is a success, as it is also im-
portant to the economy. We have therefore further expand-
ed our offering – including by launching our succession 
planning check at zkb.ch/nachfolgecheck. This check allows 
for a simple assessment of the current situation as regards 
succession planning and is an ideal basis for discussion for 
an advisory consultation. In the year under review, we 
provided personal support through more than 140 advi-
sory mandates and 34 acquisition loans to help ensure that 
the generational change proceeds smoothly.

Consistent demand for micro-loans and leasing
Microbusinesses and small enterprises make an important 
contribution to the vibrant Zurich economy. We therefore 

Financial Institutions & Multinationals
We meet the needs of major domestic and international 
companies, cantons and cities, commodity trading com-
panies and financial service providers such as banks, in-
surance companies, asset managers, investment funds 
and brokers with a wide range of products. These range 
from financing, trading products and capital market ser-
vices to custody and asset management services, payment 
transactions and trade finance. As a universal bank with 
a diverse service portfolio, we also operate as a supplier 
for third-party institutions.

Partner to major clients and international banks
In addition to providing financing through loans or the 
capital market, our services also include trade finance and 
export financing for all of the bank’s client groups. This is 
why we cultivate international banking relationships as 
well  as  major  Swiss  clients  and  are  responsible  for  a 
high-calibre network of correspondent banks. We have 
representative offices in our clients’ most important export 
markets around the world, which also support us by pro-
viding their local knowledge in the risk assessment process. 
In the year under review, we successfully expanded 
our range of insurance products and gained new clients. 
We also demonstrated our strengths in other client seg-
ments, such as corporate clients, infrastructure companies 
and commodity trading companies, with tailored offerings 
developed in a timely manner.

We are currently launching a new IT system to increase 
efficiency in our trade finance business and are working 
on automation solutions that will help us meet regulatory 
requirements. Many Swiss companies are heavily geared 

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Management Report

towards foreign markets and have thus established strong 
international positions. We therefore expect the healthy 
business environment to remain unchanged. The solutions 
being demanded from us by our clients are increasing in 
complexity. Our job is to provide services securely, simply 
and quickly despite the increasingly stringent regulatory 
requirements. Our clients can rely on our continuity regard-
less of economic and market trends.

Supplier for financial service providers  
in Switzerland and Liechtenstein
The accelerated structural change in the financial sector 
is increasingly leading to the breakdown of value chains, 
with financial services providers, such as regional banks 
and other cantonal banks, buying an ever-increasing num-
ber of individual components from third parties. As a 
nationally significant universal bank with roots in the local 
area and an outstanding credit rating, we are the natural 
partner for other financial service providers. The solutions 
we provide are used every day by our own clients and thus 
prove their competitiveness. In order to take advantage 
of the opportunities arising from this structural change, 
dedicated teams provide support to financial service pro-
viders (e.g. banks and asset managers) based in Switzerland 
and Liechtenstein. These teams are also responsible for 
looking after all investment fund vehicles, regardless of 
their domicile.

In this challenging and increasingly complex environ-
ment for all financial service providers, Zürcher Kantonal-
bank has performed very well. It has further expanded its 
role as a supplier for third-party institutions. Traditionally, 
Zürcher Kantonalbank has close ties to the cantonal bank-
ing sector. The range of services it offers is also becoming 
increasingly  popular  outside  of  the  cantonal  banking 
world, for example in the investment process, which in-
cludes our research as well as strategic and tactical asset 
allocation.

For most financial service providers in Switzerland, co-
operative partnerships will be a main driver of medium- 
and long-term success. Thanks to our great innovative 
strength, the stable and long-term business model and 
the solutions that have proven their worth in our day-to-
day business, we see excellent opportunities for further 
sustainable growth in our business with Swiss financial 
service providers. 

The increasing importance of custody
Custody and asset services are growing dramatically in 
importance for our institutional clients. We offer them 
numerous services in this area, including safekeeping and 
administration services, securities accounting, performance 
reporting and investment compliance services as well as 
custodian bank services for investment funds.

Although the market is largely saturated, we are see-
ing continued growth in this area among custody and 
custodian bank clients. Our strengths are flexibility in the 
development of solutions as well as our wide range of 
offerings.

We are currently focusing on the further development 
of our reporting capabilities, our expertise in alternative 
investment services and client interfaces.

Added value via research services
Our equity and bond research is renowned, covering 129 
companies and around 200 issuers throughout Switzerland 
– more than any other institution. Our equity recommen-
dations have been generating an above-average perfor-
mance and thus added value for our clients for years now. 
In addition, Zürcher Kantonalbank also organises events, 
such as roadshows and investor meetings, to support 
platforms that promote information exchange between 
investors as well as small and medium-sized Swiss firms 
and global players. 

In 2019, Zürcher Kantonalbank will hold its first major 
two-day investor conference for Swiss companies. This 
gives us the opportunity to consolidate our position in the 
research and brokerage business and complements our 
existing offering of approximately 100 roadshows every 
year. The ratings awarded to issuers by the Bond Research 
team of Zürcher Kantonalbank are relevant for the com-
position of the Swiss Bond Index and are an important 
investment criterion for institutional investors.

Developments on the financial markets, such as trade 
disputes,  diverging  economic  trends  and  interest  rate 
hikes, also present our analysts with challenges. Overall, 
the research recommendations did not systematically out-
perform the benchmark for the first time in quite some 
time. Although ZKB’s annual favourites and its recommen-
dation for small caps were above the benchmark indices, 
a below-average performance was recorded in other uni-
verses. In addition to day-to-day business, extensive re-

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018Management Report

45 

search reports were prepared on both the bond side (8) 
and the equity side (8) in connection with new cover and 
capital market projects.

The 2018 reporting year was the first year in which 
MiFID II, and thus the unbundling of trading and research 
services among other things, was relevant. During this 
year, Zürcher Kantonalbank was successful in maintaining 
its market share and winning new clients. 

Trading and capital markets as the central offering  
in an integrated value chain
We are one of the leading providers in the trading business 
as well as in the issuing of debt capital and equity instru-
ments (capital market). In trading, we cover all of the 
important products and asset classes, such as equities, 
foreign currencies, precious metals, interest rate and credit 
instruments and structured products. In the consolidating 
market environment, we position ourselves as an “in-
sourcer” in our domestic market of Switzerland and pro-
vide our clients with our integrated value chain and cut-
ting-edge interfaces. The Trading and Capital Markets 
division is also an important service provider for the parent 
company. 

The 2018 reporting year was marked by a challenging 
market environment in which political developments (e.g. 
imminent trade war, lira crisis in Turkey, elections in Italy 
and Brexit) had not or not yet been translated into eco-
nomic  reality.  Our  business  strategy  is  based  on  client  
activities. In light of recent political developments and the 
ongoing low interest rate phase, our clients are taking a 
cautious approach, which is reflected in restrained client 
activity.

In addition to income from trading operations, our 
trading and capital markets operations also generate in-
terest earnings and income from commission business and 
service. While the latter items posted pleasing growth, 
income from trading operations in the year under review 
amounted  to  CHF  286  million,  which  is  14.4  percent 
down on the previous year. The market risks in the trading 
book (value-at-risk) amounted to CHF 12 million on aver-
age and were likewise slightly lower.

actions were carried out for the Central Mortgage Bond 
Institution of the Swiss Cantonal Banks, worth CHF 6,946 
million. On the equity capital markets, we supervised a 
total of 28 transactions, 23 of which were for companies 
listed on SIX Swiss Exchange. As the Joint Global Coordi-
nator, we floated Medartis Holding AG on the market in 
an IPO.

On 1 October 2018, our subsidiary Swisscanto Funds 
Centre Ltd., London (SFCL) was taken over by Clearstream 
International  S.A.,  the  post-trading  service  provider  of 
Deutsche Börse Group. It was important to us to ensure 
the fund platform for clients, fund providers and employ-
ees would operate on a sustainable and long-term basis. 
Zürcher Kantonalbank remains one of the main sales part-
ners of Clearstream Funds Centre Limited (CFCL).

Asset management offering expanded
Swisscanto Invest by Zürcher Kantonalbank is the Asset 
Management division of Zürcher Kantonalbank. This com-
petence centre is responsible for the development and 
management of investment solutions, such as investment 
funds and individual, mainly institutional mandates. As 
such, Asset Management provides professional and inno-
vative investment solutions to meet client needs in the 
various business units and provides clients with support 
in connection with technical issues and sales. At the end 
of 2018, managed assets amounted to CHF 149.1 billion. 
The fund business as well as institutional and private asset 
management mandates were growth drivers.

The  global  trade  disputes,  political  uncertainties  in 
emerging markets, an economic slowdown in China and 
the US Federal Reserve interest rate policy created momen-
tum on the markets, which presented our active portfolio 
managers in the equities sector with a challenging remit. 
Meanwhile, bond portfolio managers continued to look 
for yield opportunities in the ongoing low interest rate 
environment. In the real estate sector, changes occurred 
among tenants and investors, which brought about both 
opportunities and challenges. In Asset Management, we 
also dealt with the implementation of regulatory changes 
such as the European directive MIFID II.

We were successful in consolidating our position in 
the capital market business. On the debt capital markets, 
Zürcher Kantonalbank supervised the issue of a total of 
62 bonds worth CHF 5,543 million. Additionally, 34 trans-

We launched our first private equity fund with a vol-
ume of around CHF 150 million prior to the year-end. The 
fund invests in participations in innovative non-listed com-
panies in the growth phase. With this activity, the fund 

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

supports our commitment towards start-ups. The road-
shows held throughout the year provided us with confir-
mation that we have answered a client need with the 
launch of the fund. Preparations are under way for further 
new investment products to be launched in the over-the-
counter “Private Markets” area in 2019, e.g. for a private 
debt fund. Clients can also expect new solutions in the 
areas of sustainability, real estate and innovative passive 
investment products. 

As part of our sustainability mandate, we have con-
sistently integrated environmental, social and governance 
factors – ESG factors – into our financial analysis for our 
investment products. The use of these sustainable criteria 
will lead to better investment decisions in the long term. 
In addition, global climate and environmental challenges 
are associated with growth opportunities for innovative 
companies.  We  will  therefore  continue  to  expand  our  
investment solutions in the area of sustainability in the 
future.

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Management Report

Employees

We treat our employees just  
as responsibly as our clients. 
Our culture is characterised by 
respect and fairness. We sup-
port all of our employees,  
regardless of their age, gender, 
sexual orientation, nationality, 
religion or physical ability.  
We are one of the largest pro-
viders of vocational training  
in the canton, enabling count-
less young adults to launch  
their careers.

47 

We also live our strategy and our corporate culture within 
the bank. Maintaining a continuous dialogue with our 
employees is thus at the heart of our management phi-
losophy. We provide them with personal development 
opportunities and the freedom to respond to challenges 
in a flexible manner. This is because it is important to us 
that we can continue to fulfil our brand promise of being 
“Close to you” in the future.

Unless indicated otherwise, the figures and informa-
tion below relate to the parent company (excluding sub-
sidiaries and their subsidiaries).

Headcount
In 2018, the group’s headcount fell by 0.6 percent from 
5,117.2 to 5,087.0 full-time positions (FTE). 19.7 full-time 
positions were filled by temporary employees. 343 em-
ployees were on a banking or IT apprenticeship or high-
school internship.

Performance & Development
As part of our “Performance & Development” approach, 
we develop measures that are more in line with our stra-
tegic priorities of simplicity and agility. They allow us to 
react quicker to changes in the market.

We have a number of different instruments that can 
be  used  to  promote  dialogue  between  line  managers, 
employees and teams, including development discussions, 
development plans and short meetings. The focus is on 
employee development, which is geared to the perfor-
mance, behaviour and potential of each individual em-
ployee so as to keep pace with change. 

Promoting talented employees
Continuous dialogue shows how much potential our 
employees have and where their strengths lie. We are 
therefore investing in a comprehensive talent management 
programme. Our aim here is not just to train young peo-
ple, but to promote lifelong learning at all levels. Our 
approaches to talent management focus as much on our 
employees’ personal objectives as on the strategic direction 
of the bank. It is important to us that all measures are 
always transparent and that we foster our employees’ 
networking.

We  also  offer  additional  special  opportunities  for 
 employees  with  potential.  In  the  year  under  review, 

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Management Report

20 high-achieving employees with huge potential were 
given the opportunity to develop their professional and 
personal skills through tailored development programmes.
We have planned new and very promising talent man-
agement measures for the second half of 2019. All in all, 
we will be addressing a larger group of talents.

Identification with the company
Our culture helps us to pursue our strategy at all levels 
and achieve our corporate goals. For example, we take 
various measures to ensure that all of our employees have 
the same comprehensive view. Since October 2017, for 
example, our employees have been able to review our 
strategy in a hands-on manner with the “blauweiss” app. 
Our strategic focus also means that we are considered 
an attractive employer. As regular surveys show, we suc-
cessfully increase employee loyalty and have succession 
plans in place. 

Young professionals
With 410 apprenticeships, we are one of the largest pro-
viders of vocational training in the Canton of Zurich. We 
offer vocational training in the areas of banking and infor-
mation technology. In 2018, 98 apprentices started their 
training with us. As part of the “Employees of the Future” 
project, we are paving the way for the future by fostering 
the skills our young employees will need to cope with the 
future demands of the working environment. This project 
is specifically for young people and thus for vocational 
training. Starting in 2019, the commercial apprenticeship 
programme will follow a new syllabus, which will involve 
shorter, alternating assignments during the apprenticeship 
period and combine these with the skills that the appren-
tices are to acquire. This provides added value for both the 
apprentices and the bank. In 2018, we comprehensively 
overhauled our trainee programme for university graduates. 
The new programme will be implemented for the first time 
in summer 2019.

We take good care of our apprentices, as is confirmed 
by the “high quality of apprentice support” label. Aside 
from receiving specialist training, each apprentice is sup-
ported by a supervisor who attaches great value to the 
development of their social and personal skills. In 2018, 
95  apprentices  sat  their  final  exams,  with  43  of  them 
obtaining  the  Federal  Vocational  Baccalaureate  and 

92 successfully completing their apprenticeship. We were 
once again able to meet our main objective of continuing 
to employ apprentices in the bank after they have com-
pleted their apprenticeships, with 86.3 percent of those 
who graduated in the year under review pursuing their 
careers within the bank and gaining a great deal of valu-
able professional experience.

In addition to apprenticeships, we also offer internships 
for vocational school and high school graduates, as well 
as trainee programmes for university graduates, and train-
ee from universities of applied sciences as well as for grad-
uates of an apprenticeship programme. In 2018, there 
were 45 interns and 66 trainees working at the bank.

Basic training and further education
We find it extremely important that our employees con-
tinually expand their technical, methodological and social 
skills. We provide a wide range of internal training schemes 
and resources, as well as the opportunity to attend exter-
nal training and development courses. In the year under 
review, we invested more than CHF 10.5 million in basic 
training and further education. 628 employees are cur-
rently taking part in a training course.

Among other things, we have expanded our learning 
portal with topics related to transformation and agility, as 
we consider the acquisition of key skills to be important. 
We have also created a new offering for managers and a 
new management training landscape. 

Employer commitment

Work / life balance  We want our employees to be able to 
find a healthy balance between their professional com-
mitments and their personal lives. To this end, we offer 
flexible working models, financial support for childcare, 
and reserved and subsidised crèche places. Furthermore, 
employees can draw on tailored advice on matters relating 
to childcare, caring for elderly relatives and home nursing 
care. 

In  total,  27.7  percent  of  our  employees  work  on  a 
part-time basis. We have also seen a slight increase in the 
number of employees working part-time in middle and 
senior management. The percentage of women working 
in senior management positions has also increased once 
again. 

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018Management Report

49 

Political engagement  Zürcher Kantonalbank  supports 
employees who hold a political office. 

A total of around 120 employees are involved in pol-
itics, thus making a valuable contribution towards em-
bedding our bank in the political and social life of the 
Canton  of  Zurich.  The  bank  supports  these  non-profit 
activities  with  attractive  working  conditions  such  as  a 
month’s worth of paid days off without any reduction in 
annual leave. 

As a sign of the gratitude and appreciation we have 
for the commitment shown by these employees, the Com-
mittee of the Board’s “Politics and Commitment” event 
was held in the year under review for the second time. 
Two guests from the national and Zurich political arena 
– Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer and Cantonal Council 
President  Yvonne  Bürgin  –  were  in  attendance  for  an  
inspiring political programme.

We also provide our employees with ergonomically de-
signed workstations and, where necessary, additional 
resources. We are constantly optimising our measures with 
the aim of helping our employees to stay fit and healthy. 
In 2018, 178 people attended the seminars and workshops 
to help increase personal resilience and prevent burnout 
that we have been offering for two years now.

Staff association replaced by the employee 
 representation committee
The Zürcher Kantonalbank staff association was dissolved 
at the end of September 2018. A decision was made 
prior to this to introduce an employee representation 
committee elected by the employees. Nineteen candidates 
stood for election for the five employee representative 
positions. The employee representatives of Zürcher Kan-
tonalbank are supported by an employee committee.

Diversity  We consider the diversity of our employees to 
be a substantial added value. We wish to make the most 
of this social diversity. Furthermore, it reflects our equally 
diverse client structure. We are firmly committed to fairness 
and respect and promote equal opportunities – regardless 
of age, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or 
physical ability.

Employee benefits
Our employees are compensated according to the total 
compensation approach. Their compensation consists of 
a base salary, variable compensation based on the perfor-
mance of the group, as well as statutory allowances and 
additional voluntary benefits. Please see the Compensation 
Report from page 77 onwards.

Integration  The two integrative positions were once again 
filled with people from outside of the bank, who are now 
taking part in a work integration programme tailored to 
their needs.

Health  Our systematic approach to health management 
is one of the main factors for our success. We continue 
to attach great importance to healthcare and health pro-
motion. We received confirmation in 2017 that we would 
be awarded the Friendly Work Space label, which is pre-
sented to companies for their systematic occupational 
health management programmes, for a further three years, 
which marks the second time we have been granted this 
seal of approval.

Our measures include, for example, financial support 
for health checks, free flu vaccinations in collaboration 
with the Swiss Association of Pharmacists, and support 
for sporting activities such as the “Bike to Work” cam-
paign to promote health throughout Switzerland. 

Group headcount (FTE)  
as at 31 December

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

5,087

5,117

5,173

5,179

4,844

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

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Management Report

GRI key figures 1 Employees

Employment (parent company)
Number of employees (full-time equivalent)

Turnover rate

Change in the number of jobs

Number

%

%

Health and occupational safety  
(parent company)
Lost days per employee as a result of  
sickness or occupational and non-occupational accidents

Days /  
employee

Basic training and further education 
(parent company)
Internal basic training and further education per em-
ployee

Percentage of employees on external courses

Diversity and equal opportunities  
(parent company)
Percentage of women in total workforce

Percentage of women in middle management

Percentage of women in senior management

Hours /
employee

%

%

%

%

1  The Annual Report of Zürcher Kantonalbank has been prepared in line with the 

Sustainability Reporting Guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). The bank 
publishes a separate sustainability report on its website at www.zkb.ch/sustainability

In the year under review, the Zürcher Kantonalbank pen-
sion fund covered 5,336 active insured persons and 2,192 
retirees. As at 31 December 2018, it managed assets of 
approximately CHF 4.066 billion and had a coverage ratio 
of 108.2 percent (unaudited). For further information on 
occupational pensions and employee benefits, please see 
Note 13.

2018

4,859

6.3

– 0.2

2017

2016

2015

2014

4,866

5.7

– 0.9

4,910

5.9

0.6

4,879

6.8

3.7

4,704

7.7

0.6

6.7

6.8

7.1

7

6.1

14.3

12.9

37.2

35.1

13.1

22.8

13.1

37.3

34.3

11.9

20.5

11.3

37.7

34.2

11.2

19.3

10.4

38.1

33.2

10.6

14.2

14.6

38.5

33.2

10.2

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Business 
 development

Material events

19 April 2018  Zürcher Kantonalbank launches its 
first green bond in accordance with international 
standards in the amount of CHF 210 million.
23 April 2018  Clearstream acquires Swisscanto 
Funds Centre Ltd. from Zürcher Kantonalbank. 
The closing takes place in the third quarter.
13 August 2018  Zürcher Kantonalbank concludes 
the US Department of Justice’s investigation into 
the bank’s legacy business with US clients with a 
Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA). Zürcher 
Kantonalbank’s related payment to the US au-
thorities does not have any negative impact on 
the bank’s 2018 financial results.
1 October 2018  Clearstream concludes the acqui-
sition of Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd., London, 
from Zürcher Kantonalbank.

In September, Swisscanto In-
18 December 2018 
vest launches a private equity fund with partici-
pations in innovative companies in the growth 
phase. Thanks to better-than-expected interest 
and capital commitments of CHF 150 million, the 
subscription period is ended early after just three 
months and investment activities are able to com-
mence promptly.
19 December 2018  Standard & Poor‘s once again 
awards the bank the AAA rating, after the two 
rating agencies Moody’s and Fitch had already 
awarded top marks to Zürcher Kantonalbank in 
September. This means that Zürcher Kantonalbank 
is the only Swiss bank to be given the highest 
rating again by all three leading rating agencies.

51 

Sustainable group results
Financial year 2018 was marked by various geopolitical 
events, a continuation of the negative interest rate envi-
ronment and market turbulence. Nevertheless, a profit of 
CHF 788.2 million was achieved, which was slightly higher 
 than in the previous year. 

Zürcher Kantonalbank’s cautious business policy and 
diversified business model once again proved their worth. 
This was reflected in the operating income generated, 
which equalled the previous year at CHF 2.3 billion. With 
the exception of trading income, all income categories 
recorded an increase on the previous year. Stable operat-
ing expenses were also achieved thanks to a cost-con-
scious  management  approach.  The  group  results  also 
include the creation and recognition of CHF 200 million 
of reserves for general banking risks in the income state-
ment. The comments below on the main income state-
ment and balance sheet items and their development in 
the financial year 2018 detail any effects arising from the 
material events listed. 

Pleasing interest operations
At CHF 1,212.9 million, the net result from interest oper-
ations exceeded the already ambitious target from the 
previous year (CHF 1,201.8 million). The expenses for 
default-related value adjustments and the losses from 

Breakdown of operating income  
(in CHF million / percent)

2 %

12 %

46

286

776

33 %

1,213

52 %

 Result from interest operations
 Result from commission business

 Result from trading activities 
 Other result 

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interest operations totalled CHF 10.1 million, slightly high-
er than in the previous year (2017: CHF 9.4 million). The 
negative interest charged by the Swiss National Bank 
exceeded the figure charged last year (CHF 132.6 million), 
amounting to CHF 135.6 million. This negative interest 
continued to be passed on in different ways on the inter-
bank market and on the credit balances of corporate 
clients in financial year 2018. Retail clients, on the other 
hand, were not charged any negative interest.

Positive commission business and services
The result from commission business and services in the 
amount of CHF 775.8 million in financial year 2018 rep-
resents a slight increase of CHF 5.9 million on the previous 
year. 

The composition of the commission and fee income 
remained stable. The commission income from securities 
trading and investment business continues to be the big-
gest income driver, followed by commission income from 
other services.

Slight decline in trading operations
In the financial year 2018, trading activities once again 
focused primarily on client business. The income from 
trading operations of CHF 285.6 million was down on the 
CHF 333.7 million recorded in the previous year. This can 

Breakdown of the result from 
 commission business (in CHF million)

Securities and  
investment business
Credit business

Other services

Commission expense

803

50

147

– 224

Total

776

be mainly attributed to lower currency gains. The result 
from trading in bonds, interest rate and credit derivatives 
also fell year-on-year.  

The  result  from  trading  in  foreign  exchange,  bank 
notes and precious metals once again provided the largest 
contribution with 37 percent, followed by the result from 
trading  in  bonds,  interest  rate  and  credit  derivatives, 
which was slightly decreased (– 3 percent). The result from 
trading in equities and structured products (+ 4 percent) 
and the result from other trading activities (+ 1 percent) 
both increased. For further information, please see Note 
32 to the Financial Report.

Stable operating expenses
Thanks to the constant monitoring of costs and cost dis-
cipline, operating expenses declined slightly year-on-year 
to CHF 1,430.4 million (2017: CHF 1,433.7 million). Gen-
eral and administrative expenses amounted to CHF 428.5 
million (2017: CHF 426.0 million). Personnel expenses 
were CHF 1,001.9 million, slightly lower than in the pre-
vious year (CHF 1,007.7 million). 

For further information on personnel, general and ad-
ministrative expenses, please see Notes 34 and 35 to the 
Financial Report.

Higher depreciation expenses 
Expenses in connection with value adjustments on partic-
ipations and depreciation and amortisation of tangible 
fixed assets and intangible assets in the year under review 
amounted to CHF 191.8 million (2017: CHF 119.6 million). 
The reason for the increase is as follows: the sale of 
Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd., London, resulted in a lower 
valuation  of  the  Swisscanto  Group  and  an  immediate 
goodwill amortisation of CHF 59 million. In connection 
with this sale, we also refer to the income from the sale 
in the extraordinary result and Note 9 to the Financial 
Report.

Higher participation income
Other ordinary income totalled CHF 45.9 million, which 
is up 49 percent on the previous year’s figure of CHF 30.8 
million. The main reason for this increase is higher income 
from participations (CHF + 15.8 million).

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53 

Net release of provisions
As in the previous year, the income statement item “Chang-
es to provisions and other value adjustments and losses” 
for 2018 recorded a positive balance (net release) of CHF 
194.1 million (previous year: CHF 1.7 million). 

The increase on the previous year can mainly be attrib-
uted to the release of provisions no longer required in 
connection with the conclusion of the investigation by the 
US Department of Justice. For further information, please 
see Notes 16 and 36 to the Financial Report. Default risks 
as well as all other identifiable risks are constantly ana-
lysed. Where necessary, the appropriate value adjustments 
and provisions are made. 

Changes in the item “Value adjustments for default 
risks and losses from interest operations” is a component 
of the result from interest operations.

Increase in extraordinary result, the creation of new 
reserves for general banking risks and lower taxes
The extraordinary result amounted to CHF 103.1 million 
(2017: CHF 7.9 million). This result can be mainly attrib-
uted to the profit generated by the sale of Swisscanto 
Funds Centre Ltd., London, which amounted to CHF 80.1 
million. An extraordinary profit of CHF 21.5 million was 
generated from the sale of bank buildings. 

The high net releases of provisions allowed for CHF 
200 million of reserves for general banking risks to be 
created and recognised in the income statement.

Tax expenses amounted to CHF 6.9 million compared 

to CHF 10.5 million in the previous year.

Analysis of the financial and capital position

Higher balance sheet total
The balance sheet total amounted to CHF 169.4 billion at 
the end of 2018, which represents a year-on-year increase 
of CHF 5.5 billion or 3.4 percent. 

On the assets side, mortgage growth of 2.7 percent 
(CHF + 2.2 billion) and the securities financing business 
(CHF + 2.7 billion) led to an increase. On the liabilities side, 
client  deposits  (CHF  + 4.2  billion)  in  particular  posted 
growth.

The assets side of the balance sheet was dominated by 
liquid assets of 24 percent and mortgage receivables, 
which made up 48 percent of the balance sheet total. The 
liabilities side was mainly characterised by amounts due 
in respect of client deposits, which was the largest balance 
sheet item at approximately 51 percent.

Disclosures on significant components  
of the balance sheet

Stable liquidity and financial investments
Liquid assets consisted mainly of deposits with the Swiss 
National Bank and totalled CHF 41.0 billion at the end of 
the year under review (2017: CHF 41.1 billion). These 
deposits serve to meet the liquidity requirements, which 
in Zürcher Kantonalbank’s case, are particularly high as it 
is a systemically important bank.

The high-quality fixed-interest securities held as finan-
cial investments are likewise used to manage liquidity. The 
portfolio of financial investments amounted to CHF 4.7 
billion, remaining at a stable level in comparison with the 
previous year.
Zürcher Kantonalbank’s comfortable liquidity situation is 
also reflected in its liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) of 127 
percent, which continues to be significantly greater than 
the required 100 percent.

Breakdown of operating result  
(in CHF million)

Result from  
interest operations
Result from  
commission business
Result from  
trading activities

Other result

Operating income

Personnel expenses

General and  
administrative expenses

Amortisation

Other value  
adjustments / provisions

Operating result

892

1,213

776

286

46

2,320

– 1,002

– 428

– 192

194

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The interbank and securities financing business
The interbank and securities financing business is used for 
short and medium-term liquidity management. At the end 
of  the  financial  year  2018,  amounts  due  from  banks 
amounted to CHF 4.8 billion and were thus higher than 
in the previous year (CHF 4.5 billion). This was also the 
case for amounts due to banks, which was slightly up on 
the previous year at CHF 37.0 billion.

The securities financing business presented a similar 
picture. Both amounts due from securities financing trans-
actions (CHF 17.0 billion) and liabilities from securities 
financing  transactions  (CHF  6.9  billion)  rose  slightly  in 
comparison with the previous year.

Mortgage loans
At the end of 2018, mortgage loans amounted to CHF 
81.3 billion (previous year: CHF 79.1 billion). This consti-
tutes an increase of 2.7 percent, which is slightly below 
the market. There was no material change in the maturity 
structure.

Zürcher Kantonalbank continues to attach great impor-
tance to loan quality. In view of latent interest rate risks, 
the bank continues to calculate a client’s ability to afford a 
property on the basis of an imputed mortgage interest rate 
of 5 percent.

Mortgage loan maturity structure  
(in CHF billion)

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

81

79

42

40

22

20

99

810

11

at sight 
and  
cancel- 
lable

within  
3 months

within  
3 and 12 
months

within  
1 and 5 
years

after  
5 years

Total

 31.12.18
 31.12.17

Amounts due from clients
This item includes all amounts due from non-banks that 
are not to be disclosed under another item. The amounts 
due at the end of 2018 totalled CHF 8.5 billion and were 
CHF 0.6 billion higher than in the previous year.

Trading business
Trading activities were shaped by client transactions. Trad-
ing positions posted slight year-on-year growth, standing 
at CHF 9.4 billion (2017: CHF 8.9 billion). For further infor- 
mation on the composition of the items “Trading positions” 
and “Other financial instruments at fair value”, please see 
Note 3 to the Financial Report.

The positive and negative replacement values of deriv-
ative financial instruments declined slightly in comparison 
with the previous year. Please see Note 4 for detailed infor- 
mation. Information on market risk management is avail-
able in section 1.6 of the Risk Report. 

Participations, tangible fixed assets and  
intangible assets
Significant participations that are not consolidated totalled 
CHF 138.1 million. Further information, including the share 
of capital and voting rights, is provided in Notes 6 and 7 
to the Financial Report.

The tangible fixed assets in the amount of CHF 677.3 
million consist of real estate and other tangible fixed as-
sets. Investments in tangible fixed assets in the financial 
year amounted to CHF 39.9 million. 

In addition to the fixed purchase price, a variable com-
ponent was also agreed for the acquisition of the Swiss-
canto Group completed in 2015. The variable component 
depends on the contribution to results of the individual 
sellers and the general success of the product range. In 
2016  it  amounted  to  CHF  63.2  million  and  approxim- 
ately CHF 53.4 million in 2017. The last variable purchase 
price payment of CHF 49.3 million was due in 2018 and 
was included in goodwill. Goodwill is recognised under 
intangible assets. As at the end of 2018, intangible assets 
consisted mainly of goodwill and stood at CHF 141.7 mil-
lion. This represents a decline of CHF 50.1 million in com-
parison with the previous year. This decline comprises the 
recognition of the variable purchase price component in 
financial year 2018, the ordinary amortisations and the 
extraordinary amortisation of CHF 59 million in connec-

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55 

tion with the sale of Swisscanto Funds Centre Ltd., Lon-
don.

Further information can be found in Notes 31a and 31b 
to the Financial Report.

Amounts due in respect of client deposits
Amounts due in respect of client deposits include sight 
and time deposits in savings accounts and other client 
accounts and totalled CHF 85.5 billion at the end of the 
year under review, which represents an increase of 5.1 
percent or CHF 4.2 billion on the previous year.

Cash bonds, bond issues and central mortgage  
institution loans
In contrast to the central mortgage institution loans, the 
maturing bonds were not fully replaced by new issues. 
Longer-term refinancing fell by CHF 0.6 billion to CHF 
21.3 billion at the end of 2018.

For  further  information,  please  see  Note  15  to  the 

Financial Report. 

Equity
At group level, the equity reported in the balance sheet 
comprises the bank’s capital (CHF 2.4 billion), retained 
earnings reserves and foreign currency translation reserves 
(CHF 8.4 billion), consolidated profit (CHF 788.2 million) 
and the reserves established in financial year 2018 for 
general banking risks (CHF 200 million). Equity increased 
again on the back of the positive business result and the 
profit retained in the retained earnings reserves. 

The bank’s capital consists exclusively of endowment 
capital, which is made available to the bank by the Canton 
of Zurich for an unlimited term as equity. In 2014, the 
Cantonal Parliament approved a maximum endowment 
capital of CHF 3.0 billion. The Board of Directors can call 
on the unused CHF 575 million at any time to strengthen 
the capital base.

As at the end of 2018, equity before appropriation of 

profit totalled CHF 11.9 billion (2017: CHF 11.2 billion).

Client assets
Assets under management increased by CHF 6.4 billion 
to CHF 295.2 billion in financial year 2018. Thereof, ap-
proximately CHF 11.5 billion can be attributed to the 
negative performance (i.e. price gains / losses, interest, 
dividends and currency gains / losses). The net inflow of 
assets under management amounted to CHF 17.9 billion.

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57 

Basic principles
Zürcher Kantonalbank is a responsible bank which engag-
es in a constant, open and transparent dialogue with its 
stakeholder groups. As an institution under public law, 
we are accountable in particular to the Canton of Zurich, 
its residents and the Cantonal Parliament, which is ulti-
mately responsible for the supervision of the bank. The 
bank  voluntarily  adheres  to  the  corporate  governance 
principles  set  out  in  Art.  663bbis  of  the  Swiss  Code  of 
Obligations. In doing so, it draws, insofar as this is possi-
ble for a public-law institution, on the SIX Swiss Exchange 
Directive Corporate Governance of 20 March 2018 and 
the economiesuisse Swiss Code of Best Practice for Cor-
porate Governance of 29 February 2016. Unless other-
wise specified, all stated information is valid as at 31 De-
cember 2018.

Structure and ownership
Zürcher Kantonalbank is a public-law institution under the 
cantonal law of Zurich. In accordance with the Law on 
Zürcher  Kantonalbank  of  28  September  1997,  version 
dated 1 January 2015 (Cantonal Bank Act), the bank’s 
purpose is to contribute to addressing economic and so-
cial issues and support environmentally sustainable devel-
opment in the Canton of Zurich. For information on the 
group structure and the scope of consolidation, please 
see the outside back cover and page 94. For information 
on the development of equity, please see page 92.

Board of Directors and Committee of the Board
The Board of Directors consists of 13 members elected by 
the Cantonal Parliament for a term of four years. This 
number includes three full-time members of the Commit-
tee of the Board.

All of the members of the Board of Directors are Swiss 
citizens resident in the Canton of Zurich and are inde-
pendent within the meaning of FINMA Circular 2017 / 01 
“Corporate Governance – Banks”. No member has ever 
served on the bank’s Executive Board. None of the part-
time members of the Board of Directors has significant 
business connections with the bank as defined in the SIX 
directives. The Committee of the Board is an independent 
body. Its members are subject to the same rules as all 
employees of Zürcher Kantonalbank, except for the pro-
visions of the regulations approved by the Cantonal Par-

Corporate 
 Governance

We take our responsibility to 
the Canton of Zurich and its 
residents seriously. This is also 
reflected in our corporate  
management. We engage in 
open, transparent dialogue 
with our stakeholder groups. 
The management and organ- 
isation of our bank comprises 
the Board of Directors, the 
Board of Directors Committees, 
the Committee of the Board, 
the Audit Committee, the Audi- 
tor, the Cantonal Parliamentary 
Committee and the Executive 
Board. The Board of Directors, 
the Committee of the Board 
and the Executive Board ensure 
that the objectives of the pub-
lic service mandate are fulfilled.

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Corporate Governance

liament governing the compensation of the members of 
the Board of Directors of Zürcher Kantonalbank dated 25 
November 2004.

The duties of the Board of Directors and Committee 
of the Board are set out in sections 15 and 16 of the Law 
on Zürcher Kantonalbank, sections 29, 30 and 33 of the 
bank’s organisational regulations of 23 June 2011 and 
other  specific  regulations.  As  laid  down  in  section  14, 
paragraph 3, of the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank, mem-
bers of the Board of Directors may not work for any oth-
er bank, be a member of the Government Council, Can-
tonal Parliament or highest cantonal courts or work for 
the tax authorities.

The Cantonal Parliament of Zurich elects the members 
of the Board of Directors and the Committee of the Board 
for a four-year term of office. In doing so, it considers their 
personal characteristics such as assertiveness, credibility 

and integrity, and their suitability with regard to banking 
expertise, as well as regulatory requirements and propor-
tional political representation. The professional criteria for 
each individual member of the Board of Directors are reg-
ularly reviewed by external specialists. Members are elig- 
ible for re-election. There are no restrictions on periods of 
office for members of the Committee of the Board. For 
the other members of the Board of Directors, the total 
period of office may not exceed 12 years. The term of 
office for members of the Board of Directors ends at the 
latest on their 70th birthday. If members of the Commit-
tee of the Board reach their 65th birthday during their 
term of office, their time in office ends when their term 
of office expires.

For the current legislative period (July 2015 – end of 
June 2019), the Board of Directors consists of the persons 
listed in the table on page 59:

Corporate Governance at Board of Directors level

Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)

Cantonal Parliament

Parliamentary Committee for the Super-
vision of Commercial Undertakings (AWU)

Committee of the Board

External audit

Inspectorate (Audit)

Board of Directors

Audit Committee

Risk Committee

Compensation and Person-
nel Committee

IT Committee

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59 

 – takes decisions on providing assistance  

to economic, social and cultural institutions
 – decides on the bank’s membership of, and  

representation in, organisations

 – consults the detailed monthly reports of  

he Executive Board

 – is informed of new lending transactions that  
fall within the remit of the Executive Board

 – is informed of the course of business at participations
 – hires, dismisses and promotes members  

of senior management

 – reviews the legal, tax and compliance reports  

on a half-yearly basis

 – is regularly informed of major risk positions
 – deals with pressing matters that fall under the  
responsibilities of the Board of Directors and  
subsequently obtains the Board’s approval

 – in the event of escalation decides on transactions  

with particular business policy risks, conflicts  
of interest and particular effects on reputation
 – regularly checks the quality and efficiency of the  

fulfilment of the public service mandate 

The Committee of the Board is an executive body in its 
own right alongside the Board of Directors. Under section 
16 of the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank, the Committee 
of the Board is responsible for the direct supervision of 
the Executive Board. In this context, the Committee mon-
itors the implementation of decisions of the Board of 
Directors and compliance with statutory and regulatory 
requirements. Within the framework of such statutory 
and regulatory requirements, it takes decisions on various 
operational and electoral matters. The Committee of the 
Board ensures that the public service mandate is addressed 
by the Board of Directors and in this connection also bears 
responsibility for sustainability issues.

Jörg Müller-Ganz is Chairman; his deputies are János 
Blum and Bruno Dobler. Anita Sigg and Rolf Walther have 
been elected as substitute members of the Committee of 
the Board.

In addition to addressing strategic, planning, organi-
sational and human resources questions as well as issues 
concerning the corporate culture, the Committee of the 
Board, in accordance with statutory and regulatory com-
petencies, dealt at its weekly meetings in the year under 

Members of the Board of Directors  
for the 2015 – 2019 legislative period

Dr Jörg Müller-Ganz

Dr János Blum

Bruno Dobler

Amr Abdelaziz

René Huber

Hans Kaufmann

Henrich Kisker

Chairman 
Member of the Board 
of Directors

Deputy Chairman
Member of the Board 
of Directors

since 30.06.2011
since 01.07.2007

since 01.07.2011
since 06.05.2002

Deputy Chairman

since 01.07.2011

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Roger Liebi  
(to replace Hans Kaufmann)

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Mark Roth 

Peter Ruff

Walter Schoch

Anita Sigg

Rolf Walther

Stefan Wirth

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Member of the Board 
of Directors

Member of the Board 
of Directors

since 01.07.2015

since 01.11.2014

since 24.10.2011
until 30.06.2018

since 01.07.2015

since 01.07.2018

since 01.09.2013

since 30.06.2011

since 01.07.2015

since 30.06.2011

since 01.10.2010

since 30.06.2011

Internal organisation

Committee of the Board

Main responsibilities of the Committee of the Board: It

 – prepares topics relating to strategy and corporate  
culture for submission to the Board of Directors
 – scrutinises the decisions of the Executive Board  

and assures its direct supervision

 – monitors the execution of resolutions passed  

by the Board of Directors

 – approves unsecured loans in accordance with  

the delineation of powers laid down by the Board  
of Directors

 – decides on the purchase and sale of real estate  

in addition to renovations and new building projects  
in accordance with the delineation of powers laid 
down by the Board of Directors

 – approves the payment of invoices for building  
projects authorised by the Board of Directors

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Corporate Governance

review with lending and limit transactions within its area 
of responsibility following the applicable regulations, as 
well as transactions involving potential reputation risk. 
Members of the Executive Board, the Head of Audit and 
representatives of the specialist units were regularly invit-
ed to attend these meetings. The Committee of the Board 
met several times in its function as a strategic committee 
for  the  Board  of  Directors.  In  addition,  it  continuously 
dealt with current geopolitical and national events and 
their possible effects on the markets and the bank.

During the year under review, the Committee of the 
Board was involved in preliminary work and other activi-
ties  related  to  reaching  an  agreement  in  the  US  trade 
dispute. It also kept itself up to date on regulatory chang-
es, monitored the development of important bank pro-
jects  and  obtained  guidance  on  the  initial  experiences 
gained with the implementation of “Performance & De-
velopment”. In addition, it looked at the succession plan-
ning for key individuals at the bank as well as the activities 
planned for the bank’s anniversary celebrations in 2020. 
Besides deciding on any immediate measures to address 
objections in audit reports, the Committee of the Board 
closely oversaw the implementation of regulatory require-
ments and dealt with requests from the Financial Markets 
Supervisory Authority (FINMA) and the Cantonal Parlia-
ment addressed to the Board of Directors. The Committee 
of the Board maintained contact with FINMA, in particu-
lar in the context of developing the capital regime for 
systemically important banks with a domestic focus. In 
order to better promote the interests of Zürcher Kanton-
albank among important decision-makers in politics and 
business, it established and continued to strengthen its 
collaboration with the Public Affairs specialist unit found-
ed in 2015. The Committee of the Board maintained a 
personal dialogue with the Cantonal Parliament of Zurich 
– particularly the Parliamentary Committee for the Super-
vision of Commercial Undertakings (AWU) and executive 
board – as well as the State Council of Zurich, the exec-
utive authorities of towns and municipalities in the Can-
ton of Zurich, and Zurich’s representatives in the National 
Council  and  Council  of  States.  The  Committee  of  the 
Board held talks with the federal authorities on the revi-
sion of the Capital Adequacy Ordinance. It also decided 
on  sponsorship  commitments  under  the  public  service 
mandate. It cooperated with the Board of Directors Com-

mittees in preparing the substantive resolutions and per-
sonnel decisions as well as the basic principles for the 
statutory and strategic adjustment requirement on behalf 
of the Board of Directors and ensured their swift imple-
mentation.  The  Committee  of  the  Board  represented 
Zürcher  Kantonalbank  in  regular  discussions  between 
bank chairmen in the context of the Association of Swiss 
Cantonal Banks as well as at a variety of representative 
cultural, political, environmental and business events. In 
accordance with an agreed timetable, the members of 
the  Committee  of  the  Board  visited  market  areas  and 
specialist units, subsidiaries and branches. 

Board of Directors

Main responsibilities of the Board of Directors: It

 – defines the principles of the corporate strategy,  
the mission statement, the business strategy  
and the organisational structure

 – approves the risk policy, equity strategy, group-wide 
risk and global limits, equity investments and the  
general framework for group-wide risk management

 – establishes and closes branches and establishes  

subsidiaries

 – sets up an internal control system (ICS)
 – determines the group and financial planning
 – issues guidelines on human resources policy as  

part of the group strategy

 – is informed quarterly on risk concentration in  
accordance with article 95, paragraph 1,  
of the Ordinance on Capital Adequacy and Risk  
Diversification for Banks and Securities Dealers

 – is informed of the reporting on country limits
 – consults the detailed quarterly reports of the  

Executive Board

 – is regularly informed by the Executive Board  
of all relevant aspects of risk management

 – approves unsecured loans in excess of CHF 1 billion
 – is regularly informed of lending transactions that fall 
within the remit of the Committee of the Board 

 – approves the annual planning, annual and semi-annual 
financial statements and the annual report including 
the compensation report 

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61 

 – hires and dismisses the members of the Executive 

Board and their deputies, branch managers at senior 
level, and the Head of Audit and his / her deputy 

 – decides on the annual distribution of profit to  

the canton and municipalities 

The Board of Directors bears ultimate responsibility for the 
management of the bank and for the supervision of the 
individuals entrusted with its operational management 
(section 15 of the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank). 

The  Board  of  Directors  follows  a  structured  annual 
cycle  and  examines  the  group  strategy  and  analyses 
Zürcher Kantonalbank’s strengths and weaknesses, op-
portunities and risks as well as the associated strategic 
risks. This includes the related planning, controlling and 
reporting activities, as well as regular examination of risk 
management, risk reporting, the regulatory audit report 
by auditors Ernst & Young AG (EY), and measures and re-
ports relating to the public service mandate and sustain-
ability. The Board of Directors also takes decisions on loan 
and limit applications as well as other transactions that 
fall within its remit.

Zürcher Kantonalbank reached an agreement with the 
US Department of Justice in its multi-year tax dispute 
during the year under review, and the settlement reached 
with the US authorities was approved by the Board of 
Directors in August. The Board of Directors additionally 
approved the sale of the Funds Centre in London, which 
it had taken over as part of the Swisscanto Group acqui-
sition. It also discussed and approved the mission statement 
and the new, forward-looking brand values of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank during the year under review. As it does 
every year, the Board of Directors sought guidance on the 
effects on the bank of national and geopolitical events 
and conditions on the financial markets. In this context, 
it monitored developments in the negotiations regarding 
the bilateral agreement with the EU as well as develop-
ments related to national and international laws and 
regulations. Due to the systemic importance of our bank, 
the Board also focused closely on both the contingency 
plan and the revision of the Capital Adequacy Ordinance 
and approved the updated recovery plan. Within the scope 
of the implementation of FINMA Circular 2017 / 01 “Cor-
porate Governance – Banks”, it approved parts of the 
internal regulations that had not yet been approved by 

the end of the previous year. Moreover, it addressed the 
topics of cyber and interest rate risks, outsourcing of 
payment transactions, retirement planning and investment 
advice, succession planning for key individuals, the imple-
mentation of “Performance & Development” as well as 
the anniversary activities planned for 2020. It was further 
informed about the transition from LIBOR to SARON, 
fintech innovations and key projects.

The Board of Directors appointed Jürg Bühlmann to 
take over as new Head of Corporate Banking from 1 
January 2020, Marcel Zehnder to serve as Deputy Chief 
Risk Officer and two new branch managers. Ten regular 
meetings and one extraordinary meeting were held; they 
were attended by the Executive Board as well as the Head 
of Audit. Representatives of EY attended three meetings. 
The Board of Directors also held a two-day retreat to 
discuss strategic issues, namely the mission statement and 
the new values. Subsequent to the meetings, it also held 
workshops to regularly address individual topics such as 
cyber risks in greater depth. Two members of the Board 
of Directors also made visits to ten branches and five 
specialist units.

Board of Directors 
 Committees

Four committees assist the Board of Directors in its decisions 
by providing preliminary advice:
 – Audit Committee
 – Risk Committee
 – Compensation and Personnel Committee
 – IT Committee 

The Board of Directors Committees have no decision-mak-
ing powers; instead they have a preliminary consultative 
function, make proposals and give recommendations. 
Information on the work of the committees is presented 
at every meeting of the Board of Directors. Twice a year, 
the committee chairmen hold a joint coordination meeting 
with the Committee of the Board. Where possible, subjects 
concerning more than one committee are dealt with at 
joint meetings coordinated by the Committee of the Board. 
In addition, minutes of the individual committee meetings 
are submitted to all members of the Board of Directors. 

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Audit Committee
The Audit Committee supports the Board of Directors in 
its supervisory and control functions in accordance with 
section 15a of the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank, section 
32 of the organisational regulations of Zürcher Kantonal-
bank and FINMA Circular 2017 / 01 “Corporate Governance 
– Banks”. Within its area of responsibility, it prepares 
specialist resolutions of the Board of Directors and, in this 
regard, is responsible in particular for critically analysing 
the published annual and interim financial statements of 
the parent company and group. In addition, the Audit 
Committee assesses the functionality of the internal con-
trol system, in particular with respect to compliance.

As at 31 December 2018, this Committee comprised 
Mark  Roth  (Chairman),  Amr  Abdelaziz,  René  Huber,  
Henrich Kisker and Roger Liebi. The Head of Audit, Walter 
Seif, attends all meetings of the Audit Committee as a 
permanent guest.

The Audit Committee held a total of 13 meetings last-
ing several hours in 2018. All meetings with agenda items 
relating to financial planning, management and reporting 
were attended by the CFO. In relation to specific subject 
matters, the meetings were also regularly attended by the 
external  auditor,  the  CEO,  CRO  and  Head  of  Legal, 
Tax & Compliance. Depending on their importance, vari-
ous agenda items were discussed in the presence of the 
Committee of the Board. The relevant management de-
cision-makers were also involved in the discussions on a 
regular basis where needed.

At each meeting, attention focused on financial re-
porting (monthly, quarterly, half-yearly and annual reports 
including disclosures) as well as the external and internal 
audit reports. A total of 54 internal and 20 external audit 
reports were discussed. This also involved the assessment 
of the appropriateness of measures taken by the entities 
audited, the assessment of internal audit reports and re-
porting by Audit on the current implementation status of 
the measures decided.

At  several  meetings  and  at  the  annual  workshop  
organised by Audit, key changes in the risk profile as well 
as the consequent setting of audit objectives for internal 
and  external  auditing  were  discussed,  with  particular  
attention paid to ensuring that Audit and the external 
auditors systematically cover the entire regulatory audit 
universe in a multi-year cycle.

Other important activities and those required by the reg-
ulator in the year under review included:
 – analysis and assessment of reporting on the structure 
and effectiveness of the internal control system for  
all business units and subsidiaries of the bank

 – discussion of the activity report by Legal, Tax & Com-

pliance and a forward-looking assessment of statutory 
and regulatory developments

 – critical assessment of the regulatory audit report, the 
comprehensive financial audit report and the special 
report from the external auditor for the attention of the 
Parliamentary Committee (AWU) regarding the bank’s 
economic standing with respect to the state guarantee

 – assessment of the performance of Audit 
 – assessment of the performance and compensation  

of the external auditors

With regard to financial management, the Audit Commit-
tee also examined the bank’s financial strategic parameters 
in the year under review. The Audit Committee paid spe-
cial attention to ensuring that risks are adequately account-
ed for when measuring profitability. Furthermore, the bank’s 
financial value added was assessed and compared with 
other banks on the basis of the CFO’s annual benchmark-
ing study. Other important topics for the Audit Committee 
in the year under review included the business performance 
as well as annual and multi-year financial planning.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee also regularly 
confers with the partners at the external auditors respon-
sible for the regulatory and financial audits as well as with 
the  Head  of  Audit  and  the  CFO.  He  is  responsible  for 
setting the Audit committee’s annual targets and for its 
systematic, thorough and critical self-assessment. He also 
briefs the Board of Directors – both regularly and ad hoc 
– on the Committee’s activities as well as current issues 
and challenges.

Compensation and Personnel Committee 
The Compensation and Personnel Committee (EPA) assists 
the Board of Directors in connection with the human re-
sources strategy, as well as personnel and compensation 
policy. It assists the Board of Directors by providing prelim-
inary advice and issuing recommendations on these matters. 
As  at  31  December  2018,  the  Compensation  and 
 Personnel Committee comprised Peter Ruff (Chairman), 

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63 

Amr  Abdelaziz,  Bruno  Dobler,  Anita  Sigg  and  Stefan 
Wirth.

The Compensation and Personnel Committee met on 
ten occasions in the year under review, with all meetings 
attended by the Head of Human Resources or his deputy. 
It also met once for a workshop on the topic of current 
and future developments and challenges in Human Re-
sources. Depending on the topic, the CEO, CFO, Head of 
Institutionals & Multinationals and other representatives 
of the specialist units participated in the meetings.

As is standard, the Compensation and Personnel Com-
mittee attended to succession planning, the implementa-
tion  of  the  human  resources  strategy  as  well  as  to,  in 
particular, matters related to compensation, promotions, 
disciplinary cases, dismissals, and staff training and devel-
opment. For the Annual Report, it reviewed the Compen-
sation Report and dealt with the compensation of the 
Executive Board, trading-related bonuses, the implemen-
tation of the group-wide salary and bonus system, and 
the parameters for the 2018 – 20 long-term deferred com-
ponent.  The  Compensation  and  Personnel  Committee 
additionally discussed potential changes to the compen-
sation system model and addressed the compensation 
systems used in subsidiaries. It also obtained guidance 
regarding salary trends on the market. The Compensation 
and Personnel Committee provided preliminary advice to 
the Board of Directors regarding applications for branch 
manager appointments and the appointment of a new 
Deputy Head of Risk. It again examined measures aimed 
at increasing the percentage of women in management 
positions in the year under review and sought information 
about the future-oriented strategic personnel projects. It 
also obtained guidance regarding experiences gained with 
the  new  performance  management  system,  “Perfor-
mance & Development”.

Risk Committee 
The Risk Committee assists the Board of Directors in mon-
itoring the bank’s risk management and compliance with 
regulatory requirements regarding the management of 
risk. It prepares the corresponding transactions for the 
Board of Directors.

As at 31 December 2018, this committee comprised 
Rolf Walther (Chairman), János Blum, René Huber, Henrich 
Kisker and Anita Sigg. 

The Risk Committee provides preliminary advice to the 
Board of Directors. It evaluates the quality, adequateness 
and effectiveness of the processes and procedures for 
identifying, assessing, limiting, controlling, monitoring 
and managing risks. It regularly consults standard reports, 
stress scenarios and risk reports. The quarterly report by 
the Chief Risk Officer giving an account of credit, market, 
liquidity, operating, compliance and reputation risks is an 
important tool for the Committee in terms of performing 
its role. It also takes note of changes relevant to risk, es-
pecially in connection with the mortgage business, inter-
national risks, a deterioration in the economic situation 
and other business areas. The Risk Committee keeps itself 
informed of credit exposures and limits, and periodically 
seeks information about lending and limit transactions 
that fall within the remit of the Board of Directors in par-
ticular. The Risk Committee provides preliminary advice 
on strategic credit and limit applications and other matters 
within the remit of the Board of Directors from a risk 
perspective, evaluates the appropriateness of our bank’s 
risk management processes, the completeness of the risk 
inventory and the risk profiles for both operational and 
compliance risk on an annual basis, and submits recom-
mendations concerning the group-wide risk framework 
which addresses the requirements of the bank’s risk pol-
icy and strategic risks to the Board of Directors. The Risk 
Committee also examines the findings in the risk-relevant 
audit reports and notes the minutes of the Risk Commit-
tee of the Executive Board.

The Risk Committee met on eight occasions in the year 
under review; almost all meetings were attended by the 
Chief Risk Officer, the Head of Risk Control and the Head 
of Audit. Depending on the subject matter, other repre-
sentatives of the specialist areas also attended the meet-
ings. In the year under review, the committee once again 
addressed the impact of negative interest rates and sought 
information about experience gained in connection with 
the introduction of IRB and the implementation of FINMA 
Circular 2017 / 01 “Corporate Governance – Banks”. It 
was also briefed on the topics of regulating market risk 
within the framework of Basel III, risk management in the 
investment and asset management business, documen-
tary transactions and the impact of the possible elimina-
tion of imputed rental values. It followed international 
developments with respect to country risks and also paid 

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particular attention to specific industries in Switzerland 
and developments such as Industry 4.0. In addition, it 
received  regular  reports  on  liquidity  risk  management, 
cluster risks, exposures to central counterparties and ex-
ception-to-policy transactions.

IT Committee 
The IT Committee assists and advises the Board of Direc-
tors in the handling of all IT issues of strategic importance 
for the group and provides it with relevant recommenda-
tions. For this purpose, it works to obtain a picture of the 
contribution  of  IT  to  the  bank’s  performance.  Further-
more, it assesses the cost and investment framework for 
IT  by  considering  the  potential  effects  on  current  and 
future courses of action as well as on business risks. Fin- 
ally, it assesses the functionality of the management of IT 
risks with an impact on IT-related investment risks.

In 2018, the IT Committee comprised Walter Schoch 
(Chairman) as well as Jörg Müller-Ganz, Stefan Wirth and 
Henrich Kisker as members; Henrich Kisker was replaced 
by Roger Liebi in the middle of the year. The IT Committee 
held  five  regular  meetings  as  well  as  a  training  event, 
which were each attended by the Head of Logistics.

The IT Committee examined a total of 13 audit reports 
with relevance to IT. It was informed on a regular basis 
about the status of relevant findings by the external aud-
itor. The IT Committee reviewed the 2017 IT annual report 
and examined strategic IT reports in detail on a quarterly 
basis. The Chairman of the IT Committee provided the 
Board of Directors with a report in each case. These re-
ports  included  the  key  indicators  for  IT  as  well  as  the 
status of the most important IT programmes. In this re-
spect,  the  committee  obtained  guidance  on  the  most 
important programmes in the portfolio from individuals 
directly responsible for them. In addition, IT planning and 
the reduction of IT operating costs was dealt with in sev-
eral meetings. The IT Committee was shown how financial 
resources are prioritised in accordance with the bank’s 
strategic guidelines.

The IT Committee dealt with matters related to IT sec- 
urity on a regular basis. It was thus briefed on a wide 
variety of issues, including the current threat situation and 
measures, the quantification of IT risks and the restoration 
of  data.  The  topic  of  cyber  security  was  addressed  in 
greater depth during a training event.

For the purpose of gaining an overview of important IT 
matters, the committee addressed the portfolio descriptions 
for monetary transactions and the lending business, block-
chain technology and various IT-related directives and 
sought guidance regarding the conclusion of the data 
centre outsourcing arrangement.

Other topics of focus included the trading workplace, 
the migration to Windows 10, mobile and e-banking as 
well as the securities application. In addition, the IT Com-
mittee was also briefed on further strategic IT projects, 
such as enterprise document management and the fur-
ther development of the partner and business develop-
ment process.

Audit
Audit is responsible for the group’s internal audit. It is 
headed by Walter Seif and as at the end of 2018 had 51 
employees (FTE). In organisational terms, Audit reports 
directly to the Board of Directors and is independent of 
the Executive Board. It assists the Board of Directors and 
its committees in fulfilling their supervisory and control 
tasks  by  using  a  systematic,  risk-oriented  approach  to 
evaluate the effectiveness of risk management and con-
trols as well as of the management, performance and 
monitoring processes, and submitting recommendations 
for optimisation. Audit also checks the bank’s compliance 
with regulatory provisions, internal directives and guide-
lines in all areas of the business. To perform its audit role, 
Audit has unlimited rights of inspection, information and 
access within the bank and group companies. Audit is not 
bound by any directives in substantive terms in the draft-
ing of its reports, which are generally drawn up for the 
attention of the Audit Committee of the Board of Direc-
tors, the Committee of the Board (which can take imme-
diate measures), the CEO, the relevant members of the 
Executive Board, other managers and the external audi-
tors. Audit adheres to stringent quality guidelines and 
aligns its procedures with recognised international audit-
ing standards.

External auditor
Under the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank, the Cantonal 
Parliament appoints the external auditors for a two-year 
period. The external auditors must be recognised by the 
Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). On 

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14 May 2018, the Cantonal Parliament confirmed the ap-
pointment of EY (since 1989) as external auditors for 2019 
and 2020. Bruno Patusi was the lead auditor for the finan-
cial audit (since 2018). Prof. Andreas Blumer is the lead 
auditor for the regulatory audit (and has been since 2013). 
In the year under review, EY charged CHF 4.3 million (2017: 
CHF 4.3 million) for regulatory audits (basic and additional 
audits), the audit of the annual financial statements of the 
bank and group companies as well as the consolidated 
financial statements. EY charged CHF 32,000 (2017: CHF 
117,000) for additional consulting services and CHF 87,000 
(2017: CHF 1,500) for audit-related services. Furthermore, 
EY charged CHF 3.5 million (2017: CHF 3.5 million) for 
auditing collective capital investments via group compa-
nies. The external auditors work together with Audit and, 
to the extent permitted, base their work on that of Audit.
The tools used to inform the Board of Directors include 
reports on the regulatory and financial audits as well as 
reports on any interim audits and summary audits. The 
external auditors also attend meetings of the Board of 
Directors or its committees where necessary.

Cantonal Parliamentary Committee
Responsibility for the ultimate supervision of Zürcher Kan-
tonalbank lies with the Cantonal Parliament. Its duties are 
set out in section 11 of the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank. 
In addition to the election of the members of the Board 
of Directors and Committee of the Board, they include 
approving the guidelines on the fulfilment of the public 
service mandate, the regulations governing the compen-
sation paid to members of the Board of Directors, and the 
annual financial statements and annual report of the bank, 
as well as discharging the governing bodies. The Canton-
al Parliament of Zurich has charged the Parliamentary 
Committee for the Supervision of Commercial Undertak-
ings (AWU) with ultimate supervision in accordance with 
section 12 of the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank. This 
standing, supervisory Cantonal Parliamentary Committee 
inspects the minutes of the Board of Directors and, de-
pending on the matter concerned, obtains information 
from the Chairman, the Committee of the Board, members 
of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, 
other members of the Executive Board or representatives 
of the external auditors with regard to the activities, course 
and results of the bank’s business and any important 

events. As at 31 December 2018, this Cantonal Parlia-
mentary Committee comprised the following members: 

Beat Bloch, CSP

André Bender, SVP

Reinhard Fürst, SVP

Chairman

Member of the Committee

Member of the Committee

Barbara Günthard Fitze, EVP

Member of the Committee

Astrid Gut, BDP

Beat Habegger, FDP

Prisca Koller, FDP

Roland Munz, SP

Cyrill von Planta, GLP

Eva-Maria Würth, SP

Member of the Committee

Member of the Committee

Member of the Committee

Member of the Committee

Member of the Committee

Member of the Committee

Christina Zurfluh Fräfel, SVP

Member of the Committee

Focus of the risk strategy and risk profile
For information on the focus of the risk strategy and the 
risk  profile,  please  see  the  Risk  Report  from  page  128 
onwards.

Information and control instruments
The Board of Directors and Committee of the Board are 
regularly briefed on the course of business and the main 
activities of the Executive Board as well as on significant 
developments. At the invitation of the Committee of the 
Board, members of the Executive Board attend meetings 
of the Board of Directors to inform its members on current 
issues and are involved in the strategy and planning. The 
Committee of the Board scrutinises all minutes of the meet-
ings of the Executive Board, business units and committees. 
If required, the remaining members of the Board of Direc-
tors request additional information to the minutes. At least 
once every quarter, the Board of Directors receives a de-
tailed briefing on the course of business, developments in 
key  risk  categories  (including  compliance  risks)  and  the 
status of important projects. This also includes monitoring 
of reputation risks. The Legal, Tax & Compliance business 
unit reports directly to the Board of Directors and Executive 
Board in accordance with margin no. 78 et seqq. FINMA 
Circular 2017 / 01. The Anti-Money Laundering unit also 
reports to Legal, Tax & Compliance. Moreover, Zürcher Kan-
tonalbank has an Audit unit that reports directly to the 
Board  of  Directors  and  is  independent  of  the  Executive 
Board. Audit assists the Board of Directors and the Com-
mittee of the Board in fulfilling their supervisory and control 
tasks, and has unlimited rights of inspection and informa-

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Corporate Governance

tion within the bank. It reports to the Audit Committee 
and the Committee of the Board, and as required but at 
least once per year, to the Board of Directors. The Parlia-
mentary  Committee  for  the  Supervision  of  Commercial 
Undertakings (AWU) of the Cantonal Parliament of Zurich 
monitors the fulfilment of the public service mandate in 
accordance with section 12 of the Law on Zürcher Kanton-
albank. This is primarily based on an annual focus report, 
the theme of which changes annually depending on the 
AWU’s requests as well as the annual report (including the 
sustainability report), which also accounts for the bank’s 
fulfilment of the public service mandate.

Compensation of the members of the  
Board of Directors and the Executive Board
For  detailed  information  on  the  compensation  of  the 
members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  the  Executive 
Board and the process underlying the determination of 
the amounts to be compensated, please see the Compen-
sation Report from page 69 onwards.

Public service mandate
As part of the strategy process, the Board of Directors, 
Committee of the Board and Executive Board deal on a 
regular basis with the subject of the public service man-
date. They ensure that the bank’s legal requirements and 
strategically defined targets are met. The Committee of 
the Board is assigned special responsibility for control and 
monitoring in this regard (sections 9 and 10 of the Guide-

lines for the Fulfilment of the Public Service Mandate). 
The central body is the internal Public Service Mandate 
Steering Committee, which is chaired by the officer re-
sponsible for the public service mandate. The committee 
advises and supports the bank’s governing bodies and 
business units on all aspects of the public service mandate 
and reports annually on the fulfilment of the mandate to 
the supervisory committee of the Cantonal Parliament. 
All business units are represented on the Public Service 
Mandate Steering Committee by a manager with respon-
sibility for the relevant area. The Public Service Mandate 
specialist area is part of Corporate Development. It coor-
dinates  planning,  implementation  and  reporting  with 
regard to the fulfilment of the public service mandate and 
all associated activities. It also prepares the business of 
the Public Service Mandate Steering Committee. Various 
specialist areas within the individual business units assist 
with the achievement of objectives.

Executive Board
The Executive Board of Zürcher Kantonalbank has eight 
members. It is headed by Martin Scholl (Chief Executive 
Officer, CEO). Under section 17 of the Law on Zürcher 
Kantonalbank, the Executive Board is responsible for man-
aging the bank’s operations. The members of the Execu-
tive Board occupy an advisory role on the Board of Direc-
tors and the Committee of the Board. The Executive Board 
is responsible for business as well as human resources 
matters  where  they  concern  the  management  of  the 

Executive Board organisational chart

CEO 
Martin Scholl

Corporate 
Clients

Institutionals & 
Multinationals

Logistics

Risk

Products, 
Services &  
Direct Banking

Private 
Banking

Finance

Heinz 
Kunz

Stephanino 
Isele

Jürg 
Bühlmann

Roger 
Müller

Daniel
Previdoli

Christoph
Weber

Rudolf 
Sigg

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67 

Areas of responsibility
The responsibilities of the Committee of the Board, Board 
of Directors, Executive Board and external auditors are 
governed by the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank of 28 Sep-
tember 1997 (sections 15 to 18) and the organisational 
regulations of the Zürcher Kantonalbank group of 23 June 
2011 (sections 29 to 37 and section 39).

Management contracts
No management contracts as defined in the annex to the 
SIX Swiss Exchange Directive Corporate Governance have 
been concluded by the group or its subsidiaries with any 
third parties.

Communication policy
Zürcher Kantonalbank pursues a transparent communi-
cation policy towards its stakeholder groups. The most 
important communication tools are the comprehensive 
annual and sustainability report, the half-yearly report and 
press  conferences.  The  2018  annual  results  were  an-
nounced on 8 February 2019 and the Annual Report is 
set to be approved by the Cantonal Parliament on 29 April 
2019. The bank’s half-yearly results are expected to be 
published at the end of August 2019.

bank. With the exception of Audit, it is responsible for 
the appointment and dismissal of members of senior man-
agement. The duties of the Executive Board are governed 
by the law and regulations. Its organisational structure is 
set out in the regulations governing the Executive Board 
(group and parent company) of 23 June 2011. Sections 8 
to 10 of these regulations govern its joint area of respon-
sibility.  Under  section  11  of  the  regulations,  the  Chief 
Executive Officer is responsible for managing the Execu-
tive Board, implementing the group mission statement 
and group strategy, the organisation and management 
guidelines, representing the Executive Board outside the 
bank, coordinating the business activities of the Executive 
Board, and ensuring that the duties assigned by the Board 
of Directors and the Committee of the Board are carried 
out. The Chief Executive Officer reports to the Committee 
of the Board and Board of Directors. Subject to the re-
sponsibilities of the Board of Directors and the Committee 
of the Board, the individual members of the Executive 
Board report to the CEO.

Members of the Executive Board
All members of the Executive Board are Swiss nationals. 
For  information  on  compensation,  profit-sharing  and 
loans, please see page 84 of the Compensation Report. 
As at 31 December 2018, the Executive Board comprised 
the following members:

Martin Scholl

Christoph Weber

Chief Executive Officer
Member of the Executive Board

Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Member of the Executive Board

since 01.06.2007
since 01.01.2002

since 01.01.2014
since 01.08.2008

Jürg Bühlmann

Member of the Executive Board

since 01.07.2012

Stephanino Isele Member of the Executive Board

since 01.04.2014

Heinz Kunz

Member of the Executive Board

since 01.01.2011

Roger Müller

Member of the Executive Board

since 01.01.2014

Daniel Previdoli

Member of the Executive Board

since 01.12.2007

Rudolf Sigg

Member of the Executive Board

since 27.11.2008

For further information about the individual members 
of the Executive Board, please see pages 73 to 75.

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Corporate Governance

Committee of the Board

Jörg Müller-Ganz
Chairman
Dr. oec. HSG  
Swiss / German national; born in 1961

Key mandates:  
Member of the Boards of Trustees of 
Innovationspark, Zurich, Zurich Zoo, 
Zurich, and ETH Foundation, Zurich; 
member of the Boards of Directors of 
Technopark Immobilien AG, Zurich, 
and Opo Oeschger AG, Kloten

Jörg Müller-Ganz, who holds a  
doctorate in economics from the 
University of St. Gallen, was elected 
to the Board of Directors in 2007 
and the Committee of the Board in 
October 2010. From 1992 to 2010, 
he worked as a consultant, CEO 
and partner at the Helbling Group. 
He also lectured on the subject of 
corporate finance at various universi-
ties. Prior to that, he worked at Bank 
Vontobel and Credit Suisse. He is a 
member of the IT Committee of the 
Board of Directors of Zürcher Kanton-
albank. He was appointed Chairman 
of the Board of Directors of Opo 
Oeschger AG, Kloten, in 2015.

János Blum
Deputy Chairman
Dr. sc. math. ETH and lic. oec. HSG 
Swiss / Hungarian national; born in 
1957

Key mandates:  
Chairman of the Management Com-
mittee and employer representative of 
the Pension Fund of Zürcher Kanton-
albank, Zurich; Chairman of the Board 
of Trustees and employer representa-
tive of the Marienburg Foundation of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank, Zurich; member 
of the Boards of Trustees of the Center 
for Corporate Responsibility and Sus-
tainability at the University of Zurich, 
Zurich, and the Chance foundation, 
Zurich; partner in Blum Real GmbH, 
Hungary

János Blum, who holds a doctorate in 
mathematics from the ETH Zurich and 
a master’s degree in economics from 
the University of St. Gallen, was elect-
ed to the Board of Directors in 2002 
and to the Committee of the Board in 
2011. From 1989 to 2011, he worked 
as an actuary. Following various roles 
with Swiss Re, he was appointed Chief 
Actuary at Zurich Re and subsequently 
at Allianz Risk Transfer. He went on  
to work for Milliman AG and as partner 
for Prime Re Solutions AG, which 
both specialise in business consulting 
in the insurance and finance sectors. 
Since 2015, he has been Chairman of 
the Board of Trustees and employer 
representative of the Pension Fund and 
the Marienburg Foundation of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank as well as a member 
of the Zürcher Kantonalbank Risk 
Committee, which he chaired between 
2003 and 2011. Dr János Blum is a 
partner in Blum Real GmbH, Hungary.

Bruno Dobler
Deputy Chairman
Executive MBA HSG  
Swiss national; born in 1952

Key mandates:  
Chairman of the Board of Trustees 
of SanArena, Zurich; member of the 
Board of Trustees of Excellence Foun-
dation, Zurich; member of the Advisory 
Boards of the University of Zurich, 
Department of Economics, Zurich, and 
Umwelt Arena, Spreitenbach; mem-
ber of the Board of Directors of B+D 
Beteiligungen AG, Eglisau

Bruno Dobler, who holds an Executive 
MBA from the University of St. Gallen, 
was elected to the Committee of  
the Board in 2011. After his banking 
apprenticeship and before training to 
become an airline pilot, he completed 
further training with the former Union 
Bank of Switzerland. In 1979 and 
1985, he set up two airlines, which he 
managed as Chairman and CEO. From 
2006 to 2008, he was CEO of Helvetic 
Airways and from 2008 to 2011 of 
Toggenburg Bergbahnen AG. He was 
a member of the Cantonal Parliament 
from 1995 to 2003. Bruno Dobler is 
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of 
SanArena, Zurich, a member of the 
Compensation and Personnel Commit-
tee of the Board of Directors of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank, a member of the Board 
of Directors of B+D Beteiligungen AG, 
Eglisau, a member of the Aviation 
Experts Group, and a member of the 
Advisory Boards of Umwelt Arena,  
Spreitenbach, and the University of  
Zurich, Department of Economics, 
Zurich.

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018Board of Directors

Amr Abdelaziz
Member of the Board of Directors
lic. iur. attorney-at-law 
Swiss / Egyptian national; born in 1977

Key mandates:  
None

Amr Abdelaziz studied law at the 
University of Zurich and the University 
of Geneva, and completed a Master 
of European Law degree (L.L.M.) at 
the College of Europe in Bruges, Bel-
gium. He was elected to the Board of 
Directors in 2015. From 2007 to 2015, 
he worked as a lawyer at CMS von 
Erlach Poncet AG, Zurich, specialising 
in cartel investigations. He now runs 
his own law firm in Zurich. He is a 
member of the Audit Committee and 
the Compensation and Personnel 
Committee of the Board of Directors 
of Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Corporate Governance

69 

René Huber
Member of the Board of Directors
Swiss certified banking expert  
Swiss national; born in 1956

Key mandates:  
Mayor of the political municipality 
of Kloten; Chairman of the Board of 
Directors of the Glatt Valley transport 
authority (Verkehrsbetriebe Glattal 
AG), Glattbrugg; member of the 
Board of Directors of Seitzmeir Immo-
bilien AG, Zurich

René Huber has been a member of 
the Board of Directors since 1 Novem-
ber 2014. He has served as the Mayor 
of Kloten since 2006, and has been 
Chairman of the Board of Directors of 
the Glatt Valley transport authority, 
Glattbrugg, since 2011 and a member 
of the Board of Directors of Seitzmeir 
Immobilien AG, Zurich, since 2016. He 
was a senior adviser of retail clients at 
UBS AG in Kloten until October 2014, 
after having occupied various roles  
at UBS AG. He is a member of the 
Management Committee (as employer 
representative) of the Pension Fund of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank and a member 
of the Audit Committee and Risk 
Committee of the Board of Directors 
of Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Henrich Kisker
Member of the Board of Directors
Swiss Certified Accountant 
Swiss / German national; born in 1955

Key mandates:  
Member of the Boards of Directors 
and Executive Boards of the group 
companies of Senior plc, Rickman-
sworth (UK); Delegate of the Boards 
of Directors of NF Technology Holding 
AG, Zurich, and its subsidiaries, 
Schmid & Partner Engineering AG, 
Zurich, and ZMT Zurich MedTech 
AG, Zurich; Chairman of the Finance 
Committee / Business Manager of the 
Association of Reformed Churches 
of Zurich (from 2019: Kirchgemeinde 
Stadt Zürich (Church Community of 
the City of Zurich))

Henrich Kisker is a Swiss Certified 
Accountant. He was elected to the 
Board of Directors in 2015. From 1992 
to March 2017, he held the position of 
Director of Tax and Treasury at Senior 
plc, Rickmansworth (UK). Between 
1989 and 1992, he worked as Lead 
Auditor for Arthur Andersen AG, 
Zurich. He is a member of the Audit 
Committee and the Risk Committee 
of the Board of Directors of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank.

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Corporate Governance

Roger Liebi
Member of the Board of Directors
Banker, BoD certification from SAQ 
Swiss national; born in 1961

Key mandates: CEO and owner  
of Roger Liebi, Management &  
Consulting,Zurich

Roger Liebi joined the Board of Direc- 
tors in 2018. He started his profes-
sional career in 1981 at the Union 
Bank of Switzerland in Thun. He 
then went on to gain more special-
ised experience in commerce, the 
retail client business and as a foreign 
exchange and money market dealer in 
Thun, Gstaad, Berne and Neuchâtel. 
Next, his path led him to a position 
with the rank of Vice-Director in the 
world of international private banking. 
From 2004 to 2015, for instance, he 
worked for the partially state-owned 
Scandinavian Nordea Bank (Switzer-
land) as regional manager in charge of 
several countries. In 2017, Roger Liebi 
became a self-employed executive 
search consultant and sports agent. In 
addition to this, he was also involved 
in the Zurich Banking Association, 
entrepreneur groups and as the chair-
man of an NGO. He was a member of 
Zurich City Parliament from 2002 to 
2017. From 2015 to 2018, Roger Liebi 
served as a member of the Cantonal 
Parliament, where he headed up the 
Committee for Economic Affairs and 
Taxation of the Cantonal Parliament 
of Zurich. He is a member of the  
Audit Committee and the IT Com-
mittee of the Board of Directors of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Mark Roth
Member of the Board of Directors
Swiss Certified Accountant 
Swiss national; born in 1974

Key mandates:  
Member of the Boards of Directors  
of BTAG Management AG, Zurich, 
Budliger Treuhand AG, Zurich, Treu-
handgesellschaft Hebeisen Kälin AG, 
Zurich, Delta Technik AG, Zug, and 
Energy Invest Consulting AG, Zurich

Mark Roth has been a member of 
the Board of Directors since 2013. He 
has been a member of the Board of 
Directors of Energy Invest Consulting 
AG, Zurich, since 2018; BTAG Man-
agement AG, Zurich, since 2017; Delta 
Technik AG, Zug, since 2016; Budliger 
Treuhand AG, Zurich, since 2014; and 
Treuhandgesellschaft Hebeisen Kälin 
AG, Zurich, since 2014. From 2011  
to 2014, he acted as finance delegate 
within the Executive Committee of 
the SP Zurich City. He has been a 
member of the Executive Board and 
Head of Auditing for Budliger Treu-
hand AG in Zurich since 2009. Prior 
to this, he worked for Itema (Switzer-
land) Ltd. in Rüti and Ernst & Young, 
Zurich, in both Zurich and Amman 
(Jordan). Mark Roth is Chairman of 
the Audit Committee of the Board of 
Directors of Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Peter Ruff
Member of the Board of Directors
dipl. Ing. FH  
Swiss national; born in 1956

Key mandates:  
Chairman of the Board of Trustees 
of Grüningen Botanical Garden, 
Grüningen; member of the Boards of 
Directors of Exploris AG, Zurich, and 
Exploris Health AG, Zurich; partner in 
Unimex GmbH, Zug

Peter Ruff joined the Board of Direc- 
tors in 2011. The certified engineer 
has been the owner and CEO of  
Exploris AG and Exploris Health AG, 
which specialise in diagnostic solu- 
tions and data analysis in the health-
care industry, since 2002 and 2018, 
respectively. From 1994 to mid-2017, 
he was a member of the Board of 
Directors and co-owner of Ruf Group, 
an information technology business. 
He has been a member of the Man-
agement Committee and employer 
representative of the Pension Fund 
of Zürcher Kantonalbank since 2015. 
Peter Ruff chairs the Compensation 
Committee and the Personnel Com-
mittee of the Board of Directors of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank.

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71 

Anita Sigg
Member of the Board of Directors
lic. oec. publ.  
Swiss national; born in 1966

Key mandates:  
Member of the awards committee  
of Sustainable Harvest Switzerland, 
Zurich; member of the Board of Trus-
tees of Ökopolis Foundation, Zurich

Anita Sigg has been a member of the 
Board of Directors since 2011. Since 
2003, she has been a lecturer and 
project manager and most recently 
Head of the Centre for Banking and 
Finance at the Zurich University of 
Applied Sciences in Winterthur. An 
economist, she is also a trustee of the 
Ökopolis Foundation. She previously 
held various management positions 
at Zürcher Kantonalbank within the 
Corporate Centre and in sales man-
agement. Anita Sigg is a member of 
the Risk Committee and the Com-
pensation and Personnel Committee 
of the Board of Directors of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank.

Rolf Walther
Member of the Board of Directors
Graduate in business management  
Swiss national; born in 1951

Key mandates:  
Chairman of the Board of Directors 
and CEO of Walther Beratungen AG, 
Zurich; member of the Board of Trus-
tees of Wildnispark, Horgen

Rolf Walther, an economist and self- 
employed businessman, was elected 
to the Board of Directors in 2010. 
Prior to becoming an entrepreneur, 
he held various positions with UBS 
over a period of 29 years. From 2003 
to 2010, he was a member of the 
Cantonal Parliament. He is Chairman 
of the Herrenbergli Residential Home 
and Care Centre for the Elderly Coop-
erative. He is a member of the Board 
of Trustees of Wildnispark Zurich. 
Since 2015, he has been a substitute 
member of the Management Com-
mittee and employer representative  
of the Pension Fund of Zürcher Kan-
tonalbank. He has chaired the Risk 
Committee of the Board of Directors 
of Zürcher Kantonalbank since 2011.

Walter Schoch
Member of the Board of Directors
dipl. El. Ing. FH Technikum Winter-
thur; MA in Theology at the University 
of Lampeter, UK 
Swiss national; born in 1956 

Key mandates:  
Vice Chairman of the Board of Trus-
tees of SanArena, Zurich; member of 
the Board of Trustees of Grüningen 
Botanical Garden, Grüningen; Chair-
man of the Supervisory Committee of 
PET College Uster, Uster

The engineer and theologian Walter 
Schoch was elected to the Board of 
Directors in 2015. He was a member 
of the Cantonal Parliament from 2007 
to 2015 and serves as Justice of the 
Peace in the municipalities of Bauma, 
Wila and Wildberg. After working for 
BBC Oerlikon as a project manager 
(1982 to 1983) and Imeth AG, 
Wetzikon, as technical director (1983 
to 1987), he worked for Swisscom 
AG, Zurich, from 1987 to 2003 as key 
account manager, senior project man-
ager and divisional director. In 2005, 
Walter Schoch began his studies at 
the University of Lampeter in the UK, 
while continuing to head the MEOS 
Media department at MEOS Svizzera. 
From 2007 to 2010, he headed the 
Swiss Mission Fellowship’s office in 
Winterthur. He chairs the IT Com-
mittee of the Board of Directors of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank.

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Corporate Governance

Audit

Stefan Wirth
Member of the Board of Directors
dipl. Ing. ETH / BWI  
Swiss national; born in 1961

Key mandates:  
None

Stefan Wirth has been a member  
of the Board of Directors since 2011. 
A mechanical engineer and business 
administrator, he headed up software 
development at Credit Suisse Asset 
Management until 2003. He is an 
independent IT and organisational 
consultant, and implements projects 
for various banks in his role as pro-
ject manager and business engineer.  
Stefan Wirth is a member of the IT 
Committee and of the Compensation 
and Personnel Committee of the 
Board of Directors of Zürcher Kanton-
albank.

Walter Seif
Head of Audit
Swiss Certified Accountant;  
graduate in business management  
Swiss / UK national; born in 1962

Key mandates:  
Chairman of the Internal Audit Asso-
ciation of the Swiss Cantonal Banks; 
member of the Board of Directors 
of the Institute of Internal Auditing 
Switzerland (IIAS)

Walter Seif has held the position of 
Head of Audit since 1 January 2015. 
He joined Zürcher Kantonalbank in 
April 2014. He previously worked in 
various internal audit roles at a major 
bank over a period of 23 years, 8 of 
which were spent in London.

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73 

Jürg Bühlmann
Head of Logistics
Dr. oec. publ.  
Swiss national; born in 1967

Key mandates:  
Member of the Board of Directors  
of SIX Group

Jürg Bühlmann was appointed Head 
of Logistics in 2012. He studied Busi-
ness Management at the University of 
Zurich, where he gained a doctorate. 
His initial role with Zürcher Kantonal-
bank was in Controlling. From 2002 
until his appointment as a member of 
the Executive Board, he held a variety 
of positions within the Logistics busi-
ness unit. His main duties were the 
management of strategic IT projects, 
a sub-area of the IT unit and the Real 
Estate unit.

Christoph Weber
Head of Private Banking, Deputy  
Chairman of the Executive Board
Swiss certified banking expert  
Swiss national; born in 1959

Key mandates:  
Chairman of the Supervisory Board of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank Österreich AG, 
Salzburg

Christoph Weber was appointed  
Head of Private Banking and a mem- 
ber of the Executive Board in 2008. 
Prior to that, he was Head of Private 
Banking North and a member of  
the Executive Board at Banca del 
Gottardo. From 2000 to 2006,  
Christoph Weber was a member of 
the Executive Board of AAM Privat-
bank AG, where he was responsible 
for sales to institutional and retail 
clients and a member of senior man-
agement at Basellandschaftliche Kan-
tonalbank (BLKB). Christoph Weber  
is Chairman of the Supervisory Board 
of Zürcher Kantonalbank Österreich 
AG, Salzburg.

Executive Board

Martin Scholl
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Swiss certified banking expert  
Swiss national; born in 1961

Key mandates:  
Member of the Board of Directors of 
the Swiss Bankers Association, Basel; 
member of the Board of Directors 
of the Association of Swiss Cantonal 
Banks, Basel; member of the Board 
of economiesuisse, Zurich; Chairman 
of the Board of Directors of ZüriBahn 
AG, Zurich

Martin Scholl became Chief Executive 
Officer in 2007. He has been a mem- 
ber of the Executive Board since 2002. 
Martin Scholl was Head of Corporate 
Banking until 2005, before being 
appointed Head of Retail Banking 
in 2006. After completing his appren- 
ticeship in banking at Zürcher Kanton-
albank, he was employed in various 
roles. In 2001, he led the credit man-
agement department, and from 1996 
to 2001 was Head of Distribution for 
Commercial and Corporate Clients. 
Martin Scholl is a member of the 
Board of Directors of the Swiss Bank-
ers Association; Deputy Chairman 
of the Association of Swiss Cantonal 
Banks, Basel; member of the Board 
of economiesuisse, Zurich; Chairman 
of the Board of ZüriBahn AG, Zurich; 
member of the Board of Directors of 
Venture Incubator AG, Zug; and mem-
ber of the Board of Trustees of the 
FCZ Museum Foundation, Zurich.

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Corporate Governance

Roger Müller
Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
Swiss certified banking expert  
Swiss national; born in 1962

Key mandates:  
None

Roger Müller became Chief Risk 
Officer on 1 January 2014. From 2008 
until his appointment as a member 
of the Executive Board, he was Head 
of the Credit Office and Deputy 
Chief Risk Officer. He has held a wide 
variety of roles within the bank since 
1978, mainly in commercial lending 
and corporate banking. From 2000, 
he headed up credit office analysis in 
Corporate Banking.

Stephanino Isele
Head of Institutionals &  
Multinationals
Dr. oec. publ.  
Swiss national; born in 1962

Key mandates:  
Member of the Board of Directors of 
Swisscanto Holding Ltd. and Swisscanto 
Swiss Red Cross Charity Fund (SICAV), 
Zurich; Vice Chairman of the Boards of 
Trustees of Swisscanto Anlagestiftung, 
Zurich, and Swisscanto Anlagestiftung 
Avant, Zurich; member of the Regulatory 
Board of SIX Swiss Exchange AG, Zurich; 
member of the Advisory Board of Zurich 
University’s Department of Banking and 
Finance (IBF); member of the Board of 
Trustees of the Swiss Finance Institute, 
Zurich

Dr Stephanino Isele has been Head of  
Institutionals & Multinationals since  
1 April 2014. He joined Zürcher Kantonal-
bank on 1 January 2008 as Head of Trad-
ing, Sales & Capital Markets after holding 
various national and international roles  
at J.P. Morgan & Co. and Morgan Stanley 
in London, most recently as COO, where 
he dealt with equity derivatives. He has 
been Vice Chairman of the Boards of 
Trustees of Swisscanto Anlagestiftung, 
Zurich, and Swisscanto Anlagestiftung 
Avant, Zurich, since 2017, as well Vice 
Chairman of the Board of Directors of 
Swisscanto Holding Ltd since 2018. He 
has also been a member of the Board of 
Directors of Swisscanto Swiss Red Cross 
Charity Fund (SICAV) since 2015. He is a 
member of the Regulatory Board of SIX 
Swiss Exchange AG, Zurich, a member of 
the Advisory Board of Zurich University’s 
Department of Banking and Finance (IBF) 
and a member of the Board of Trustees 
of the Swiss Finance Institute, Zurich.

Heinz Kunz
Head of Corporate Banking
Swiss certified banking expert  
Swiss national; born in 1961

Key mandates:  
Chairman of the Board of Directors  
of Swisscanto Pensions Ltd., Zurich; 
member of the Board of Directors  
of Swisscanto Holding Ltd.; member 
of the Board of Trustees of the 
Berufslehrverbund (BVZ), Zurich; mem-
ber of the Board of Directors of the 
Swiss Banks’ and Securities Dealers’ 
Deposit Guarantee Association, Basel

Heinz Kunz became Head of Corporate 
Banking in 2011. He had previously 
worked as Deputy Head of the unit 
and was responsible for key account 
management for corporate clients. 
After his banking apprenticeship at 
Zürcher Kantonalbank, he held various 
roles, including Head of Corporate 
Banking for the Unterland region and 
from 2001 Head of Sales for Business 
and Corporate Clients. Since 2016, he 
has been a member of the Board of  
Directors of Swisscanto Holding Ltd, 
and Chairman of the Board of Directors 
of Swisscanto Pensions Ltd., Zurich, 
since 2015. He is a representative of 
the Association of Swiss Cantonal 
Banks (ASCB), Chairman of the Swiss 
Bankers Association’s Management 
Committee for Retail Banking, and a 
member of the Board of Directors of 
the Swiss Banks’ and Securities Deal-
ers’ Deposit Guarantee Association 
(esisuisse), Basel. He is acting Chairman 
of the Board of Directors of Gasthof 
Gyrenbad AG, Turbenthal, and a mem-
ber of the Board of Trustees of the 
Berufslehrverbund (BVZ), Zurich.

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Daniel Previdoli
Head of Products, Services &  
Direct Banking
lic. rer. pol. 
Swiss national; born in 1962

Key mandates:  
Chairman of the Board of Directors 
of Swisscanto Fund Management 
Company Ltd., Zurich; member of 
the Boards of Directors of Swisscanto 
Holding Ltd., Zurich, Aduno Holding 
AG, Zurich, Viseca Card Services SA, 
Zurich, and Homegate AG, Zurich; 
Deputy Chairman of the Greater  
Zurich Area Foundation Board, Zurich

Daniel Previdoli has been a member 
of the Executive Board since 2007. He 
became Head of Products, Services & 
Direct Banking on 1 October 2014  
after having led the Retail Banking 
business unit. Prior to that, he spent 
11 years with UBS as Head of Recovery 
Management Primaries between 
1996 and 2002 and Head of Retail 
and Corporate Banking for the Zurich 
region. From 1987 until 1996, he held 
various positions with Credit Suisse, 
both in Switzerland and abroad. 
Daniel Previdoli is Chairman of the 
Board of Directors of Swisscanto Fund 
Management Company Ltd., Zurich. 
Since 2016, he has been a member 
of the Board of Directors of TWINT 
AG, Zurich, as well as a member of 
the Boards of Directors of Swisscanto 
Holding Ltd., Zurich, Aduno Holding 
AG, Zurich, Viseca Card Services SA, 
Zurich, and Homegate AG, Zurich, 
and Deputy Chairman of the Greater 
Zurich Area Foundation, Zurich.

Rudolf Sigg
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Swiss certified banking expert;  
Certified accountant and controller  
Swiss national; born in 1961

Key mandates:  
Chairman of the Board of Directors 
of Swisscanto Holding Ltd., Zurich; 
member of the Board of Directors of 
the Central Mortgage Bond Institution 
of the Swiss Cantonal Banks, Zurich; 
member of the Management Commit-
tee and employer representative of the 
Pension Fund of Zürcher Kantonalbank, 
Zurich; Chairman of the Freizügigkeits- 
stiftung and Vorsorgestiftung Sparen 3 
foundations of Zürcher Kantonalbank, 
Zurich; member of the Board of Trus-
tees and employer representative of 
the Marienburg Foundation of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank

Rudolf Sigg has been a member of 
the Executive Board since 2008. He 
currently heads the Finance business 
unit after having been Head of Con-
trolling & Accounting. For the 12 years 
prior to that, he had overall responsi-
bility for Controlling, which was inte-
grated into Central Risk Controlling in 
2000. He joined Zürcher Kantonalbank 
in 1977. He is Chairman of the Board 
of Directors of Swisscanto Holding 
Ltd., Zurich, a member of the Board 
of Directors of the Central Mortgage 
Bond Institution of the Swiss Cantonal 
Banks, Zurich, a member of the Man-
agement Committee of the Pension 
Fund of Zürcher Kantonalbank, Zurich, 
Chairman of the Freizügigkeitsstiftung 
and Vorsorgestiftung Sparen 3 foun-
dations of Zürcher Kantonalbank, and 
a member of the Board of Trustees of 
the Marienburg Foundation of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank.

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77 

Basic principles
As a public-law institution, Zürcher Kantonalbank aligns 
its compensation policy with the corporate governance 
principles of the Swiss Code of Obligations, the SIX Swiss 
Exchange Directive Corporate Governance and the Swiss 
Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance.

In accordance with the SIX directive, variable compen-
sation is charged on an accrual basis, i.e. to the financial 
year to which it actually applies. Total personnel expenses 
include all cash compensation, deferred components of 
the variable compensation and changes in their value, 
employer contributions to the pension fund and the AHV 
(old-age and survivors’ insurance), as well as other man-
datory social security contributions. The compensation 
guidelines are set out in the Personnel and Compensation 
Regulations issued by the Board of Directors for Zürcher 
Kantonalbank and apply throughout the group. The pro-
cedures for determining compensation are structured and 
documented by the group companies. This Compensation 
Report refers to the parent company of Zürcher Kantonal- 
bank. The compensation paid by the consolidated subsid-
iaries also fulfils the relevant requirements in an appropri-
ate manner.

Competencies
Under the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank, responsibility 
for the ultimate supervision of Zürcher Kantonalbank lies 
with the Cantonal Parliament of Zurich, which is also re-
sponsible  for  approving  the  regulations  governing  the 
compensation of members of the Board of Directors. The 
Board of Directors issues regulations governing the com-
pensation of the members of the Board of Directors, sub-
ject to approval by the Cantonal Parliament.

The Board of Directors also issues the Personnel and 
Compensation Regulations for Zürcher Kantonalbank in 
accordance with the requirements set out in the Swiss 
Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) Circular 
“Remuneration Schemes”. The Compensation and Per-
sonnel Committee assists the Board of Directors in matters 
concerning the compensation policy. It prepares the cor-
responding transactions for the Board of Directors, gives 
its view on compensation issues that fall within the remit 
of the Committee of the Board and Board of Directors, 
and reviews the market conformity of compensation for 
the bank as a whole. The Compensation and Personnel 

Compensation 
 Report

Our compensation model is in 
line with the market and based 
on performance. It is geared 
towards the long-term financial 
interests of Zürcher Kantonal-
bank.

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Compensation Report

Competencies and responsibilities

 Competencies

Body responsible

Compensation for the Committee  
of the Board and other members  
of the Board of Directors

Setting up or amending  
compensation plans

Determining total amount  
of variable compensation

Compensation for CEO 

Compensation for members  
of the Executive Board

Compensation  
for Head of Audit 

Compensation  
for senior management

Cantonal Parliament, based on 
proposal of the Board of Directors

Board of Directors, based on 
 recommendation of the Compen-
sation and Personnel Committee

Board of Directors, based on 
 recommendation of the Compen-
sation and Personnel Committee

Board of Directors, based  
on proposal of the Committee  
of the Board

Board of Directors, based  
on proposal of the Committee  
of the Board

Board of Directors, based  
on proposal of the Committee  
of the Board

Executive Board

Committee  has  the  following  duties  and  powers  for  
determining compensation policy:
 – making recommendations to the Board of Directors  

on the strategic and human resource policy principles 
of the pension funds from the employer’s viewpoint
 – making recommendations on principles concerning 

the compensation of members of the Executive Board 
and Audit, as well as any profit-sharing and benefit 
programmes

 – evaluating the bank’s compensation system, specifically 
with regard to its sustainability and the avoidance of 
false incentives

In the year under review, the Compensation and Person-
nel Committee held seven meetings at which compensa-
tion-related issues at Zürcher Kantonalbank were discussed.

Compensation policy
Zürcher Kantonalbank’s compensation policy is aligned 
with the bank’s business strategy, objectives and values. 
It takes into account the long-term financial interests of 
the bank and supports solid and effective risk manage-
ment. It is up to the Board of Directors to reconcile the 
interests of the Canton of Zurich with those of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank and its employees. The compensation pol-
icy is also aimed at attracting and retaining highly quali-
fied employees in the long term. Through our compensa-
tion policy, we recognise outstanding performances and 
motivate employees to continue their professional devel-
opment. Accordingly, the compensation system of Zürch-
er Kantonalbank does not create any incentives to take 
inappropriate risks that might negatively affect the bank’s 
stability or good reputation. Any compensation (profes-
sional or attendance fees, etc.) received for acting as a 
delegate or representative of the bank must be surren-
dered to Zürcher Kantonalbank. Any reimbursed expens-
es are retained by the appointee.

Zürcher  Kantonalbank’s  principles  of  compensation 

are based on the following objectives: 
 – promoting close cooperation within management  

and ensuring that all actions are undertaken  
in the interests of the bank as a whole as well as  
its integrated business and risk model

 – motivating employees to create lasting added value 

while taking account of the risks

 – promoting a performance-led environment for the 

benefit of the company as a whole

 – ensuring that variable compensation is adjusted for  
risk and only income that is sustainable in the long 
term is included

 – offering competitive, balanced compensation for  

comparable jobs

Benchmarks 
Zürcher Kantonalbank attaches great importance to offer-
ing compensation that is competitive within the industry 
in terms of structure and level. To this end, it conducts 
annual  market  comparisons  in  collaboration  with  Willis 
Towers Watson, SwissICT, Kienbaum and other specialist 
consultancy firms, comparing itself with other Swiss finan-
cial institutions. For senior managers, additional compen-
sation parameters are taken into account, such as the size 

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79 

of the organisation, number of employees, hierarchy, depth 
of the organisation, geographical reach and international-
ity. Additional parameters may be used if necessary. 

Sign-on and severance payments
Payments agreed in connection with the signing of an 
employment contract such as guaranteed bonuses or 
bonus buyouts are referred to as sign-on payments. Zürch-
er Kantonalbank agrees to such payments only on an 
exceptional basis and only in justified individual cases. 
Payments agreed in connection with the termination of 
an employment relationship are referred to as severance 
payments. Zürcher Kantonalbank’s employment contracts 
do not contain any pre-agreed severance payments or 
notice periods that differ from the general terms and 
conditions of employment. Both sign-on and severance 
payments must be approved by the Committee of the 
Board on the basis of clear decision-making processes. 
The sign-on and severance payments agreed in the year 
under review are shown in the figure below.

Compensation groups

Board of Directors
The compensation of the members of the Board of Direc-
tors  and  the  Committee  of  the  Board  is  based  on  the 
regulations governing the compensation of members of 
the Board of Directors of Zürcher Kantonalbank, as ap-
proved by the Cantonal Parliament of Zurich on 25 No-
vember 2004. Part-time members of the Board of Directors 

receive a fixed annual salary plus compensation for each 
membership of a committee as well as an expense allow-
ance.  An  attendance  fee  is  paid  for  meetings,  visits  to 
specialist units and branch offices, as well as training and 
development events. No variable compensation is paid to 
the members of the Board of Directors.

Committee of the Board
The members of the Committee of the Board are full-time 
members of the Board of Directors. They each receive a 
fixed annual base salary, an expense allowance as well as 
the  benefits  set  out  in  the  relevant  regulations  for  all 
Zürcher Kantonalbank employees. The Chairman receives 
an additional allowance of 10 percent of his annual base 
salary. No variable compensation is paid to the members 
of the Committee of the Board.

Audit
In view of Audit’s special function, the Head of Audit and 
employees at the second most senior level of manage-
ment who report directly to him do not receive any vari-
able compensation. Their entire compensation takes the 
form of a fixed annual salary.

Executive Board
Compensation for the members of the Executive Board is 
based on Zürcher Kantonalbank’s overall compensation 
policy. A variable element is paid depending on the group’s 
result. Part of the variable compensation takes the form 
of a benefit deferred for three years.

2018 Agreed sign-on and severance payments

in CHF 1,000

Total sign-on payments

– of which Key Risk Takers

Total severance payments

– of which Key Risk Takers

Total compensation

No. of employees

5

–

–

–

5

Total

159

–

–

–

159

Paid in 2018

Amounts due  
in 2019 or later

11

–

–

–

11

148

–

–

–

148

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Compensation Report

Senior management
Senior  management  has  a  sustained  influence  on  the 
bank’s  business  operations  (risks,  image,  etc.),  on  the 
group’s result and therefore on the implementation of the 
strategy. Senior management accounts for approximately 
1 percent of the total headcount. As with the Executive 
Board, variable compensation is paid in addition to the 
base salary. The variable compensation is linked to the 
group’s result and individual managers’ performance. Part 
of the variable compensation (long-term deferred com-
ponent) is deferred as in the case of the Executive Board.

Other management and employees
In principle, all the bank’s employees are entitled to a 
variable element of compensation for good performance. 
Selected employees in Trading, Sales & Capital Markets are 
subject to a different compensation model, under which 
part of their variable compensation is deferred and exposed 
to future risk development. 

Key Risk Takers
In accordance with FINMA guidance, one of the compen-
sation groups is defined as Key Risk Takers, which is sub-
ject to the rules for deferred variable compensation. Key 
Risk Takers are:
 – the Executive Board
 – members of senior management with a substantial 
influence on the resources of the business and / or  
risk profile

 – selected employees in Trading, Sales & Capital  

Markets who exceed a defined threshold in relation  
to variable compensation

A total of 79 employees are currently defined as Key Risk 
Takers, of which eight were members of the Executive 
Board in the year under review.

Components of compensation
In term of its compensation policy, Zürcher Kantonalbank 
applies the total compensation approach, which compris-
es the following compensation components:

Components of compensation  

Base salary

Contractually agreed, regularly paid salary

Variable compensation

Deferred variable component

Statutory allowances and 
additional benefits

Variable component of salary that is contingent 
on result and performance

Element of compensation based on sustainable 
success of the business deferred for a longer 
period

Child and education allowances, family 
allowances (Agreement on Conditions of 
Employment for Bank Staff), allowances under 
the Employment Act, expense allowances, 
allowance for years of service, etc.

The base salary, variable compensation and deferred com-
ponents are explained in greater detail below.

Base salary
Zürcher Kantonalbank tends to align its base salaries with 
median values for the industry. The findings of salary com-
parisons serve to, among other things, determine individ-
ual salaries. Base-salary levels are usually reviewed annu-
ally. The amount of the base salary is determined by the 
employee’s position, experience and skills, and takes ac-
count of their individual sustainable performance. Adjust-
ments are made to reflect market conditions, affordabil-
ity,  individual  performance  and  the  overall  financial 
position of Zürcher Kantonalbank.

Variable compensation
Variable compensation is a central element of the bank’s 
compensation practices and offers flexibility in making 
adjustments to reflect a change in the business situation. 
The parent bank’s pool for variable compensation is based 
on the group’s result, with capital and risk costs taken into 
account. The variable compensation for Trading is deter-
mined on the basis of its operating result less risk and 
capital costs. The amount of variable compensation allo-
cated to each employee depends on their position, indi-
vidual performance and conduct. Variable compensation 
is set by the bank and may be forfeited in full at its dis-

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018Compensation Report

81 

cretion due to inadequate individual performance, staff 
misconduct (for details, see Penalty clause) or a poor busi-
ness  result.  The  thresholds  for  deferred  compensation 
components are in line with the risk profile of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank.

Variable compensation component deferred  
for three years
For members of the Executive Board and senior manage-
ment, part of the variable compensation takes the form 
of a benefit deferred for three years. The targets for each 
series of these deferred benefits are set in advance and 
apply for the entire term. The value of the variable com-
pensation component deferred for three years at the end 
of the term is determined by the achievement of targets, 
which in turn is dependent on the level of economic profit. 
The maximum value is set at 1.5 times its original amount 
and the minimum at 0.5 times. In the event that internal 
cumulated net income over the three-year deferral period 
is negative, the value of the deferred variable compensa-
tion component is reduced to zero.

Deferred variable compensation exposed to risk
For certain employees in Trading, Sales & Capital Markets 
who bear greater responsibility in terms of results and risks 
and  whose  variable  compensation  exceeds  a  defined 
threshold, a portion of this variable compensation is de-
ferred for two years and exposed to risk. The CEO and 
Head of Human Resources, which are both independent 
of Trading, Sales & Capital Markets, may impose a penalty, 
 i.e. a reduction or forfeiture of the deferred variable com-

pensation exposed to risk for individual employees, par-
ticularly in the event of:
 – significant financial losses at department, desk or 

individual level

 – reputational damage or actions that may be detrimental 
to Zürcher Kantonalbank, such as activities that breach 
regulations and result or may result in sanctions being 
imposed by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory 
Authority

 – activities that cause significant numbers of clients  

to leave the bank or inappropriate risk-taking outside 
of the ordinary risk processes 

Consideration of risks

Risk-adjusted variable compensation pool
Two different methods are used for the risk adjustment of 
the variable compensation pools. The variable compensa-
tion pool of the parent bank is based on the consolidated 
result after adjusting for risk costs. Risk costs take into 
account standard risk costs as well as the cost of risk cap-
ital or cost of equity.

The model for standard risk costs is based on the de-
fault rates for an entire economic cycle. This evens out the 
annual default risk costs, which would otherwise be irreg-
ular. By taking account of standard risk costs, the annual 
accounts include risk costs arising from current business 
volumes under the model. This means that management 
decisions to focus on specific products or markets imme-
diately incur the relevant risk costs. Using this procedure 
ensures that the basis for calculating the variable compen-

Overview of variable compensation

Recipient

Due

Sunset clause

Performance, penalty clause

Performance- 
related 1

Permanent employees

Immediately

Variable 
 compensation

Variable compen-
sation component 
deferred for three 
years

Executive Board,  
senior management

Deferred variable 
compensation 
exposed to risk

Certain employees  
in Trading,  
Sales & Capital Markets

1  Taking capital and risk costs into account

Payment  
after three years

Payment  
in equal shares  
over two years

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dependent on individual performance, may be 
 cancelled altogether in the event of misconduct.

Yes

Amount of cash sum paid out on due date  
depends on development of economic profit.

Yes

Amount of cash sum paid out on due date  
depends on whether a penalty has been imposed. Yes

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Compensation Report

sation pool is geared towards sustainable growth for the 
bank. As equity compensation, an interest rate at market 
terms is applied to the total amount of equity.

The size of the variable compensation pool for Trading 
is  calculated  on  the  basis  of  the  result  for  Trading, 
Sales & Capital Markets, adjusted for the default and mar-
ket risk costs of the individual trading desks.

These are calculated on the basis of the standard risk 
costs for default risks and on the cost of risk capital in 
accordance with internal models for default as well as 
market risks (internal capital-at-risk models). The capi-
tal-at-risk approach is used to determine the internally 
required capital that is tied up for a year on account of 
market and default risks in connection with trading activ-
ities. The maximum risk capital available for trading activ-
ities is allocated by the Board of Directors on an annual 
basis, taking into account the bank’s strategic direction 
and capital planning for the coming years. This risk capi-
tal is charged to the result of Trading, Sales & Capital Mar-
kets using a customary interest rate.

Determining the compensation for control functions
For  the  purpose  of  efficient  risk  monitoring,  Legal, 
Tax & Compliance,  Risk,  Finance  and  Human  Resources 
must be able to perform their control and escalation tasks 
independently. Therefore, their compensation does not 
directly depend on the results of the individual business 
units being monitored. Using the total compensation ap-
proach for these functions ensures that compensation is 
attractive to qualified, experienced people. 

Determining the compensation of Key Risk Takers 
Key Risk Takers are subject to a performance evaluation 
and development process in the same way as other em-
ployees. The performance evaluation also takes account 
of risk aspects, any breaches of internal or external direc-
tives  and  guidelines,  misconduct  that  could  negatively 
affect  the  bank’s  reputation,  and  ongoing  disciplinary 
proceedings. The individual performance of a Key Risk 
Taker is regularly discussed with their supervisor. During 
the process of allocating and paying variable compensa-
tion elements to Key Risk Takers in Trading, Sales & Capital 
Markets,  the  independent  control  functions  Legal, 
Tax & Compliance, Risk Management and Human Resourc-
es are consulted.

As stated in the section “Competencies and responsibili-
ties” (page 78), the Board of Directors determines the 
compensation of the members of the Executive Board at 
the request of the Committee of the Board. The Executive 
Board determines the compensation of Key Risk Takers in 
senior management at the request of the relevant mem-
ber of the Executive Board. The Head of Institutionals & Mul-
tinationals determines the compensation of Key Risk Tak-
ers in Trading, Sales & Capital Markets at the request of 
the head of the relevant organisational unit.

Risk adjustment in relation to deferred compensation
Deferred components of compensation are subject to fur-
ther risk adjustment. They may lapse in full or in part if 
negative business developments or other predefined con-
ditions  occur  (see  “Variable  compensation  component 
deferred for three years” (page 81), “Deferred variable 
compensation exposed to risk” (page 81) and “Penalty 
clause” (page 82) for further details on possible reduc-
tions).

Risk overview

Risk adjustments made prior 
to the allocation of variable 
compensation

– Equity
– Risk costs
– Special factors

Quantitative

Explicit

–  Employee appraisal
–  Reporting by internal 

Risk adjustments made after 
the allocation of variable 
compensation

–  Deferred compensa-
tion components
–  Conduct-based  
adjustment  
(penalty or forfeiture)

Qualitative

control units

Implicit

–  Economic profit

Penalty clause
Employees’ variable compensation is not or only partially 
paid out at the bank’s discretion if they have violated 
contractual, risk or compliance requirements before the 
date of the intended payment or if the bank has otherwise 
sustained losses due to their activity. Moreover, such em-
ployees are deemed “bad leavers” under the bank’s com-
pensation models and their entitlement to any deferred 
compensation lapses.

The breach of laws, codes of conduct, directives or 
internal  rules  may  also  lead  to  additional  disciplinary 
measures, which may entail the reduction or forfeiture of 

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018variable compensation and / or of a deferred variable com-
pensation component or similar elements of compensa-
tion. In the event of ongoing investigations or suspicion 
of misconduct that could lead to disciplinary measures, 
Zürcher Kantonalbank is entitled to delay payment of var-
iable compensation and / or deferred compensation and 
similar  elements  of  compensation  until  the  matter  has 
been definitively clarified or the sanction decided. Under 
the “bad leaver” rule, the long-term deferred component 
as well as the deferred variable compensation exposed to 
risk may lapse in full if Zürcher Kantonalbank parts com-
pany with the employee for certain reasons. This may in 
particular be the case where an employee has committed 
a breach of contract or caused material or non-material 
damage, or the relationship of trust between the employ-
ee and the bank has suffered lasting damage as a result 
of the employee’s conduct.

Compensation in 2018
Total personnel expenses for all 4,859 (2017: 4,866) em-
ployees (full-time equivalents) amounted to CHF 958.6 
million (parent company), which is slightly lower than in 
the previous year. Social security expenses also include 
payments to the bank’s pension fund. All variable ele-
ments of compensation are charged to the financial year 
in which they are actually incurred.

Personnel expenses in 2018 (parent company)

in CHF million

Base salary1

Total amount of variable compensation

Social security contributions

Other personnel expenses2

Total personnel expenses

2018

529.8

230.9

165.8

32.1

958.6

2017

527.1

227.8

178.1

32.1

965.0

1  Fixed compensation for permanent employees, temporary staff and governing bodies  

as well as compensation for loss of income and payroll-related costs
2  In particular costs for training, staff support, recruitment and premiums

Compensation Report

83 

In its annual review of base salaries, Zürcher Kantonalbank 
decided to raise base salaries for 2018 by CHF 4.2 million 
(+ 0.8 percent) compared with the previous year, mainly 
for the purpose of bringing its employees closer in line 
with standard market rates as well as to better reward 
employees who assumed more responsibility or put in an 
outstanding performance. Total variable compensation 
rose by CHF 3.1 million. The total amount of deferred 
compensation was CHF 10.7 million.

Details of variable compensation  
(parent company)

2018

2017

No. of  
employees 1

in CHF million

No. of  
employees 1

in CHF million

4,859

230.9

4,866

227.8

79

10.7

82

11.6

5

0.2

2

0.2

Total amount  
of variable  
compensation

–  of which deferred 

compensation

–  of which sign-on 
and severance 
payments

1  Full-time equivalents

Compensation for members  
of the Board of Directors
Compensation for members of the Board of Directors is 
based on the regulations governing the compensation of 
members of the Board of Directors of Zürcher Kantonal-
bank, as approved by the Cantonal Parliament of Zurich 
on  25  November  2004.  For  part-time  members  of  the 
Board of Directors, it comprises a fixed annual salary of 
CHF 18,000 plus CHF 6,000 compensation for each mem-
bership of a committee, as well as an annual expense al-
lowance of CHF 6,000. A fixed attendance fee of CHF 700 
per day and CHF 350 per half-day is paid for meetings and 
visits to branch offices and specialist units. 

As full-time members of the Board of Directors, the 
members of the Committee of the Board receive an an-
nual base salary of CHF 311,500 as well as the benefits 
set out in the relevant regulations for all Zürcher Kanton-
albank employees. The Chairman receives an additional 
allowance of 10 percent of his annual base salary. The 
full-time members of the Board of Directors are paid an 

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Compensation Report

annual  allowance  of  CHF  14,000  each.  The  full-time 
members of the Board of Directors are insured in accord-
ance with the regulations of the bank’s pension fund. No 
variable  compensation  is  paid  to  the  members  of  the 
Board of Directors. 

No other compensation or benefits in kind were paid 
to current or former members of the Board of Directors 
or related parties during the year under review. There are 
no unusual commitments between Zürcher Kantonalbank 
and  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Directors  or  related 
parties.

No loans on unusual terms were granted to part-time 

members of the Board of Directors or related parties.

The members of the Board of Directors and related 
parties received no other fees or payments for additional 
services rendered to the Zürcher Kantonalbank group or 
any of its subsidiaries during the year under review.

Compensation for members  
of the Executive Board
The total compensation of the individual members of the 
Executive Board takes account of their performance in 
their areas of responsibility. Total compensation for the 
Executive Board in 2018 amounted to CHF 13,810,197 
(2017: CHF 13,170,096). The highest sum paid to a mem-
ber of the Executive Board during the year under review 
was CHF 2,018,782 in salary and variable compensation 
plus CHF 210,827 in pension payments and other remu-
neration, and was paid to Martin Scholl, CEO (2017: CHF 
2,119,924). 

In addition, deferred components amounting to CHF 
2,297,500 (2017: CHF 2,192,500) were set aside for the 
members of the Executive Board, of which CHF 382,500 
were allocated to the highest paid member (2017: CHF 
365,000); provided specific conditions are met, these will 
be  paid  out  in  three  years’  time.  The  members  of  the 
Executive Board and related parties received no other fees 
or payments for additional services rendered to the Zürcher 
Kantonalbank group or any of its subsidiaries during the 
year under review.

Total  loans  and  mortgage  lending  to  the  Executive 
Board members amounted to CHF 13,745,500 (of which 
CHF 10,644,000 on employee terms). No loans on unu-
sual terms were granted to related parties of the Executive 
Board. 

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85 

Compensation and loans for members of the Board of Directors (in CHF)

Year

Annual 
 compensation

Attendance fee 

Expense  
allowance 1

Benefits in kind 2

Committee of the Board

Jörg Müller-Ganz

János Blum

Bruno Dobler

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

Other members of the Board of Directors

Amr Abdelaziz

René Huber

2018

2017

2018

2017

Hans Kaufmann

2018  
(until 30.06.2018)

Henrich Kisker

2017

2018

2017

Roger Liebi

2018  
(since 01.07.2018)

Mark Roth

Peter Ruff

Walter Schoch

Anita Sigg3

Rolf Walther

Stefan Wirth

Total

Total

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

2018

2017

342,650

342,650

311,500

311,500

311,500

311,500

30,000

30,000

30,000

30,000

15,000

30,000

30,000

30,000

15,000

–

24,000

24,000

24,000

24,000

24,000

24,000

30,000

30,000

24,000

24,000

30,000

30,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

28,350

26,250

25,900

23,450

16,450

28,700

24,850

23,800

12,600

–

38,150

34,650

30,100

31,150

25,550

28,000

22,750

21,700

27,300

27,650

23,100

25,200

14,040

14,040

14,040

14,040

14,040

14,040

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

3,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

3,000

–

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

6,000

10,065

8,315

1,900

6,900

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Employer  
contributions  
to pillar 2

89,798

91,941

83,411

85,555

46,019

59,555

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total

456,553

456,946

410,852

417,995

371,559

385,095

64,350

62,250

61,900

59,450

34,450

64,700

60,850

59,800

30,300

–

68,150

64,650

60,100

61,150

55,550

58,000

58,750

57,700

57,300

57,650

59,100

61,200

Loans  
as at 31.12  
in CHF

1,300,000

1,300,000

1,400,000

1,400,000

972,000

976,000

–

–

4,262,500

5,197,500

–

1,065,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,240,000

2,246,000

–

–

–

–

1,241,651

1,241,651

275,100

270,550

102,120

102,120

11,965

15,215

219,228

237,050

1,850,064

10,174,500

1,866,586

12,184,500

1  For the members of the Committee of the Board, CHF 40 is attributable to rounding differences due to monthly payments.
2  Benefits in kind: child, education and family allowances (Agreement on Conditions of Employment for Bank Staff), loyalty bonuses, medical check-ups, contribution to ZVV / SBB season 

tickets.

3  Loans: reduced community of heirs of Anita Sigg-Meyer: CHF 1,700,000; Anita Sigg alone: CHF 540,000.

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Financial Report

  88  Group

88  Consolidated income statement
89  Consolidated balance sheet
90	 Consolidated	cash	flow	statement
92  Consolidated statement of changes in equity

  93   Notes to the Consolidated 
 Financial Statements
93 
93  b)   Accounting and  valuation principles
100  c)   Explanations of risk management
100  d)   Explanation of the methods used for  identifying 
default risks and determining the need for value 
 adjustments

a)   Portrait

100  e)   Explanation of the  valuation of collateral
101  f)   Explanation of the bank’s business policy regarding 
the	use	of	derivative	financial	instruments	and	the	
use of hedge accounting

102  g)   Explanation of material events occurring  

after the balance sheet date
 Information on the balance sheet
 Information on off-balance-sheet transactions

103  i) 
121  j) 
123  k)   Information on the income statement
128  l) 
149  m)  Multi-year comparison
151   Report of the statutory auditor on the  
consolidated	financial	statements

 Risk report

156  Parent Company
157  Income statement
158	 Appropriation	of	profit
159  Balance sheet
160  Statement of changes in equity

161  Notes Parent Company

162  i) 
171  j) 

 Information on the balance sheet
 Information on off-balance-sheet  
transactions

172  k)   Information on the income 

statement
175  Pawnbroking agency
176   Report of the statutory auditor 
on	the	financial	statements

About the figures:
The amounts stated in this report have been rounded 
off. The total may therefore vary from the sum of the 
individual values.

The following rules apply to the tables:
0 

 (0 or 0.0) Figure that is smaller than half  
the unit of account used
 Figure not available or not meaningful

– 

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Financial Report Group

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Consolidated income statement

in	CHF million

Notes

2018

2017

Change

Result from interest operations
Interest and discount income

Interest	and	dividend	income	from	financial	investments

Interest expense

Gross result from interest operations

33

Changes in value adjustments for default risk and losses  
from interest operations

Subtotal net result from interest operations

Result from commission business 
and services
Commission income from securities trading and investment activities

Commission income from lending activities

Commission income from other services

Commission expense

Subtotal result from commission business and services

Result from trading activities
Result from trading activities and the fair value option

Other result from ordinary activities 
Result	from	the	disposal	of	financial	investments

Income from participations

– of which, participations valued using the equity method

– of which, from other non-consolidated participations

Result from real estate

Other ordinary income

Other ordinary expenses

Subtotal other result from ordinary activities

Operating income

Operating expenses
Personnel expenses

General and administrative expenses

Subtotal operating expenses

Value adjustments on participations and depreciation and 
amortisation	of	tangible	fixed	assets	and	intangible	assets

Changes to provisions and  
other value adjustments and losses

Operating result

Extraordinary income

Extraordinary expenses

Changes in reserves for general banking risks

Taxes

Consolidated profit

1,812 

44 

– 633 

1,223 

– 10 

1,213 

803 

50 

147 

– 224 

776 

1,608

49

– 446

1,211

– 9

1,202

802

52

141

– 225

770

203 

–5 

– 187 

12 

– 1 

11 

2 

– 2 

6 

1 

6 

Change  
in %

12.6

– 10.3

41.8

1.0

7.5

0.9

0.2

– 4.1

3.9

– 0.4

0.8

32

286 

334

– 48 

– 14.4

2 

32 

2 

30 

6 

9 

– 4 

46 

4

16

3

13

6

9

– 4

31

2,320 

2,336

–1, 002 

– 428 

–1, 430 

– 192 

194 

892 

103 

– 0 

– 200 

– 7 

788 

–1, 008

– 426

–1, 434

– 120

2

784

8

– 0

–

– 11

782

– 2 

16 

– 1 

17 

– 0 

1 

1 

15 

– 16 

6 

– 2 

3 

– 72 

192 

108 

95 

– 0 

– 200 

4 

6 

– 48.8

96.9

– 40.7

125.5

– 3.8

8.5

– 17.4

49.2

– 0.7

– 0.6

0.6

– 0.2

60.4

–

13.7

–

509.3

–

– 34.9

0.8

34

35

36

36

36

39

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89 

Consolidated balance sheet
as at 31 December

Notes

2018

2017

Change

Change  
in %

in	CHF million

Assets
Liquid assets

Amounts due from banks

Amounts	due	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due from customers

Mortgage loans

Trading portfolio assets

Positive	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	instruments

Other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Financial investments

Accrued income and prepaid expenses

Non-consolidated participations

Tangible	fixed	assets

Intangible assets

Other assets

Total assets

Total subordinated claims

– of which, subject to conversion and / or debt waiver

Liabilities
Amounts due to banks

Liabilities	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Trading portfolio liabilities

Negative	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	
instruments

1

2

2

3

4

3

5

6, 7

8

9

10

1

3

4

Liabilities	from	other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

3, 14

Cash bonds

Bond issues

Central mortgage institution loans

Accrued expenses and deferred income

Other liabilities

Provisions

Reserves for general banking risks

Bank’s capital

Retained earnings reserve

Foreign currency translation reserve

Consolidated	profit

Equity

Total liabilities

Total subordinated liabilities

– of which, subject to conversion and / or debt waiver

Off-balance-sheet transactions
Contingent liabilities

Irrevocable commitments

Obligations to pay up shares and make further contributions

Credit commitments

15

15

15

10

16

16

21

21

21

21

21

2, 28

2

2

2, 29

40,989

4,803

17,004

8,469

81,256

9,364

1,278

–

4,705

293

138

677

142

291

41,147

4,457

14,326

7,832

79,087

8,922

1,535

–

4,740

281

130

775

192

458

169,408

163,881

166

46

37,019

6,876

85,537

2,418

752

2,472

167

11,666

9,463

725

205

255

200

2,425

8,445

– 6

788

11,852

169,408

1,491

1,491

4,102

7,698

263

–

188

31

35,393

6,623

81,381

1,859

867

2,869

191

12,419

9,275

634

558

585

–

2,425

8,026

– 4

782

11,228

163,881

1,513

1,513

4,086

8,015

233

–

– 158

345

2,678

637

2,169

442

– 257

– 

– 35

13

8

– 97

– 50

– 167

5,528

– 21

16

1,626

254

4,157

559

– 115

– 397

– 24

– 753

188

91

– 353

– 330

200

–

419

– 2

6

623

5,528

– 23

– 23

16

– 317

30

–

– 0.4

7.8

18.7

8.1

2.7

5.0

– 16.7

– 

– 0.7

4.5

6.5

– 12.6

– 26.1

– 36.4

3.4

– 11.4

50.8

4.6

3.8

5.1

30.1

– 13.3

– 13.8

– 12.4

– 6.1

2.0

14.4

– 63.3

– 56.3

–

–

5.2

38.7

0.8

5.6

3.4

– 1.5

– 1.5

 0.4

– 4.0

13.1

–

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Consolidated	cash	flow	statement

in	CHF million

Cash	inflow	2018

Cash	outflow	2018

Cash	inflow	2017 Cash	outflow	2017

Cash	flow	from	operating	activities	
(internal	financing):
Result of the period

Change in reserves for general banking risks

Value adjustments on participations and depreciation and 
	amortisation	of	tangible	fixed	assets	and	intangible	assets

Provisions and other value adjustments

Changes in value adjustments for default risks and losses

Accrued income and prepaid expenses

Accrued expenses and deferred income

Other items

Previous year’s dividend

Total

Cash	flow	from	shareholder’s	equity	transactions:
Share capital / participation capital / cantonal banks’ endowment 
capital etc.

Recognised in reserves

Total

Cash	flow	from	transactions	in	respect	of	
non-consolidated participations, tangible 
fixed	assets	and	intangible	assets:
Non-consolidated participations

Real estate

Other	tangible	fixed	assets

Intangible assets

Mortgages on own real estate

Total

788

200

192

91

64

–

91

0

–

569

–

–

–

1

54

1

0

–

–

–

–

–

420

60

13

–

1

363

–

–

2

2

15

22

18

53

–

52

782

–

120

69

91

80

–

–

–

531

–

4

4

–

0

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

120

83

–

49

7

351

–

–

–

–

1

32

20

58

–

111

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91 

Consolidated	cash	flow	statement
(continued)

in	CHF million

Cash	inflow	2018

Cash	outflow	2018

Cash	inflow	2017 Cash	outflow	2017

Cash	flow	from	banking	operations:

Medium	and	long-term	business	(> 1	year):

Amounts due to banks

Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Liabilities	from	other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Cash bonds

Bond issues

Central mortgage institution loans

Loans of central issuing institutions

Other obligations (other liabilities)

Amounts due from banks

Amounts due from customers

Mortgage loans

Other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Financial investments

Other accounts receivable (other assets)

Short-term business:

Amounts due to banks

Liabilities	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Trading portfolio liabilities

Negative	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	instruments

Liabilities	from	other	financial	instruments	
at fair value

Amounts due from banks

Amounts	due	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due from customers

Trading portfolio assets

Positive	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	instruments

Other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Financial investments

Liquidity:

Liquid assets

Total

–

–

–

0

5,802

1,314

–

–

119

–

–

–

132

167

1,876

254

4,162

559

–

–

–

–

–

–

257

–

–

158

–

249

6

40

25

6,619

1,126

–

353

–

154

2,179

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

115

357

464

2,678

477

377

–

–

97

–

516

–

452

61

2

6,647

1,407

–

52

141

74

–

–

–

62

1,463

1,539

39

–

–

–

766

563

–

736

398

20

–

–

–

208

–

–

46

3,744

516

–

–

–

–

1,817

–

316

–

–

–

–

797

684

292

–

–

400

–

–

–

215

5,811

424

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

in	CHF million

2017

Opening amount

Effect of any restatement

Capital increase

Capital decrease

Increase in scope of capital consolidation

Decrease in scope of capital consolidation

Other contributions / other capital paid in

Reclassifications

Currency translation differences

Dividends and other distributions

Valuation adjustments with no income effect

Other allocations to (transfers from) the reserves  
for general banking risks

Other allocations to (transfers from) the other reserves

Consolidated	profit

Total equity as at 31.12.2017

2018
Opening amount

Effect of any restatement

Capital increase

Capital decrease

Increase in scope of capital consolidation

Decrease in scope of capital consolidation

Other contributions / other capital paid in

Reclassifications

Currency translation differences

Dividends and other distributions

Valuation adjustments with no income effect

Other allocations to (transfers from) the reserves  
for general banking risks

Other allocations to (transfers from) the other reserves

Consolidated	profit

Total equity as at 31.12.2018

Bank’s capital

Retained 
earnings  
reserve

Reserves for 
general  
banking risks

Consolidated 
profit

Currency 
translation 
reserves

Total equity

2,425

8,376

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 351

0

–

–

–

2,425

8,026

2,425

8,808

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 363

– 0

–

–

–

2,425

8,445

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 

–

200

–

–

200

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

782

782

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

788

788

– 8

10,793

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4

–

–

–

–

–

– 4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4

– 351

0

–

–

782

11,228

– 4

11,228

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 2

– 363

– 0

200

–

788

– 6

11,852

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93 

Notes

a)  Portrait

Zürcher  Kantonalbank  is  “Close  to  you”.  We  have 
 successfully positioned ourselves as a universal bank with 
a  regional  base  as  well  as  an  international  network. 
Within the Greater Zurich Area we are the leaders in 
universal	banking.	Our	clients	profit	from	a	broad	range	
of products and services. Our core business includes the 
following:	 financing,	 investment	 and	 asset	 manage-
ment, trading and capital markets, the borrowing busi-
ness, payment transactions and the card business.

Since its foundation in 1870, Zürcher Kantonalbank 
has been an independent public-law institution of the 
Canton of Zurich. 

Broad	diversification
We	pursue	a	diversification	strategy:	we	generate	our	
income in various business areas, thereby reducing our 
risks.	To	achieve	broad	income	diversification,	we	aim	
for  qualitative  growth  in  the  investment  and  asset 
 management business. We wish to grow mainly organ-
ically. Our focus is on the Greater Zurich Area. We are 
not planning either substantial expansion abroad or dis-
proportionately  risky  business. The  group  includes  as 
parent company the largest cantonal bank in Switzer-
land  and  the  fourth-largest  Swiss  bank.  The  broadly 
	diversified	consolidated	group	also	includes	Swisscanto	
	Holding AG	with	its	subsidiaries	and	their	subsidiaries	
(Swisscanto	Fund	Management	Company Ltd.,	Swiss-
canto	Pensions Ltd.,	Swisscanto	Private	Equity CH I Ltd	
and	Swisscanto	Asset	Management	International SA),	
which are mainly engaged in asset management busi-
ness.	 Zürcher	 Kantonalbank	 Finance	 (Guernsey)  Ltd.,	
which focuses on issuing structured investment prod-
ucts,	and	Zürcher	Kantonalbank	Österreich AG,	which	
operates in international private banking, are also part 
of the group. In 2020, we will be celebrating our 150th 
anniversary. As part of this we are planning to construct 
a	cable	car	across	the	lake.	ZüriBahn AG	was	set	up	as	
an additional group company for this purpose in summer 
2018, but this is not consolidated on grounds of mate-
riality.	Please	see	Note 7	for	detailed	information	on	the	
participation structure.

Outsourcing
Zürcher  Kantonalbank  outsourced  contract  initiation  
for	the	 conclusion	of	 online	mortgages	via	a	 portal –	 
a	 “significant	 service”	 as	 defined	 in	 FINMA	 Circular	
2018	/	03	 “Outsourcing  –	 banks	 and	 insurers”  –	 to	
Homegate AG,	Zurich.	Furthermore,	Zürcher	Kantonal-
bank  outsourced  the  digitalisation  of  paper-based 
 structured payment orders (ZKB Quickpay) to Swisscom 
(Schweiz) AG,	Ittigen.	Zürcher	Kantonalbank	has	been	
processing payment transactions through the Swisscom 
processing centre since March 2017.

b)  Accounting and 

 valuation principles

Changes in accounting and valuation principles
The following changes were made during the year to 
accounting and valuation principles: Property gains tax 
is	a	direct	tax,	like	tax	on	profits	and	capital.	It	is	charged	
on  the  sale  of  a  property.  In  cantons  with  a  two-tier 
system (such as Lucerne), this is taxed as ordinary tax on 
profits.	In	cantons	with	a	one-tier	system	(such	as		Zurich),	
property gains are subject to a special tax. Previously, 
property gains tax was offset against gains from the sale 
of  real  estate  and  was  recognised  as  extraordinary 
 income. To improve comparability, property gains tax is 
now  recognised  separately  in  the  income  statement 
 position  taxes,  with  a  corresponding  impact  on  the 
 position.

To date, reserves for general banking risks have been 
created solely at the parent company. Creation has been 
shown in a separate position in the income statement 
(Changes in reserves for general banking risks). The po-
sition	was	also	reported	in	a	specific	item	in	the	balance	
sheet (Reserves for general banking risks). This position 
has  been  allocated  to  the  retained  earnings  reserve 
 within the Group. From this year onwards, reserves for 
general banking risks will also be created in the Group 
in	spe	cific	items	and	the	positions	reported.	There	is	no	
change  to  the  reporting  and  release  of  reserves  for 
 general banking risks created before 2018. 

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General principles
Pursuant  to  the  Listing  Rules  of  the  Swiss  Exchange,  
the	 consolidated	 financial	 statements	 of	 the	 Zürcher	
Kantonalbank  group  are  prepared  in  line  with  the 
	accounting	rules	for	banks,	securities	dealers,	financial	
groups  and  conglomerates  (ARB).  The  consolidated 
	financial	statements	provide	a	true	and	fair	view	of	the	
financial	position,	results	of	operations	and	cash	flows.

Scope of consolidation
The	consolidated	annual	financial	statements	comprise	
the accounts of the parent company and the directly and 
indirectly	 owned	 significant	 subsidiaries	 in	 which	 the	
bank	has	a	participation	of	more	than	50 percent	of	the	
voting capital or which it controls in another way.

The	consolidated	financial	statements	are	prepared	
in accordance with the principle of substance-over-form. 
The  individual  accounts  of  the  group  companies  are 
	included	in	the	consolidated	financial	statements	on	the	
basis of uniform accounting standards that are applied 
throughout the group.

Method of consolidation
Capital is consolidated in accordance with the purchase 
method. This involves offsetting the equity of the group 
companies at the time of acquisition or at the time of 
incorporation against the book value of the parent com-
pany’s interest. Please refer to the section on “intangible 
assets” for details of the treatment of any goodwill. All 
the assets and liabilities as well as expenses and income 
of the subsidiaries to be consolidated are included in the 
consolidated	financial	statements.	Intragroup	transac-
tions  and  intercompany  earnings  are  eliminated  on 
 consolidation.

Period of consolidation
The period of consolidation corresponds to the calendar 
year.

Recognition of transactions
All business transactions are recorded and measured in 
accordance with recognised principles on the day they 
occur. Foreign exchange and precious metal transactions 
(spot and forward) concluded but not yet executed are 
booked in accordance with the settlement-day principle. 

These transactions are stated between the trade and 
settlement  dates  (value  date)  at  replacement  value  
under  the  corresponding  item  (Positive  or  negative 
	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	instruments).	
Securities and options transactions are recognised in the 
	balance	sheet	as	of	the	trade	date.	Balance	sheet	fixed-
term transactions are booked as of the settlement day.

Foreign exchange translation
Transactions  in  foreign  currency are translated at the 
corresponding daily rate. Assets and liabilities in foreign 
currency, with the exception of bank notes, are translat-
ed  at  the  average  rate  as  at  the  balance  sheet  date.  
The bid rates on the balance sheet date are applied for 
foreign  bank  notes. Translation  gains  and  losses  are  
recognised  under  “Result  from  trading  activities  and  
the	fair	value	option”.	The	annual	financial	statements	
of	Zürcher	Kantonalbank	Österreich AG	are	prepared	in	
euros. The assets and liabilities are translated at the rate 
on the balance sheet date, and income and expenses at 
the average exchange rate for the year. The difference 
between  these  exchange  rates  is  reported  directly  in 
 equity as a currency translation difference effect under 
the item “Currency translation reserve”.

2018

2017

Rates on the 
balance sheet 
date

0.9858

1.1269

Average 
annual rates

0.9769

1.1506

Rates on the 
balance sheet 
date

Average 
annual rates

0.9745

1.1702

0.9797

1.1160

USD

EUR

Offsetting assets and liabilities
In  principle,  no  offsetting  takes  place  except  in  the 
 following cases. Claims and liabilities are offset if all the 
conditions below are met. The claims and liabilities:
 – arise from the same type of transactions with the 

same counterparty,

 – have the same or an earlier maturity of the claim,
 – are in the same currency, and
 – cannot result in a counterparty risk.

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95 

Holdings of own bonds and cash bonds are offset against 
the corresponding liability items. Furthermore, positive 
and  negative  changes  in  book  value  with  no  income 
effect are offset in the compensation account.

For over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, the positive 
and	negative	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	
instruments  as  well  as  the  related  cash  collateral  are 
offset  (netting).  For  this  purpose,  a  relevant  bilateral 
agreement with the affected counterparties must be in 
place. This agreement must be proven to be recognised 
and legally enforceable.

Liquid assets
Liquid assets include cash holdings in Swiss francs and 
foreign bank notes, as well as sight deposits with the 
Swiss  National  Bank.  These  items  are  recognised  at 
 nominal value.

Amounts due from and to banks
Unless stated otherwise in a different item, amounts due 
from and to banks including bills of exchange drawn on 
the bank and money market instruments without the 
character of securities are stated in this item. These items 
are recognised at nominal value. Rediscounted transac-
tions in bills of exchange and money market instruments 
are shown net at year-end.

Appropriate allowances are created for default risks 
on existing positions and directly deducted from assets 
(see also the section “Value adjustments for default risks 
and losses from interest operations”).

Claims	and	liabilities	from	securities	financing	 
transactions
The	amounts	due	from	securities	financing	transactions	
include reverse repo transactions, which are treated as 
advances against collateral in the form of securities. This 
underscores	 the	 financing	 nature	 of	 the	 transactions.	
The securities are transferred in the same way as if they 
had been pledged as collateral for a loan. Reimburse-
ment claims in the context of securities borrowing which 
arise from cash collateral for the borrowed, non-mone-
tary values are also included. 

framework of securities lending, Zürcher Kantonalbank 
lends non-monetary assets, such as securities, on its own 
account and at its own risk (principal status). The repay-
ment obligation for cash deposits received is also shown 
here. The bank conducts lending and borrowing trans-
actions  within  the  framework  of  trading  operations. 
Loan transactions involving securities or money market 
instruments that are not collateralised with cash are not 
recognised  in  the  balance  sheet  but  reported  in  the 
Notes.

Amounts due from customers, mortgage loans and 
amounts due in respect of customer deposits
These  items  are  recognised  at  nominal  value.  Book 
claims in precious metals are stated at market values. 
Appropriate value adjustments are made for default risks 
on  existing  positions  and  directly  deducted  from  the 
 relevant asset item (see the next section). Default risks 
on credit limits granted but not utilised on the balance 
sheet date  are accounted for by  means of  provisions  
(see “Provisions”). Leasing arrangements are reported 
in the balance sheet under Loans, at their nominal value 
(or property value) less accumulated amortisation plus 
instalments due but not paid, interest on arrears and 
fees. The element of the leasing instalment representing 
the  interest  for  the  period  in  question  is  included  in 
 Interest income. The remaining amount of the leasing 
instalment  represents  the  repayment  element  and 
 reduces the claim amount. Explanations on the valuation 
of	collateral	for	loans	can	be	found	in	section e),	under	
“Valuation of collateral”.

Value adjustments for default risks and losses  
from interest operations
Loss  risks  on  existing  exposures  are  allowed  for  by 
 appropriate value adjustments. They are recognised in 
the item “Changes in value adjustments for default risks 
and  losses  from  interest  operations”  and  deducted 
 directly from the asset affected. 

The amount of the value adjustments is determined 
using a systematic approach that takes account of the 
risks of Zürcher Kantonalbank’s portfolio.

Repo  transactions  in  the  sense  of  a  collateralised 
	refinancing	are	entered	in	the	balance	sheet	under	Lia-
bilities	from	securities	financing	transactions.	Within	the	

The bank considers loans / receivables to be impaired 
if there are indications that the debtor will not be able 
to  meet  his  future  liabilities,  but  at  the  latest  when  

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the	 contractually	 defined	 amortisation,	 interest	 and	
commission	payments	are	due	for	90 days	or	more.	The	
corresponding interest and commission is fully covered 
by provisions. 

Impaired  loans / receivables  are  valued  on  an  indi-
vidual basis. Individual value adjustments for credit risks 
are established in accordance with the following prin-
ciples:
 – Claims are valued individually taking into account  

the borrower’s creditworthiness and any collateral at 
liquidation value.

 – As soon as it is no longer assured that the loan 

repayments can be recovered, a value adjustment is 
made for the probable credit default (book value  
less estimated recoverable amount). Exposures rated 
as impaired are subjected to a creditworthiness test 
at least twice a year. If necessary, an appropriate 
value adjustment is made or existing ones are altered 
in line with the current circumstances.

Value  adjustments  for  impaired  loans  are  released  if 
there is reasonable assurance of timely collection of the 
interest and principal in accordance with the contractu-
al terms of the claim agreement. In the case of small 
risks in homogeneous credit portfolios, the need for a 
value adjustment is assessed collectively (collective indi-
vidual value adjustments).

Zürcher Kantonalbank does not set up a collective 
value adjustment for latent risks because the method 
used to determine an individual allowance ensures the 
correct	 valuation	 of	 a	 loan.	Country-specific	 risks	 in	
 connection  with  loans / receivables  are  accounted  for 
separately. Among other factors, country assessments 
of various rating agencies are taken into consideration. 
Such value adjustments take into account any existing 
collateral as well as existing individual value adjustments 
and are reviewed at least every six months. If all or part 
of a claim is deemed uncollectible or in case of a debt 
waiver, it is written off accordingly.

Trading portfolio assets and liabilities
Trading positions including money market paper held  
in the context of the trading business are recognised at 
fair	value.	This	is	defined	as	the	amount	for	which	an	
asset could be exchanged or a liability settled between 

knowledgeable, willing and independent parties. This 
corresponds	 to	 the	 price	 set	 on	 a	 price-efficient	 and	
 liquid market or determined on the basis of a valuation 
model. Where, as an exception, no fair value is ascer-
tainable,  valuation  and  recognition  are  to  follow  the 
principle of the lower of cost or market value.

Valuation differences are recognised in the income 
statement. Interest and dividend income on securities 
trading portfolios are credited to the item “Result from 
trading activities and the fair value option”. Results from 
securities lending and borrowing transactions are recog-
nised under “Result from trading activities and the fair 
value	option”.	The	refinancing	result	for	trading	port-
folio  assets  is  recognised  by  compensating  the  result 
from  trading  activities  within  net  interest.  With  the 
 exception  of  the  physical  precious  metal  portfolios 
 accounted  for  under  Financial  investments,  all  other 
 precious metals that are physical and held in account 
form are accounted for as Trading portfolio assets and 
at fair value.

Short positions are also accounted for at fair value 
and stated under the item “Trading portfolio liabilities”. 
In the case of trading in combinations of money market 
transactions and currency swaps, the aim is to report the 
interest income or trading result in the way that most 
closely  captures  the  economic  impact,  following  the 
principle of substance over form. As a result, the gain 
on the currency swaps is compensated under the result 
from interest operations. Hence the results from these 
combined transactions are posted uniformly in the result 
from		interest	operations.	This	avoids	inflating	the	income	
statement and shifting amounts between interest oper-
ations  and  trading  activities  with  no  substantive  or 
 economic rationale.

Positive and negative replacement values  
of	derivative	financial	instruments
Derivative	financial	instruments	are	valued	at	fair	value	
and, in principle, represent trading activities. Comments 
on the business policy parameters for the use of deriva-
tive	financial	instruments	and	explanations	in	connection	
with the application of hedge accounting can be found 
under	section f).	Replacement	values	of	derivative	finan-
cial instruments from client transactions resulting from 
contracts traded over-the-counter (bank as agent) are, 

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in principle, accounted for. Exchange-traded contracts 
from client transactions are accounted for if no daily 
margining takes place. Replacement values from trading 
activities are accounted for under “Positive replacement 
values	of	derivative	financial	instruments”	on	the	asset	
side or the item “Negative replacement values of deriv-
ative	financial	instruments”	on	the	liability	side.	Valua-
tion gains are recognised through income in the item 
“Result from trading activities and the fair value option”.
Hedging transactions are also measured at fair value, 
except	for	the	derivative	financial	instruments	used	to	
hedge interest rate risk within the scope of asset and 
liability  management. In  this  case,  value  changes  are 
recognised  in  the  Compensation  account  with  no 
 income effect. The net balance of this Compensation 
account is included in “Other assets” or “Other liabili-
ties”. If the gains from the hedging transaction exceed 
those  from  the  hedged  underlying  transaction,  the 
hedge is considered ineffective. The excess part of the 
derivative instrument is treated like a trading transaction.
Please see the statements in the section “Offsetting 
assets and liabilities” with respect to the recognition of 
netting	agreements	for	derivative	financial	instruments.

Other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value	or	 
liabilities	from	other	financial	instruments	 
at fair value
Structured products with own debenture components 
issued by the bank are valued as a whole at fair value 
(no  separation  of  the  derivative  from  the  underlying 
 instrument) provided that the following conditions have 
been met on a cumulative basis:
 – The	financial	instruments	are	part	of	a	trade-related	

strategy and are based on a documented risk 
management and investment strategy which ensures 
correct recording, measuring and limitation of the 
various risks.

 – There is an economic hedging relationship between 
the	financial	instruments	on	the	asset	side	and	those	
on the liability side that is largely neutralised in terms 
of income by the fair value valuation (avoidance of 
an accounting mismatch).

 – Any impact of a change in own creditworthiness  
on the fair value is neutralised and does not affect 
the income statement where it arises. 

The amounts are accounted for under “Liabilities from 
other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value”.	Investments	
by  subsidiaries  managed  in  the  trading  book  and 
 connected to self-issued structured products are stated 
at	market	value.	These	are	recognised	in	“Other	financial	
instruments at fair value”.

Financial investments
The item includes money market securities which are  
not held in the context of trading business. Accounting 
takes place at nominal value taking a discount provision 
into account. Fixed-income securities held to maturity 
are  valued  in  accordance  with  the  accrual  method  
(at acquisition cost with amortisation of the premium or 
discount over the maturity). Realised gains from sales 
prior to maturity are amortised to maturity. The lower of 
cost or market rule is applied in the case of value losses 
resulting from changes in credit standing. Fixed-interest 
securities not intended to be held until maturity are also 
recorded based on the same rule.

The same applies for shares and other equity securi-
ties that, irrespective of the share of voting rights, are 
also booked under this item provided that they were not 
acquired as a permanent investment.

Real estate taken over from the credit business and 
intended for disposal is also valued at the lower of cost 
or market (acquisition cost or conservatively estimated 
lower liquidation value).

Non-realised losses and market-related revaluations 
up to the original cost of the securities components are 
stated  under  “Other  ordinary  expenses”  or  “Other 
 ordinary income”. Realised gains or losses on the secu-
rities	components	from	the	sale	of	financial	investments	
are	booked	under	“Result	from	the	disposal	of	financial	
investments”. Unrealised and realised gains in foreign 
currency components are booked under “Results from 
foreign exchange trading”. Physical stocks of precious 
metals	 held	 as	 a	 financial	 investment	 are	 recognised	 
at fair value.

Non-consolidated participations
Shares  and  other  equity  securities  are  considered  as 
 participations regardless of the share of voting rights 
held, provided they have been acquired as a permanent 
investment. Participations with voting rights of up to 

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20 percent	are	valued	at	lower	of	cost	or	market.	Partic-
ipations are subject to impairment testing at least once 
a  year.  Non-consolidated  participations  with  voting 
rights	of	between	20 percent	and	49.9 percent,	together	
with the non-material (from an accounting perspective) 
majority participations in Zürcher Kantonalbank Repre-
sentações Ltda.	and	ZüriBahn AG,	are	stated	in	accord-
ance with the equity method in proportion to the equi-
ty held on the balance sheet date. The proportionate net 
annual result is included in the equity valuation and is 
recognised  in  the  consolidated  income  statement  as 
 participation income.

Tangible	fixed	assets
Bank	 premises,	 including	 installations	 and	 fittings	 in	
rented  properties,  are  recognised  at  cost  value  plus 
 major investments and amortised on a straight-line basis 
over their estimated useful life. Other properties  acquired 
as a long-term investment are also recognised at the 
lower  of  cost  value  less  straight-line  amortisation  or 
	capitalised	earnings	value.	The	remaining	tangible	fixed	
assets comprise IT systems and equipment, furniture, 
vehicles and machinery. Smaller acquisitions are charged 
in full to General and administrative expenses in the year 
of acquisition. Larger investments are capitalised and 
amortised  in  full  over  their  estimated  useful  life  on  
the basis of business criteria or, in the case of acquired 
data processing programs, generally over 12 months. 
 Estimated useful life for depreciation purposes (in years):

An	impairment	test	of	all	tangible	fixed	assets	is	under-
taken on a regular basis. An asset is subject to impair-
ment if its book value exceeds the recoverable amount. 
In  the  real  estate  sector,  the  recoverable  amount  is 
	determined	by	a	property	valuer.	For	other	tangible	fixed	
assets,  the  recoverable  amount  is  equivalent  to  the 
value-	in-use,	 which	 is	 defined	 according	 to	 business	
 criteria. 

Intangible assets

Goodwill
If the purchase cost of an acquisition is greater than the 
net assets valued in accordance with standard group-
wide  accounting  principles,  the  remaining  amount  is 
capitalised as goodwill. This goodwill is written off over 
the  estimated  useful  life  on  a  straight-line  basis. The 
amortisation	period	is	generally	five	years,	from	the	date	
of	acceptance,	but	a	maximum	of	10 years,	in	justified	
instances. If the recoverability of goodwill is no longer 
ensured  on  the  balance  sheet  date  (impairment),  an 
 impairment is recognised.

Other intangible assets
The other intangible assets include purchased software 
licences.  Smaller  acquisitions  are  charged  in  full  to 
 General  and  administrative  expenses  in  the  year  of 
 acquisition.  Larger  investments  are  capitalised  and 
	normally	fully	amortised	over	12 months.

Land

Bank premises and other properties
– Shell
– Building envelope 

Installations  
(fitting	out,	technical	installations)	

Fittings in rented properties

IT systems and equipment

Acquired IT programmes

Furniture / vehicles / machines

no depreciation

max. 80
max. 30

max. 25

remaining duration of rental 
agreement 1

2 to max. 5

max. 1

max. 5

Provisions
Loss risks in connection with off-balance-sheet transac-
tions	 (e.g.  credit	 limits	 confirmed	 but	 not	 utilised)	 as	 
well	as	other	identifiable	and	foreseeable	risks	as	of	the	
balance  sheet  date  are  accounted  for  by  means  of  
appropriate, operationally necessary provisions.

Creation  and  dissolution  takes  place  via  the  item 
“Changes  to  provisions  and  other  value  adjustments  
and losses”.

1  ln the case of rental agreements with an option to extend, depreciation is extended to the 
option date should the investment be made with the intention of taking up the option.

Reserves for general banking risks
This  item  includes  reserves  for  general  banking  risks 
 created and / or released in 2018 or thereafter. Creation 
and  release  of  such  reserves  is  shown  in  the  income 

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statement under Changes in reserves for general bank-
ing risks. 

Irrevocable  commitments  also  include  forward  com-
mitment mortgages.

Please see the next section “Retained earnings re-
serve” for reserves for general banking risks created / re-
leased prior to 2018 and solely at the parent company.

Retained earnings reserve
The group’s self-generated funds are recognised under 
the retained earnings reserve. This item includes reserves 
for general banking risks created at the parent company 
prior to 2018.

Pension schemes
An annual evaluation is performed to assess whether, 
from	the	group’s	perspective,	an	economic	benefit	or	
economic obligation arises for the bank or the group as 
a result of a pension fund. The determination is based 
on	agreements	and	annual	financial	statements	of	the	
pension  funds,  which,  in  Switzerland,  are  prepared 
	according	 to	 Swiss	 GAAP  FER  26.	 Other	 calculations	
showing  the  financial  situation  and  existing  sur-
plus / shortfall for each pension fund in accordance with 
actual circumstances are also taken into account.  Zürcher 
Kantonalbank has no obligations that go beyond the 
legal  and  regulatory  basis,  with  the  exception  of  the 
assumption	of	certain	costs,	as	indicated	in	Note 16,	to	
finance	the	transitional	solution	in	connection	with	the	
restructuring of the pension fund due to the changed 
environment discussed.

The employer contribution reserve is capitalised in 
the “Other assets” item. Additions and withdrawals are 
included in “Personnel expenses”.

Please	see	Note 13	for	additional	information.

Contingent liabilities, irrevocable commitments,  
obligations to pay up shares and make further  
contributions,	credit	commitments	and	fiduciary	
investments
With  the  exception  of  commitments  under  currency 
swaps facilities, off-balance-sheet transactions are re-
ported at nominal value. Commitments under currency 
swaps facilities are reported in accordance with the prin-
ciple	of	substance	over	form	at	5	%	of	the	nominal		value.	
Appropriate	provisions	are	set	aside	for	identifiable	risks.	

Taxes
As  an  independent  public-law  institution,  Zürcher 
 Kantonalbank is exempt from taxes on its income and 
capital	 under	 cantonal	 tax	 law	 (§ 61)	 and	 the	 federal	 
law	 on	 direct	 taxation	 (§ 56).	 The	 subsidiary	 Zürcher	
	Kantonalbank	Finance	(Guernsey) Ltd.	is	a	finance	com-
pany under Companies Law in Guernsey. In terms of tax 
law,	as	of	1 January 2008	the	company	is	deemed	to	be	
resident and is liable to pay tax. As it does not perform 
any banking activities that are subject to income tax or 
any other regulated transactions that are subject to tax, 
Zürcher	Kantonalbank	Finance	(Guernsey) Ltd.	pays	only	
a	fixed	“validation	fee”,	which	is	included	in	General	
and  administrative  expenses.  Zürcher  Kantonalbank 
	Finance	(Guernsey) Ltd.	is	not	liable	for	any	federal,	can-
tonal or municipal taxes in Switzerland.

The Swisscanto companies are subject to cantonal 
and federal taxes or the tax regime of Luxembourg in 
accordance with their domicile.

Zürcher	 Kantonalbank	 Österreich  AG	 is	 subject	 to	
Austrian corporation tax. Its taxable income is taxed at 
a	fixed	rate	of	25 per cent.

The  tax  implications  of  time  differences  between  
the balance sheet values reported in the consolidated 
financial	statements	and	the	tax	values	in	the	individual	
accounts are reported as deferred tax claims or liabilities.
Deferred  tax  claims  from  loss  carry-forwards  are 
	capitalised	where	it	is	likely	that	sufficient	taxable	profits	
will be generated within the statutory time limits, against 
which  these  differences / corresponding  loss  carry-
forwards may be offset. Changes in deferred taxes are 
stated in the income statement via the Taxes item.

The property gains tax charged on the sale of land is 
separated from the gain on the sale of properties and 
booked to the income statement under taxes.

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c)   Explanations of  
risk management

For explanations on risk management in general and the 
treatment of the interest rate risk, other market risks and 
credit	risks	specifically,	please	refer	to	the	statements	in	
section I)	“Risk	report”	(page 128 ff).

d)  Explanation of  

the methods used for 
 identifying default  
risks and determining 
the need for value 
 adjustments

The methods used to identify default risks and determine 
the need for value adjustments are set out in the section 
“Value  adjustments  for  default  risks,  provisions  and 
 losses from interest operations” in the accounting and 
valuation  principles.  Further  information  can  also  be 
found	 in	 section l)	 Risk	 report,	 under	 the	 sub-section	
“Credit	risks”	(page 137 ff).

e)  Explanation of the 

 valuation of collateral

The	 valuation	 of	 collateral	 for	 loans	 is	 specified	 in	
	comprehensive	 internal	 regulations.	They	 define	 the	
methods,  procedures  and  competencies. These  rules  
are  continually  reviewed  and  aligned  with  regulatory 
requirements  and  market  changes. The  bank  distin-
guishes between mortgage claims and readily realisable 
collateral. 

Mortgage claims
Zürcher Kantonalbank uses recognised estimation meth-
ods appropriate to the type of property for the valuation 

of mortgage claims. The lower of cost or market  principle 
is applied: accordingly, the lower of estimated value or 
purchase price is taken as the lending value. This corre-
sponds to the guidelines for the examination, valuation 
and processing of mortgage-secured loans issued by the 
Swiss Bankers Association.

The key valuation factors for a property assessment 

are:
 – Land (macro and micro position, area)
 – Building (construction standard, condition,  

room concept, sustainability)

 – Type	of	use	(private,	commercial,	non-profit)
 – Legal regulations
 – Situation under property law and contractual 

agreements (rights, encumbrances)

 – Result from rented properties

Model-based	valuation	processes	are	 used	 in	 the	first	
instance	 in	 the	 financing	 of	 single-family	 houses	 and	
owner-occupied apartments.

In the bank’s internal hedonic model, the estimated 
value is determined based on the characteristics of the 
property to be valued and with the assistance of the data 
from similar market transactions.

Depending  on  the  type  of  property,  client  and 
 complexity,  Zürcher  Kantonalbank  also  makes  use  of 
expert appraisals. The assessment criteria, the valuation 
procedures and methods to be used and the required 
valuation skills of the experts are set out in the bank’s 
internal regulations.

The valuation of mortgage claims is reviewed on a 
regular  basis.  The  frequency  depends  on  the  type  of 
property. Special developments in the real estate market 
or macro economic framework conditions may require 
an adjustment to the valuation intervals or portfolio- 
specific,	extraordinary	revaluations.

The	 maximum	 permitted	 loan	 for	 the	 financed	
	property	is	based	on	the	class	of	collateral.	This	reflects	
the  expected volatility of the value of the property or the 
usability of the property. It is determined by the type of 
property	(e.g. single-family	house,	commercial	property),	
the  type  of  use  (owner-occupied,  rented)  and  other 
property-specific	criteria	(e.g. location,	size	of	property).

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Other collateral
Other collateral includes account balances, marketable 
securities as well as other readily realisable assets (pre-
cious	 metals,	 fiduciary	 investments,	 claims	 from	 life	
 insurance policies, etc.). To the extent possible, lending 
values are based on market values. Other collateral is 
subject	to	the	deduction	of	specified	margins.	These	take	
into	account	the	likelihood	of	fluctuations	in	value	and	
concentration risks within the coverage.

f)   Explanation of the 

bank’s business policy 
regarding the use  
of	derivative	financial	
instruments and the use 
of hedge accounting

Use	of	derivative	financial	instruments
Trading	in	derivative	financial	instruments	must	comply	
with business policy requirements. It may be conducted 
for the purposes of proprietary and client trading as well 
as for hedging, and comprises both over-the-counter 
(OTC) and exchange-traded transactions. 

Derivative	financial	instruments	may	only	be	estab-
lished	on	underlyings	that	fulfil	the	following	conditions:
 – Prices are set regularly via a stock exchange or an 
alternative organised exchange or according to 
recognised, transparent regulations determined in 
advance.

 – The prices are published.
 – The underlying instrument may only be physically 

delivered for participation rights, bonds, fund units 
and precious metals. 

Explanations regarding the application  
of hedge accounting
Hedge accounting is a balance sheet depiction of collat-
eral relationships. It aims to reduce the volatility of the 
results	figures	or	equity	capital	stated	and	adjust	them	
to the economic risk. The Zürcher Kantonalbank Group 

applies hedge accounting to limit the interest rate risk 
in  connection  with  balance  sheet  structure  manage-
ment. In this process, there is both a present value and 
an income consideration.

Contractually	 agreed	 client	 transactions,	 financial	
investments	 as	 well	 as	 debt	 financing	 in	 the	 banking	
book qualify as underlying transactions to be hedged. 
For  the  underlying  instrument,  a  distinction  is  made 
 between  direct  and  indirect  transactions.  For  direct 
transactions,	 Treasury	 has	 a	 direct	 influence	 on	 the	
 timing and terms of the underlying instrument (purchase 
of	financial	investments,	bond	issues).	Indirect	transac-
tions are understood to be all the transactions conclud-
ed  by  Sales  and  transferred  to  Treasury  for  interest  
risk management. For direct transactions, the result of 
 individual transactions is taken into account, whilst for 
indirect transactions only the market value of the posi-
tions, based on changed market conditions (in particular 
the interest curve), is included. Appropriate derivative 
financial	instruments	(mainly	interest	swaps)	are	used	
for hedging purposes. For each hedging relationship, a 
review is undertaken to determine whether they meet 
the conditions for the application of hedge accounting 
(e.g. the	hedging	transactions	must	be	concluded	with	
an external counterparty).

All hedging transactions are treated as direct trans-
actions. Zürcher Kantonalbank hedges the underlying 
transaction by means of a macro hedge. It optimises  
the total exposure on the basis of key rate sensitivities 
while adhering to the risk policy requirements. The result 
from the hedging transactions runs counter to the result 
of the underlying transactions and indicates the eco-
nomic risk assumption and cover. The hedge effective-
ness  is  measured  every  six  months  as  of  the  balance 
sheet	date	at	the	end	of	June	and	the	end	of	December.	
It is based on the effects on the result from the interest 
exposures of the underlying transactions and the hedg-
ing	transactions.	Specifically,	the	result	from	the	under-
lying  transaction  is  compared  to  the  result  from  the 
hedging transaction as of the balance sheet date.

The cumulative absolute amounts from the monthly 
result  from  the  underlying  and  hedging  transactions  
are  compared  for  the  aggregate  view  of  the  hedge 
 effectiveness  over  the  six-month  horizon. The  hedge  
is regarded as effective as long as the result from the 

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hedging transactions does not exceed the result from 
the underlying transactions. If the result from the hedg-
ing transactions, accumulated over six months, exceeds 
the result from the underlying transactions, the excessive 
part of the hedge is regarded as ineffective. The trans-
actions responsible for the ineffectiveness of the hedge 
are	then	identified	in	the	hedging	portfolio.	These	trans-
actions  are  derecognised  from  the  hedging  portfolio  
and allocated to the trading portfolio. This is carried out 
until the hedge is effective in the period under review. 
No ineffectiveness was recorded in the year under re-
view.

g)  Explanation of material 
events occurring after 
the balance sheet date

No	 significant	 events	 affecting	 the	 assets,	 liabilities,	
	financial	position	and	the	results	of	operations	of	the	
group occurred between the balance sheet date and the 
date	 on	 which	 the	 consolidated	 financial	 statements	
were prepared.

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103 

i)   Information on the  

balance sheet

1	 Breakdown	of	securities	financing	transactions

in	CHF million

Book value of receivables from cash collateral delivered in connection with securities borrowing and reverse 
repurchase transactions

Book value of obligations from cash collateral received in connection with securities lending and repurchase 
transactions

Book value of securities lent in connection with securities lending or delivered as collateral in connection with 
securities borrowing as well as securities in own portfolio transferred in connection with repurchase agreements

– of which, with unrestricted right to resell or pledge

Fair value of securities received and serving as collateral in connection with securities lending or securities 
borrowed in connection with securities borrowing as well as securities received in connection with reverse 
repurchase agreements with an unrestricted right to resell or repledge

– of which, repledged securities

– of which, resold securities

2  Overview of collateral for loans / receivables and off-balance-sheet  

transactions, as well as impaired loans / receivables

2018

17,004

6,876

4,480

4,480

49,237

114

34,889

2017

14,326

6,623

3,401

3,401

43,042

140

32,051

Overview by collateral

in	CHF million

Loans (before netting with value adjustments)
Amounts due from customers

Mortgage loans

– Residential property

–	Office	and	business	premises

– Commercial and industrial premises

– Other

Total mortgage loans

Total loans (before netting with value adjustments) 2018

Total loans (before netting with value adjustments) 2017

Total loans (after netting with value adjustments) 2018

Total loans (after netting with value adjustments) 2017

Off-balance-sheet
Contingent liabilities

Irrevocable commitments

Obligations to pay up shares and make further contributions

Credit commitments

Total off-balance-sheet transactions 2018

Total off-balance-sheet transactions 2017

Type of collateral

Secured  
by mortgage 

Other  
collateral 

Unsecured 

Total 

68

1,233

7,279

8,580

67,751

8,758

2,369

2,362

81,239

81,307

79,140

81,307

79,140

85

1,040

–

–

1,125

1,120

14

–

0

1

16

1,249

1,060

1,249

1,060

1,248

58

–

–

1,305

1,593

19

13

33

1

66

7,344

6,891

7,168

6,720

2,770

6,601

263

–

9,634

9,621

67,784

8,770

2,402

2,364

81,321

89,900

87,091

89,725

86,919

4,102

7,698

263

–

12,064

12,334

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2  Overview of collateral for loans / receivables and off-balance-sheet  
transactions, as well as impaired loans / receivables (continued)

Information on impaired loans

Impaired loans 
2018

2017

in	CHF million

Gross debt amount

Estimated liquidation  
value of collateral

Net debt amount

Individual value 
 adjustments 1

504

472

286

275

218

197

181

177

1  Individual	value	adjustments	of	100 percent	of	the	net	debt	amount	are	normally	made.	

Individual value adjustment rates may apply in the case of major positions.

3	 Trading	portfolios	and	other	financial	instruments	 

at fair value

Assets 
Debt securities, money market securities / transactions

in	CHF million

– of which, listed 1

Equity securities

Precious metals and commodities

Other trading portfolio assets

Total trading transactions

Debt securities

Structured products

Other

Total	other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Total assets

– of which, determined using a valuation model

– of which, securities eligible for repo transactions in accordance with liquidity requirements

in	CHF million

1  Listed = traded on a recognised exchange.

Liabilities 
Debt securities, money market securities / transactions

– of which, listed 1

Equity securities

Precious metals and commodities

Other trading portfolio liabilities

Total trading transactions

Debt securities

Structured products

Other

Total	other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Total liabilities

– of which, determined using a valuation model

1  Listed = traded on a recognised exchange.

2018
4,970

4,897

2,671

1,724

–

9,364

–

–

–

–

9,364

73

1,308

2018
2,400

2,392

9

2

7

2,418

–

2,472

–

2,472

4,890

2,479

2017

4,517

4,413

2,724

1,682

–

8,922

–

–

–

–

8,922

104

1,109

2017

1,851

1,840

7

0

0

1,859

–

2,869

–

2,869

4,728

2,880

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105 

4	 Derivative	financial	instruments	(assets	and	liabilities)

in	CHF million

Positive  
replacement values 

Negative  
replacement values

Contract  
volume  1

Positive  
replacement values

Negative  
replacement values

Contract 
volume

Trading instruments

Hedging instruments

Interest rate instruments
Forward contracts including FRAs

Swaps

Futures

Options (OTC)

Options (exchange-traded)

Total

Foreign exchange / precious 
metals
Forward contracts

Combined interest rate / currency 
swaps

Futures

Options (OTC)

Options (exchange-traded)

Total

Equity securities / indices
Forward contracts

Swaps

Futures

Options (OTC)

Options (exchange-traded)

Total

Credit derivatives
Credit default swaps

Total return swaps

First-to-default swaps

Other credit derivatives

Total

Other 2
Forward contracts

Swaps

Futures

Options (OTC)

Options (exchange-traded)

Total

Total before netting
agreements
2018

– of which, determined using a valuation model

2017

– of which, determined using a valuation model

12

4,799

–

45

–

5

4,209

–

15

–

30,425

345,173

26,987

3,009

2

4,856

4,230

405,595

1,821

414

–

204

–

2,440

–

6

–

120

207

332

6

2

–

–

8

–

17

–

0

–

17

1,841

327,706

685

–

119

–

3,689

80

52,554

–

2,645

384,028

–

44

–

65

185

294

5

2

–

–

7

–

17

–

–

–

17

–

307

4,265

1,637

5,531

11,740

534

178

–

–

712

–

507

752

0

–

1,258

7,652

7,652

7,944

7,944

7,191

7,191

7,109

7,109

803,333

–

622,958

–

–

348

–

–

–

348

–

104

–

–

–

104

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

452

452

570

570

–

460

–

–

–

–

14,607

–

–

–

460

14,607

–

8

–

–

–

8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,561

–

–

–

1,561

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

468

468

837

837

16,168

–

19,329

–

1  The contract volume shows the amount of underlying on which a derivative is based or  
the notional amount underlying the derivative in accordance with the requirements  
of FINMA Circular 2015 / 01, irrespective of whether the derivative is traded long or short. 

The contract volume is determined differently depending on the type of contract and does 
not permit any direct conclusions to be drawn about the risk exposure. 

2  Includes commodities and hybrid derivatives.

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4	 Derivative	financial	instruments	(assets	and	liabilities)	(continued)

Total after netting 
agreements  3	
2018

2017

Breakdown by counterparty
Positive replacement values 
(after netting agreements)

2018

in	CHF million

Positive replacement values 
(cumulative)

Negative replacement values 
(cumulative)

1,278

1,535

752

867

Central clearing houses

Banks and securities dealers

Other customers

135

338

805

3  For over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, the positive and negative replacement values  

of derivative financial instruments as well as the related cash collateral are offset (netting).  

For this purpose, a relevant bilateral agreement with the affected counterparties must be  
in place. This agreement must be proven to be recognised and legally enforceable.

5  Financial investments

in	CHF million

Debt securities

– of which, intended to be held to maturity

–  of which, not intended to be held to maturity (available for sale)

Equity securities

of	which,	qualified	participations	1

Precious metals

Real estate 2

Total	financial	investments

–  of which, securities eligible for repo transactions in accordance 

with liquidity requirements

1  At	least	10 percent	of	the	capital	or	votes.
2  The insurance value of the real estate within financial investments amounted  

to	CHF 3.3 million.

Book value

Fair value

2018
4,431

4,431

–

51

–

219

4

4,705

4,341

2017

4,412

4,412

–

59

–

268

–

4,740

4,306

2018
4,579

4,579

–

67

–

219

4

4,869

4,486

2017

4,583

4,583

–

75

–

268

–

4,926

4,472

Counterparties by rating
Moody’s

Standard & Poor’s, Fitch

Debt securities: Book values

2018

in	CHF million

Aaa – Aa3

AAA – AA–

A1 – A3

A+ – A–

Baa1 – Baa3

BBB+ – BBB–

Ba1 – Ba3

Lower than Ba3

BB+ – B–

Below B–

Unrated

Unrated

4,126

26

–

–

–

279

All	but	CHF 0.5 million	of	debt	instruments	without	a	rating	fulfil	the	conditions	for	
high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) according to the Liquidity Ordinance (LiqV).
If two ratings exist with different risk weightings, the rating with the lower risk weighting  
is used. 

If two or more ratings exist with different risk weightings, those ratings which correspond  
to the two lowest risk weightings are taken into consideration.
The higher of the two risk weightings is used. Top priority is given to the issue rating and 
second priority to the issuer rating.

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107 

6  Presentation of non-consolidated participations

Accumulated 
value 
adjustment  /
changes  
in book value
(equity  
valuation)

Acquisition 
cost

Book value
end of 2017

Reclassifi-
cations

Addi-
tions

Disposals  
(incl. any FC 
differences)

Value 
adjustments

Changes  
in book value  
for participations 
using the equity 
method / depre-
ciation reversals

Book value
end of 2018

Market value
end of 2018

– 

30

–  

120 

150 

– 

– 13

–

– 7

– 20

–

17

–

113

130

– 

–

–

– 

– 

– 

9

–

6

15 

–

– 0 

–

– 0

– 1 

– 

– 3

–

– 3

– 7 

–

1

–

0

1 

–

22

–

116 

138 

–

–

–

–

–

in	CHF million

Participations valued 
using the equity method

– with market value 

– without market value 

Other participations 

– with market value 

– without market value 

Total participations 1

1  No material impairment losses or partial or full reversals of impairment to be recorded. 

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7  Disclosures on companies in which the bank holds a permanent  

direct	or	indirect	significant	participation

Company name

Registered 
office

Business activity

Currency
bank’s capital

Bank’s 
capital in 
CHF mil-
lion

Zürcher 
Kantonalbank 
share of capital 
(in %)

Zürcher 
Kantonalbank 
voting rights 
(in %)

Held 
directly

Held 
indirectly

Fully consolidated participations
Zürcher	Kantonalbank	Finance	(Guernsey) Ltd.

Swisscanto	Holding Ltd.	1

Swisscanto	Fund	Management	Company Ltd.2 

Swisscanto	Pensions Ltd.

Swisscanto	Private	Equity CH I Ltd

Guernsey

Financial services

Zurich

Zurich

Zurich

Zurich

Participations

Fund management

Financial services

Financial services

Swisscanto	Asset	Management	International S.A. Luxembourg

Fund management

Zürcher	Kantonalbank	Österreich AG

Salzburg

Financial services

Reported under non-consolidated participations:  3

– of which, participations valued using the equity method

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

CHF

EUR

1

24

5

1

0

0

6

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

Technopark Real Estate Ltd.

Zurich

Project planning, 
construction,  
maintenance

CHF

40

33.3

33.3

�

– of which, from other non-consolidated participations

Pfandbriefzentrale der schweizerischen 
Kantonalbanken AG

Aduno	Holding Ltd.	5

Zurich

Zurich

Pfandbrief institution

Participations

CHF

CHF

1,625  4

25

17.8

14.7

17.8

14.7

Subsidiaries not fully consolidated
Zürcher Kantonalbank
Representações Ltda.	6

ZüriBahn AG	7

São Paulo

Representative	office

Zurich

Cable car

BRL

CHF

0

5

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

�

�

�

�

1  Swisscanto	Holding Ltd.	holds	100 percent	of	the	shares	in	Swisscanto	Fund	 

3  All	non-consolidated	participations	whose	share	of	capital	is	more	than	10 percent	are	

Management	Company Ltd.,	Swisscanto	Pensions Ltd.	and	Swisscanto	Asset	Management	
International	S.A.	Swisscanto	Funds	Centre Ltd.	in	London	was	sold	on	1	October	2018	 
to	Clearstream	International SA,	Luxembourg,	the	post-trade	services	provider	of	the	
Deutsche Börse Group.

shown. In addition, either the share of the participations in the bank’s capital must be more 
than	CHF 2 million	or	the	book	value	must	be	more	than	CHF 15 million.

4  Of	which,	CHF 325 million	has	been	paid	up.
5  Requirement to surrender shares when new shareholders are admitted in accordance  

2  Swisscanto	Fund	Management Company	Ltd.	holds	100 percent	of	the	shares	of	

with the shareholder agreement.

Swisscanto	Private	Equity CH I Ltd.	

6  Total	assets	in	CHF thousand	(2017:	208,	2016:	165);	result	for	the	period	in	CHF thousand	

(2017: 42, 2016: 65).

7  Total	assets	in	CHF thousand	(2018:	5,000);	loss	for	the	period	in	CHF thousand	(2018:	145).

8	 Presentation	of	tangible	fixed	assets

Acquisition cost

Accumulated 
depreciation

Book value  
at end 2017

Change to scope 
of consolidation

Additions

Disposals Depreciation

Reversals

Book value  
at end 2018

in	CHF million

Bank buildings

Other real estate

Proprietary or separately 
acquired software

1,516 

– 781 

8 

0 

– 6 

– 0 

Other	tangible	fixed	assets

228 

– 191 

Tangible assets acquired under 
finance	leases

–  of which, bank buildings

–  of which, other real estate

–  of which, other tangible  

fixed	assets

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

735 

2 

– 

37 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 1 

–

– 

– 

– 

22 

– 

0 

18 

–

– 

– 

– 

– 54 

– 

– 

– 0 

–

– 

– 

– 

– 59 

– 0 

– 0 

– 23 

–

– 

– 

– 

Total	tangible	fixed	assets

1,753 

– 978 

775 

– 1 

40 

– 54 

– 82 

The insurance value of the real estate within tangible fixed assets amounted  
to	CHF 1,257 million.
The	insurance	value	of	the	other	tangible	fixed	assets	amounted	to	CHF 388 million.

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

644

2

–

32

–

–

– 

–

677

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109 

8	 Presentation	of	tangible	fixed	assets	(continued)

Operating leases

Leasing obligations not recognised in the balance sheet  
Due within 12 months

in	CHF million

Due between 12 months and 5 years

Due after more than 5 years

Total of leasing obligations not recognised in the balance sheet

– of which, cancellable within 1 year

9  Presentation of intangible assets

2018
0

0

–

0

–

2017

0

0

–

0

–

in	CHF million

Goodwill 1

Patents

Licences

Other intangible assets

Total intangible assets

Cost value

Accumulated
amortisation

Book value
end of 2017

Changes to  
scope of 
consolidation

Additions

Disposals Amortisation

Reversals

266

–

47

–

313

– 76

–

– 45

– 

– 121

190

–

2

–

192

–

–

–

–

–

49

–

4

–

53

–

–

– 0

–

– 0

– 98

–

– 5

–

– 103

–

–

–

–

–

Book value
end of 2018

141

–

0

–

142

1  On	1	October	2018	Clearstream	International SA,	Luxembourg,	the	post-trade	services	
provider of the Deutsche Börse Group, completed the acquisition of Swisscanto Funds 
Centre Ltd.	(SFCL)	from	Zürcher	Kantonalbank.	

Consequently, the Swisscanto Group can expect a lower income base in future. This resulted 
in	a	non-recurring	extraordinary	goodwill	amortisation	charge	of	CHF 59 million.

10 Other assets and liabilities

in	CHF million

Compensation account

Deferred income taxes recognised as assets

Amount recognised as assets in respect of employer  
contribution reserves

Amount recognised as assets relating to other assets  
from pension schemes

Negative goodwill

Settlement accounts

Indirect taxes

Other

Total 

Other assets

Other liabilities

2018
124

9

1

–

–

45

64

47

291

2017

188

9

1

–

–

71

154

35

458

2018
–

–

–

–

–

135

33

37

205

2017

–

–

–

–

–

387

40

131

558

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11 Assets pledged or assigned to secure own commitments,  

and assets under reservation of ownership

2018

2017

Book value

Effective
commitment

Book value

Effective
commitment

in	CHF million

Pledged / assigned assets
Amounts due from banks

Amounts due from customers

Mortgage loans

Trading portfolio assets

Financial investments

Total pledged / assigned assets

1,289

1,980

11,828

2

–

15,100

1,271

1,910

9,463

2

–

12,646

2018
148

–

4

–

0

152

1,523

1,419

11,725

11

15

1,506

1,368

9,275

11

–

14,694

12,160

2017

166

–

10

–

–

176

Change

– 18

–

– 6

–

 0

– 24

No assets are subject to reservation of ownership.
Note 1	shows	instruments	serving	as	collateral	for	which	a	right	of	resale	or	pledging	 
has been granted in connection with securities financing.

12 Liabilities relating to own pension schemes and number and nature  
of equity instruments of the bank held by own pension schemes

Liabilities to own pension schemes 
from balance-sheet transactions 
Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Cash bonds

Negative	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	instruments

Accrued expenses and deferred income

Other liabilities

Total

Own pension schemes do not hold any of the bank’s equity instruments.

in	CHF million

13 Information on pension schemes
The Zürcher Kantonalbank pension fund is a public-law 
institution and is a separate legal entity. The purpose of 
the  pension  fund  is  to  insure  the  bank’s  employees 
against the economic consequences of age, death and 
disability.  The  pension  fund’s  pension  plan  comprises 
three different pension vehicles. The annuity plan insures 
the basic salary (annual salary) according to the com-
bined	defined	benefit	/	defined	contribution1 principle. 
The capital plan insures any paid variable compensation 
(bonus) subject to AHV. The capital plan is also based on 
a	combined	defined	benefit	/	defined	contribution	prin-
ciple.	The	third	vehicle –	the	supplementary	account –	
enables	insured	individuals	to	pre-finance	the	reduction	

1   Retirement benefits are based on the individually accumulated savings assets, while death 

and disability benefits are calculated as a percentage of the insured salary. Disability 
pensions are paid for life, and the pension is recalculated when the insured individual 
reaches normal retirement age.

in	 benefits	 on	 early	 retirement	 between	 the	 ages	 of	 
58 and 64. 

The premiums required for these plans constitute a 
component of personnel expenses. Contributions to the 
annuity  and  capital  plans  are  funded  jointly  by  the 
 insured  individual  and  the  bank.  The  supplementary 
 account is funded exclusively by the insured individuals.
An  additional  plan  is  operated  in  the  form  of  a  
separate trust, the Marienburg Foundation of Zürcher 
Kantonalbank,	for	the	senior	management	of	affiliated	
employers.	Structured	on	a	defined	contribution	basis,	
this solution insures the element of the base salary in 
excess	of	a	specific	minimum	amount.	The	Marienburg	
Foundation of Zürcher Kantonalbank is funded jointly 
by  the  insured  individuals  and  the  bank.  However, 
 employer contributions for salary components insured 
in the Marienburg Foundation are lower than those in 

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the	pension	fund	after	the	age	of 45.	Also,	unlike	the	
pension  fund,  the  Marienburg  Foundation  does  not  
pay pensions, only retirement capital. Investment and 
longevity risk are therefore borne by the retired mem-
bers.

The	 following	 employers	 are	 affiliated	 to	 Zürcher	

Kantonalbank’s pension fund:
 – Zürcher Kantonalbank’s Grüningen Botanical  

Garden Trust

 – Zürcher Kantonalbank pension fund
 – Zürcher Kantonalbank’s SanArena Trust
 – Swisscanto	Fund	Management	Company Ltd.
 – Swisscanto	Pensions Ltd.	
 – Zürcher Kantonalbank

in %

Zürcher Kantonalbank 
pension fund

Marienburg Foundation 
of Zürcher Kantonalbank 
(solution for senior 
management)

Coverage ratio  
as at 31.12.2018
(not yet audited)

Coverage ratio  
as at 31.12.2017 
(audited)

108

108

113

113

Coverage	ratio	pursuant	to	Article 44	BVV2

Occupational pension provision for the employees of the 
Austrian subsidiary is outsourced to a collective scheme 
governed by Austrian law. The pension plan is structured 
on	a	defined	contribution	basis.	The	employees	of	sub-
sidiary	 Zürcher	 Kantonalbank	 Finance	 (Guernsey) Ltd.	
are	not	affiliated	to	any	pension	scheme.

Swisscanto	Asset	Management	International SA	in	
Luxembourg has set up a pension plan for all employees. 
The plan, including the investment of employee assets, 
is managed by an insurance company. The savings con-
tributions	are	fully	financed	by	the	employer.	The	risks	
are comprehensively covered by the insurance company. 
The	office	in	Germany	is	a	member	of	the	pension	fund	
for the banking industry. The employees can save tax-
free  contributions  for  retirement,  with  the  employer 
paying part of the contributions.

There  is  no  possibility  of  a  shortfall  or  surplus  for 
pension solutions in other countries as the investment 
risk is fully borne by the employee.

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13 Information on pension schemes (continued)

a)  Employer contribution reserves (ECR) 

Nominal value  Waiver of use

Net amount

Net amount

Influence	of		 
ECR on 
personnel 
expenses

Influence	of	 
ECR on 
personnel 
expenses

in	CHF million

End of 2018

End of 2018

End of 2018

End of 2017

2018

2017

Zürcher Kantonalbank pension fund

Total

1

1

–

–

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

b)	 Economic	benefit	/	obligation	and	the	pension	expenses

Over- / 
underfunding

Economic interest  
of the bank 

Change  
in economic  
interest versus 
previous year 

Contribu- 
tions paid 

Pension expenses in 
personnel expenses  

in	CHF million

End of 2018

2018

2017

2018

2018

2018

2017

Employer-sponsored funds / employer-sponsored 
pension schemes

Pension plans without overfunding / underfunding 1

Pension plans with overfunding

Pension plans with underfunding

Pension schemes without own assets

Total

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

108

–

–

–

–

108

–

–

–

–

120

–

–

–

108

108

120

1  Including	change	in	provisions	for	pension	benefit	obligations	(2018:	release	CHF 1 million	/	2017:	creation	CHF 8 million).

14 Issued structured products

Underlying risk of the embedded derivative

Valued as a whole

Valued separately

Book value

Total

in	CHF million

Interest rate instruments With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Equity securities

With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Foreign currencies

With own debenture component 

Commodities / precious 
metals

Without oDC

With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Loans

With own debenture component 

Real estate

With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Without oDC

Hybrid instruments

With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Total 2018

Total 2017

Booked in  
trading portfolio

Booked in  
other	financial	
instruments  
at fair value

Value of the  
host instrument

Value of the 
derivative

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

63

–

1,969

–

176

–

63

–

184

–

–

–

16

–

2,472

2,869

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

63

–

1,969

–

176

–

63

–

184

–

–

–

16

–

2,472

2,869

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15 Presentation of bonds outstanding and mandatory convertible bonds  

(incl. cash	bonds	and	central	mortgage	institution	loans)

Cash bonds

31.12.2018

31.12.2017

Outstanding amount  
in	CHF million

Weighted average  
interest rate

167

191 

2021

33

2022

39

2023

after 2023

3

49

Total

167

Outstanding amount  
in	CHF million

Weighted average  
interest rate

0.70

0.80

0.72

–

2.18

0.74

–

2.18

Maturities

2019 – 2028

2018 – 2027

Maturities

2019 – 2044

–

2025 – perpetual

2018 – 2044

–

2025 – perpetual

2022

1,304 

2023

250 

after 2023

5,271 

Total

11,666 

Maturity structure 
Cash bonds

in	CHF million

2019

27

2020

16

Bonds and mandatory convertible bonds

31.12.2018 (Issuer: Zürcher Kantonalbank)

–  of which, non-subordinated

–  of which, subordinated without  

PONV clause 1

–  of which, subordinated with PONV clause

31.12.2017 (Issuer: Zürcher Kantonalbank)

–  of which, non-subordinated

–  of which, subordinated without  

PONV clause 1

–  of which, subordinated with PONV clause

Maturity structure 
Bonds

1  Point of non-viability (PONV).

in	CHF million

2019

3,057 

2020

671 

Central mortgage institution loans

11,666 

10,176 

–

1,491 

12,419 

10,906 

–

1,513

2021

1,114 

Outstanding amount  
in	CHF million

Weighted average  
interest rate

31.12.2018

31.12.2017

Maturity structure 
Central mortgage institution loans 1

in	CHF million

2019

742

2020

962

1  Pfandbriefzentrale	der	schweizerischen	Kantonalbanken AG	loans.

9,463

9,275

2021

794

0.64

0.69

2023

1,229

2022

616

Maturities

2019 – 2030

2018 – 2030

after 2023

5,120

Total

9,463

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16 Presentation of value adjustments and provisions, reserves  
for general banking risks, and changes therein during  
the current year

in	CHF million

Provisions for deferred taxes

Provisions	for	pension	benefit	obligations	1

Provisions for default risks

Provisions for other business risks 2

Provisions for restructuring 

Other provisions 3

Total provisions

Reserves for general banking risks

Value adjustments for default and country risks

–  of which, value adjustments for default risks 

in respect of impaired loans / receivables 4

–  of which, value adjustments for latent risks

Balance at 
end of 
2017

Changes to 
scope of 
consolidation 

Use in conformity 
with designated 
purpose  
and reversals 

Reclassifi-
cations 

Currency 
differences 

Past due 
interest, 
recoveries 

New creations 
charged  
to income 

Releases  
to income 

Balance at 
end  
of 2018

0

42

131

213

–

198

585

–

177

177

–

– 0

–

–

–

–

– 0

– 0

–

–

–

–

–

– 11

– 22

– 29

–

– 74

– 136

–

– 11

– 11

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2

–

1

3

–

– 0

– 0

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2

2

–

0

–

67

2

–

19

87

200

62

62

–

–

– 1

– 44

– 126

–

– 114

– 284

–

– 50

– 50

–

0

30

133

62

–

31

255

200

181

181

–

1  In line with its sustainable human resources policy, the Board of Directors decided in 

December 2016 that the bank would assume certain costs for the financing of transitional 
solutions in connection with the realignment of the pension fund to the changed 
environment.

2  Value adjustments and provisions for other business risks relate to provisions for settlement 

Recoveries from amounts due derecognised in previous periods are reported directly  
in Changes in value adjustments for default risk and losses from interest operations  
(2018:	CHF 7 million	/	2017:	CHF 13 million).
For more details on the management of credit risks, operational risks and legal and 
compliance	risks,	please	refer	to	section I)	of	the	Risk	report.

risks, for example, which cover identifiable risks as at the balance sheet date. 

3  Other provisions include provisions for litigation, provisions for employees’ holiday credits 

and provisions for the ZKB company anniversary in 2020.

4  Default risks consist primarily of counterparty risks, for which value adjustments of 

100 percent	of	the	net	debt	amount	are	generally	made.	Individual	value	adjustment	rates	
may apply in the case of major positions.

On	13	August	2018,	Zürcher	Kantonalbank	concluded	the	US Department	of	 
Justice’s	investigation	into	the	bank’s	legacy	business	with	US clients	with	a	Deferred	
Prosecution Agreement (DPA). 
Pursuant	to	this	settlement,	the	bank	agreed	to	make	a	payment	of	USD 98.5 million.	 
The payment was made in the second half of 2018. The provisions made for this purpose 
were sufficient. For further information on provisions no longer required in this regard,  
please	see	Note 36.	

17 Presentation of the bank’s capital

The disclosure pursuant to the accounting rules for banks (ARB) is only made 
by	the	parent	company	(page 168).

18 Number and value of equity securities or options on equity securities held  
by all executives and directors and by employees, and disclosures on any 
employee participation schemes
Neither Zürcher Kantonalbank nor its subsidiaries have employee participation 
schemes.

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19 Amounts due from / to related parties

in	CHF million

Holders	of	qualified	participations

Group companies

Linked companies

Transactions with members of governing bodies

Other related parties

Due from

Due to

2018
7

–

573

21

–

2017

2

–

596

21

–

2018
839

4

810

24

–

2017

545

–

1,258

25

–

Affiliated companies are public-law institutions of the respective canton or public-private 
enterprises in which the canton holds qualified participations.
On- and off-balance-sheet transactions with related parties are conducted at usual market 
conditions, with the exception of loans to members of governing bodies. Loans to governing 
bodies are granted on employee terms in some cases. 

This	primarily	involved	the	usual	balance	sheet	banking	business,	i.e. it	was	mainly	amounts	
due from and due to customers. The totals above also include securities items and claims and 
liabilities from transactions in derivatives (positive and negative replacement values).
The	off-balance-sheet	transactions	with	related	parties	in	the	amount	of	CHF 182 million	
(2017:	CHF 234 million)	primarily	include	irrevocable	loan	commitments	and	other	contingent	
liabilities.

20	Disclosure	of	holders	of	significant	participations

The disclosure pursuant to the accounting rules for banks (ARB) is only made 
by	the	parent	company	(page 169).

21 Disclosure of own shares and composition of equity capital

in	CHF million

Reserves for general banking risks

Bank’s capital

Retained earnings reserve

Foreign currency translation reserve

Consolidated	profit

Total equity

The bank does not hold any of its own shares.

2018
200

2,425

8,445

– 6

788

11,852

2017

–

2,425

8,026

– 4

782

11,228

22 Disclosures in accordance with the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation 
with	respect	to	Listed	Stock	Corporations	and	Article 663c	para. 3	CO	for	
banks whose equity securities are listed
The disclosure pursuant to the accounting rules for banks (ARB) is only made 
by	the	parent	company	(page 170).

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23	Maturity	structure	of	financial	instruments

At sight 

Callable 

within  
3 months 

within 3 to  
12 months 

within 1 to  
5 years 

after  

5 years  No maturity 

Total 

Due

in	CHF million

Assets	/	financial	instruments
Liquid assets

Amounts due from banks

Amounts due from securities
financing	transactions

Amounts due from customers

Mortgage loans

Trading portfolio assets

Positive replacement values of derivative 
financial	instruments

Other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Financial investments

Total	assets	/	financial	instruments	2018

Total	assets	/	financial	instruments	2017

Debt	capital	/	financial	
instruments
Amounts due to banks

Liabilities	from	securities	financing	transac-
tions

Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Trading portfolio liabilities

Negative replacement values 
of	derivative	financial	instruments

Liabilities	from	other	financial	instruments
at fair value

Cash bonds

Bond issues

Central mortgage institution loans

Total	debt	capital	/	financial	instruments	2018

Total	debt	capital	/	financial	instruments	2017

32,825

31,237

40,989

1,472

–

206

95

9,364

1,278

–

270

53,674

53,395

–

0

1,866

1,482

538

–

–

–

–

3,886

6,336

–

1,389

13,671

2,505

8,752

–

–

–

63

26,380

22,801

–

1,720

1,186

1,281

9,808

–

–

–

472

14,467

10,232

–

165

282

2,265

–

56

–

728

41,710

20,352

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,678

46,100

44,178

2,219

23,356

25,105

2,167

5

31,622

2,513

–

25,017

2,418

752

2,472

–

–

–

3,271

55,896

3,605

2,479

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6

1,491

–

60,663

57,408

1,591

–

39,303

37,872

–

393

–

–

–

21

1,466

742

5,134

6,962

–

–

574

–

–

–

91

3,338

3,601

7,605

7,165

713

–

1,180

–

–

–

49

3,780

5,120

10,842

10,233

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4

4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

40,989

4,803

17,004

8,469

81,256

9,364

1,278

–

4,705

167,867

162,046

37,019

6,876

85,537

2,418

752

2,472

167

11,666

9,463

156,371

150,876

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24 Assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet positions by domestic and  

foreign origin in accordance with the domicile principle

in	CHF million

Assets
Liquid assets

Amounts due from banks

Amounts	due	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due from customers

Mortgage loans

Trading portfolio assets

Positive	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	instruments

Other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Financial investments

Accrued income and prepaid expenses

Non-consolidated participations

Tangible	fixed	assets

Intangible assets

Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities
Amounts due to banks

Liabilities	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Trading portfolio liabilities

Negative	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	instruments

Liabilities	from	other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Cash bonds

Bond issues

Central mortgage institution loans

Accrued expenses and deferred income

Other liabilities

Provisions

Reserves for general banking risks

Bank’s capital

Retained earnings reserve

Foreign currency translation reserve

Consolidated	profit

Total liabilities

Off-balance-sheet transactions
Contingent liabilities

Irrevocable commitments

Obligations to pay up shares and make further contributions

Credit commitments

2018

2017

Domestic 

Foreign 

Domestic 

Foreign 

40,937

777

7,277

6,508

81,255

5,566

970

–

3,147

274

137

674

141

282

52

4,026

9,727

1,960

0

3,798

308

–

1,558

19

1

3

0

9

41,133

1,063

6,044

6,164

79,087

5,070

1,267

–

2,982

258

128

770

191

440

14

3,394

8,282

1,668

0

3,852

268

–

1,757

22

1

4

1

18

147,947

21,461

144,598

19,283

2,835

9

78,803

1,029

329

1,351

167

11,666

9,463

711

204

254

200

2,425

8,326

– 6

781

34,184

6,868

6,735

1,390

422

1,120

–

–

–

14

1

2

–

–

118

–

7

2,604

18

75,650

858

416

1,699

191

12,419

9,275

620

549

583

–

2,425

7,918

– 4

769

32,788

6,604

5,731

1,001

451

1,169

–

–

–

14

9

1

–

–

108

–

13

118,547

50,861

115,991

47,889

1,749

6,668

262

–

2,353

1,030

1

–

1,679

6,352

232

–

2,407

1,664

1

–

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25A  Assets by country or group of countries

Switzerland

Rest of Europe

– of which, Germany

– of which, France

– of which, United Kingdom

– of which, Guernsey

Americas

– of which, USA

Asia and Oceania

Africa

Total assets

25B  Liabilities by country or group of countries

Switzerland

Rest of Europe

– of which, Germany

– of which, France

– of which, United Kingdom

– of which, Guernsey

Americas

– of which, USA

Asia and Oceania

Africa

Total liabilities

2018

2017

in	CHF million	

Share	as %	

in	CHF million	

Share	as %	

147,947

14,272

4,256

554

3,972

55

4,911

3,442

2,255

23

87.3

8.4

2.5

0.3

2.3

0.0

2.9

2.0

1.3

0.0

144,598

12,296

3,101

722

3,596

29

4,832

3,471

2,120

35

88.2

7.5

1.9

0.4

2.2

0.0

2.9

2.1

1.3

0.0

169,408

100.0

163,881

100.0

2018

2017

in	CHF million	

Share	as %	

in	CHF million	

Share	as %	

118,547

24,217

3,487

1,930

5,614

1,795

15,071

5,833

10,445

1,128

70.0

14.3

2.1

1.1

3.3

1.1

8.9

3.4

6.2

0.7

115,991

23,160

3,924

2,513

6,113

1,823

12,477

4,872

11,079

1,174

70.8

14.1

2.4

1.5

3.7

1.1

7.6

3.0

6.8

0.7

169,408

100.0

163,881

100.0

25C  Contingent liabilities, irrevocable commitments, obligations to pay up  
shares and make further contributions by country or group of countries

Switzerland

Rest of Europe

– of which, Germany

– of which, France

– of which, United Kingdom

– of which, Guernsey

Americas

– of which, USA

Asia and Oceania

Africa

Total

2018

2017

in	CHF million	

Share	as %	

in	CHF million	

Share	as %	

8,679

2,127

57

0

210

1,484

693

40

525

39

71.9

17.6

0.5

0.0

1.7

12.3

5.7

0.3

4.4

0.3

8,262

2,991

62

2

1,519

994

621

24

426

34

67.0

24.2

0.5

0.0

12.3

8.1

5.0

0.2

3.5

0.3

12,064

100.0

12,334

100.0

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26 Breakdown of total assets by credit rating of country groups  

(risk domicile view)

Rating system
ZKB’s own country rating

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Total

Moody’s

Aaa / Aa1 / Aa2 / Aa3

A1 / A2 / A3

Baa1 / Baa2 / Baa3

Ba1 / Ba2

Ba3

B1 / B2 / B3

Caa1 / Caa2 / Caa3 / Ca / C

For further information, please see the “Credit risks” section in the Risk Report. 

2018
Net foreign exposure

2017
Net foreign exposure

in	CHF million	

Share	as %

in	CHF million	

Share	as %	

11,383

915

792

430

256

90

1

82.1 

6.6 

5.7 

3.1 

1.8 

0.6 

0.0 

10,109

1,041

817

485

63

77

9

80.2 

8.3 

6.5 

3.9 

0.5 

0.6 

0.1 

13,867

100.0 

12,602

100.0 

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Currencies	translated	in	CHF million

CHF

USD

EUR

Other Total	in	CHF million

27 Balance sheet by currencies

Assets
Liquid assets

Amounts due from banks

Amounts	due	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due from customers

Mortgage loans

Trading portfolio assets

Positive replacement values of derivative 
financial	instruments

Other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Financial investments

Accrued income and prepaid expenses

Non-consolidated participations

Tangible	fixed	assets

Intangible assets

Other assets

40,869

600

4,946

5,830

81,106

7,229

1,052

–

3,811

231

137

674

141

258

7

3,342

6,006

1,343

118

1,171

127

–

94

43

0

–

–

17

Total assets shown in balance sheet

146,884

12,268

Delivery entitlements from spot exchange, forward forex,  
forex options and precious metal transactions

Total assets

Liabilities
Amounts due to banks

Liabilities	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Trading portfolio liabilities

Negative replacement values of derivative 
financial	instruments

Liabilities	from	other	financial	instruments	
at fair value

Cash bonds

Bonds

Central mortgage institution loans

Accrued expenses and deferred income

Other liabilities

Provisions

Reserves for general banking risks

Bank’s capital

Retained earnings reserve

Foreign currency translation reserve

Consolidated	profit

109,994

256,878

124,435

136,703

6,158

62

76,034

1,464

543

1,513

167

9,452

9,463

582

150

254

200

2,425

8,462

–

788

23,964

1,957

3,717

797

94

373

–

–

–

105

31

–

–

–

–

–

–

109

671

6,027

1,012

32

668

89

–

801

16

1

3

0

15

9,443

78,906

88,348

3,438

4,858

4,876

100

111

575

–

2,214

–

25

3

1

–

–

– 17

– 6

1

4

190

25

284

–

297

9

–

0

4

0

–

–

0

40,989

4,803

17,004

8,469

81,256

9,364

1,278

–

4,705

293

138

677

142

291

813

169,408

23,598

24,411

336,932

506,340

3,460

–

910

57

4

11

–

–

–

14

20

–

–

–

–

–

–

37,019

6,876

85,537

2,418

752

2,472

167

11,666

9,463

725

205

255

200

2,425

8,445

– 6

788

Total liabilities shown in the balance sheet

117,716

31,038

16,179

4,476

169,408

Delivery obligations from spot exchange, forward forex,  
forex options and precious metal transactions

Total liabilities

Net position per currency in 2018

Net position per currency in 2017

139,359

257,075

– 197

276

105,493

136,531

172

401

72,216

88,395

– 47

– 639

19,774

24,250

161

177

336,843

506,251

89

214

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j)   Information on  

off-balance-sheet  
transactions

The following gives more detailed information on off-
balance-sheet positions as well as managed assets and 
other liabilities not included in the balance sheet. 

28 Contingent liabilities and contingent assets

in	CHF million

Guarantees to secure credits and similar

Performance guarantees and similar

Irrevocable commitments arising from documentary letters of credit

Other contingent liabilities

Total contingent liabilities

Contingent assets arising from tax losses carried forward

Other contingent assets

Total contingent assets

29 Breakdown of credit commitments

There are no credit commitments as of 31 December 2018 and  
31 December 2017.

30	Breakdown	of	fiduciary	transactions	

in	CHF million

Fiduciary investments with third-party companies

Fiduciary investments with linked companies

Fiduciary loans

Fiduciary transactions arising from securities lending and borrowing  
(in the bank’s own name for the account of customers)

Other	fiduciary	transactions

Total

2018
372

2,893

838

–

4,102

–

–

–

2018
398

–

–

–

–

2017

391

2,961

734

–

4,086

–

–

–

2017

218

–

–

–

–

398

218

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31 Breakdown of managed assets and presentation of their development

a)  Breakdown of managed assets

Type of managed assets 
Assets in collective investment schemes managed by the bank

Assets under discretionary asset management agreements 

Other managed assets

Total managed assets (including double counting) 1

– of which, double counting 

in	CHF million

2018
80,345 

63,272 

151,577  

295,194 

46,108 

2017

82,422 

65,861 

140,519 

288,802 

43,825 

1  The client assets shown include all client assets of an investment nature held with  
Zürcher Kantonalbank, as well as client assets held with third-party banks that are 
managed by Zürcher Kantonalbank. Zürcher Kantonalbank also includes client deposits  
that are not of an investment nature in its reported client assets. Non-inclusion of  
accounts that do not have an investment element would lead to greater volatility in 

managed client assets and thus distort the meaningfulness of trends in client assets.  
Assets held with Zürcher Kantonalbank but managed by third parties (custody-only) are  
not included. Banks and significant investment fund companies (including collective 
pension fund foundations, investment trusts, pension foundations and pension funds) for 
which Zürcher Kantonalbank acts exclusively as custodian bank are treated as custody-only.

b)  Presentation of the development of managed assets

in	CHF million

Total managed assets (including double counting) at beginning 

+/–	net	new	money	inflow	or	net	new	money	outflow	1

+/– price gains / losses, interest, dividends and currency gains / losses

+/– other effects

Total managed assets (including double counting) at end

2018
288,802 

17,995  

– 11,497 

– 106 

295,194 

2017

264,754 

6,329 

16,689 

1,029 

288,802 

1  The net new money inflow / outflow corresponds to the development of managed  
client assets adjusted for fluctuations in prices and exchange rates, interest and  
dividend payments, fees and expenses charged to clients, and reclassification of assets. 

Changes due to acquisitions / disposals of subsidiaries are not included. The interest billed 
to loan clients is included in the change in net new money inflow / outflow.

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k)  Information on the  
income statement

In this section, individual income statement items are 
broken down in greater detail and the components of 
the return on equity explained.

32 Breakdown of the result from trading activities and the fair value option

a)  Breakdown by business area  

(in	accordance	with	the	organisation	of	the	bank	/	financial	group)

in	CHF million

Result from trading in foreign exchange, bank notes and precious metals

Result from trading in bonds, interest rate and credit derivatives

Result from trading in equities and structured products

Result from other trading activities 1

Total

1  The result from other trading activities includes results from securities lending and borrowing  

as well as positions for which the Executive Board or Asset Management is responsible.

b)  Breakdown by underlying risk and based on the use  

of the fair value option

in	CHF million

Result from trading in foreign exchange, bank notes and 
precious metals

Result from trading in bonds, interest rate and  
credit derivatives

Result from trading in equities and structured products 

Result from other trading activities 

Total

– of which, from fair value option on assets

– of which, from fair value option on liabilities

2018

105

65

63

52

286

– 

358

2  Trading income from other products includes hybrid products and real estate derivatives.

2018
105

65

63

52

286

2017

128

87

60

58

334

Result from trading activities from:

Foreign 
exchange 
and bank 
notes

Precious 
metals

Securities 
lending and 
borrowing

Bonds, 
interest rate 
and credit 
derivatives

Equities  
and equity 
derivatives

Commodi- 
ties and 
commodity 
derivatives

Other 
products  2

61

0

1

0

62

–

– 1

44

–

0

– 0

44

–

0

–

–

–

57

57

–

–

– 1

63

– 7

– 1

55

– 

11

0

2

69

– 5

67

–

336

–

–

– 1

0

– 1

–

9

–

–

1

–

1

–

2

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33	Disclosure	of	material	refinancing	income	in	the	item	Interest	and	discount	

income as well as material negative interest
During	financial	year	2018,	refinancing	income	from	trading	activities	of	
CHF –	50.0 million	(previous	year:	CHF –	13.3 million)	was	included	in	the	item	
Interest and discount income. 
The item Interest and discount income also includes the result of currency swaps 
in	the	amount	of	CHF 626.5 million	(previous	year:	CHF 488.3 million),	which	
were entered into solely for the purpose of engaging in interest arbitrage. 
Negative interest on lending business is shown as a reduction in the interest  
and discount income. Negative interest on deposit- taking business is shown  
as a reduction in interest expenses.

in	CHF million

Negative interest on lending business (reduction in interest and discount income)

Negative interest on deposit-taking business (reduction in interest expenses)

34 Breakdown of personnel expenses

in	CHF million

Salaries for members of the bank’s governing bodies and personnel

– of which, alternative forms of variable compensation

AHV, IV, ALV and other social security contributions 1

Changes	in	book	value	for	economic	benefits	and	obligations	arising	from	pension	schemes

Other personnel expenses

Total

1  Including	change	in	provisions	for	pension	benefit	obligations	(2018:	release	CHF 1 million	/	2017:	creation	CHF 8 million).	

35 Breakdown of general and administrative expenses

in	CHF million

Office	space	expenses

Expenses for information and communications technology

Expenses	for	vehicles,	equipment,	furniture	and	other	fixtures,	as	well	as	operating	lease	expenses

Fees	of	audit	firms

–	of	which,	for	financial	and	regulatory	audits

– of which, for other services

Other operating expenses

– of which, compensation for any cantonal guarantee

Total

2018
204

117

2018
795

–

174

–

33

1,002

2018
33

163

2

8

8

0

222

22

428

2017

204

114

2017

788

–

187

–

33

1,008

2017

33

163

2

8

8

1

220

23

426

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36 Explanations regarding material losses, extraordinary income and expenses,  
reserves for general banking risks and value adjustments and provisions  
no longer required

in	CHF million

Extraordinary income
Reversal of impairment on other participations

Income from sale of other real estate / bank premises

Income from sale of participations

Other

Total

Extraordinary expenses
Losses from disposal of other real estate / bank premises

Losses from disposal of participations

Other

Total

Changes in reserves for general banking risks
Creation of reserves for general banking risks 1

Release of reserves for general banking risks

Total

2018

2017

0

21

80

1

103

0

0

0

0

200

–

200

6

2

–

0

8

–

–

0

0

–

–

–

1  CHF 200 million	of	reserves	for	general	banking	risks	were	created	during	the	year.	 

This was directly related to the release of provisions for other business risks and other 
provisions that were no longer required following the completion of the investigation  

by	the	US Department	of	Justice	into	the	bank’s	legacy	business	with	US clients.	 
Please	see	Note 16	for	the	level	of	reserves	for	general	banking	risks,	provisions	for	 
other business risks and other provisions. 

37 Disclosure of and reasons for revaluations of participations and  

tangible	fixed	assets	up	to	acquisition	cost	at	maximum

in	CHF million

Participations
CLS	Group	Holdings AG

Valiant	Holding AG		1

Total

Registered	office

Lucerne 

Lucerne 

1  Appreciation	in	the	first	half	of	2017	and	reallocation	to	financial	assets	as	at	1	July	2017.

Appreciation is applied to non-listed participations in accordance with the  
mean value method and, for listed participations, in accordance with the  
market value method.

2018

2017

0

–

0

0

4

4

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38 Income statement broken down according to domestic and foreign origin,  

according to the principle of permanent establishment

in	CHF million

Domestic 

Foreign 

Domestic 

Foreign 

2018

2017

Result from interest operations
Interest and discount income

Interest	and	dividend	income	from	financial	investments

Interest expense

Gross result from interest operations

Changes in value adjustments for default risks and losses  
from interest operations

Subtotal net result from interest operations

Result from commission business 
and services
Commission income from securities trading and investment activities

Commission income from lending activities

Commission income from other services

Commission expense

Subtotal result from commission business and services

Result from trading activities
Result from trading activities and the fair value option

Other result from ordinary activities
Result	from	disposal	of	financial	investments

Income from participations

– of which, participations valued using the equity method

– of which, from other non-consolidated participations

Result from real estate

Other ordinary income

Other ordinary expenses

Subtotal other result from ordinary activities

Operating expenses
Personnel expenses

General and administrative expenses

Subtotal operating expenses

Value adjustments on participations and depreciation and amortisa-
tion	of	tangible	fixed	assets	and	intangible	assets

Changes to provisions and other value adjustments and losses

Operating result

Extraordinary income

Extraordinary expenses

Changes in reserves for general banking risks

Taxes

Consolidated	profit

1,811 

44 

–633 

1,222 

– 10 

1,212 

679 

50 

145 

– 181 

693 

274 

2 

32 

2 

30 

6 

9 

– 3 

46 

– 983 

– 416 

–1, 400 

– 190 

194 

829 

103 

– 0 

– 200 

– 5 

727 

1 

0 

– 0 

1 

0 

1 

124 

0 

2 

– 43 

83 

12 

– 0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

– 0 

– 0 

– 18 

– 12 

– 31 

– 2 

– 0 

63 

0 

– 

– 

– 1 

61 

1,608 

49 

–	446 

1,211 

–	9 

1,201 

663 

52 

139 

–	176 

678 

311 

4 

16 

3 

13 

6 

9 

–	4 

31 

–	990 

–	414 

–1,	404 

–	118 

2 

701 

8 

–	0 

–

–	8 

701 

0 

0 

–	0 

1 

0 

1 

139 

0 

2 

–	49 

92 

22 

–

0 

–

0 

0 

0 

–	0 

–	0 

–	18 

–	12 

–	30 

–	1 

–	0 

83 

0 

–	0 

–

–	3 

81 

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39 Presentation of current taxes, deferred taxes, and disclosure of tax rate

in	CHF million

Creation of provisions for deferred taxes

Reversal of provisions for deferred taxes

Recognition of deferred taxes on losses carried forward

Recognition of other deferred taxes

Expenses for current income and capital taxes

Expenses for property gains taxes

Total

Unrecognised tax reductions on losses carried forward, and tax credits not recognised  
under the principle of prudence

Hypothetical deferred income taxes calculated at theoretical tax rates on revaluations  
of investments not relevant for tax purposes

Figures	in	table:	minus	=	expense;	plus	=	income

As Zürcher Kantonalbank is exempt from direct income and capital taxes,  
no weighted average interest rate is disclosed.

40 Disclosures and explanations of the earnings per equity security  

in the case of listed banks
Zürcher Kantonalbank has no listed equity securities.

41 Components of return on equity

in %

Return on equity (RoE)

in	CHF million

Relevant net annual result for calculating ROE
Consolidated	profit	

Total

Relevant average equity1 for calculating ROE
Average bank’s capital

Average other equity components

Total

1  The average bank’s capital and other equity components are calculated on a monthly basis.

2018
– 0

–

– 0

– 0

– 6

– 0

– 7

–

–

2018
7.1

2018

788

788

2,425

8,683

11,108

2017

–

0

– 0

0

– 10

– 

– 11

–

–

2017

7.3

2017

782

782

2,425

8,222

10,647

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l)   Risk report

1.1.1	Risk	profile
In  the  lending  business,  the  volume  of  mortgage  
loans	increased	by	2.7 percent	to	CHF 81.3 billion.	At	
CHF 58.6 billion,	the	vast	majority	of	real	estate	financ-
ing can be attributed to retail clients. The average prices 
on  the  real  estate  market  and  the  number  of  vacant 
rental properties in peripheral locations once again rose 
in 2018. In light of these increases, the bank has adjust-
ed	the	awarding	criteria	for	new	financing	by	tightening	
the requirements for the loan-to-value ratio of rented 
residential properties. There were no material changes 
in the rating structure of the various credit portfolios.

There was a little low-level volatility in the value at 
risk for the market risks in the trading book for 2018. 
The	 low	 risk	 figures	 for	 Trading	 reflect	 its	 strategy	 of	
focusing on the client business.

Asset and liability risk management was impacted  
by the negative interest rates in Swiss francs. The inter-
est-rate sensitivity of the banking book is slightly higher 
than  in  the  previous  year.  The  interest  rate  position 
serves to stabilise interest gains and as a strategic hedge 
against persistently low interest rates. 

The	key	figures	for	liquidity	risk	indicate	an	unchanged	
comfortable liquidity situation for Zürcher Kantonalbank.
There  was  no  fundamental  change  in  the  bank’s 
 environment for the management of operational risks 
compared with the previous year. The management of 
process and cyber risks continues to require a high level 
of attention. 

The	risk	profile	for	compliance	risks	is	stable.	Adapt-
ing	to	the	changing	regulatory	framework	for	financial	
service providers and its increasing complexity is tying 
up substantial resources. In 2018, Zürcher Kantonalbank 
reached	 a	 settlement	 with	 the	 US  Department	 of	 
Justice	(DoJ)	in	connection	with	its	legacy	business	with	
US clients.

1.1.2 Internal control system (ICS)
The  ICS  comprises  all  of  the  control  structures  and 
 processes that constitute the basis for the achievement 
of the bank’s business policy objectives and the proper 
operation of the institution at all levels. The ICS  comprises 
not  only  retrospective  checks  but  also  planning  and 
management activities. An effective ICS includes control 
activities	that	are	integrated	into	workflows,	suitable	risk	
management and compliance processes, and appropri-
ate supervisory bodies compared to the size, complexity 
and	risk	profile	of	the	institution,	in	particular	an	inde-
pendent risk control and compliance function.

1.1.3 Principles of risk management
The objective of risk management is to support the bank 
in	generating	added	value	while	maintaining	a	first-class	
credit  rating  and  reputation.  Zürcher  Kantonalbank’s 
approach to risk management is based on the following 
principles:
 – Risk culture: The bank fosters a risk culture that is 

geared towards responsible behaviour. Risk 
	managers	bear	responsibility	for	profits	and	losses	
generated on the risks entered into. In addition, they 
bear primary responsibility for identifying transac-
tions and structures that entail particular business 
policy	risks,	conflicts	of	interest	or	particular	effects	
on the bank’s reputation.

 – Separation	of	functions:	For	significant	risks	and	to	
avoid	conflicts	of	interest,	the	bank	has	established	
control processes that are independent of manage-
ment.

 – Risk	identification	and	monitoring:	The	bank	only	

enters into transactions if the risks are in accordance 
with its business strategy and can be appropriately 
identified,	managed,	restricted	and	monitored.

 – Risk and return: The bank seeks to achieve a  

balanced relationship between risk and return for all 
transactions.	Assessment	of	the	risk	/	return	profile	
takes	account	of	quantifiable	as	well	as	non-quantifi-
able risks.

 – Transparency: Risk reporting and disclosure are 
guided by high industry standards in terms of 
objectivity, scope, transparency and timeliness.

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These  principles  constitute  the  basis  for  determining  
the  organisational  structure  and  processes  of  group-
wide risk management.

1.1.4 Principles of compliance
The objective of compliance is to ensure that Zürcher 
Kantonalbank conducts its business operations in ac-
cordance with legal and ethical norms. The principles of 
the compliance policy are as follows: relevant legal and 
ethical	 norms;	 ethical	 and	 performance-related	 basic	
values	in	a	code	of	conduct;	duty	of	all	employees	and	
members of governing bodies to comply with laws, reg-
ulations, internal rules, industry standards and codes of 
conduct, including appropriate sanctions for any viola-
tions;	special	reporting	procedure	available	to	employees	
for	identified	violations	of	the	rules	(whistle-blowing);	
primary  responsibility  for  compliance  lies  with  the 
	Executive	Board;	annual	assessment	of	compliance	risks	
based on the risk inventory with corresponding action 
plan;	and	an	independent	compliance	function.	The	most 
important principle of all is that Zürcher Kantonalbank 
conducts its banking operations in accordance with the 
statutory and regulatory provisions as well as recognised 
professional and ethical principles within the banking 
industry.

1.1.5 Risk and compliance organisation
The risk management organisation is based on the Three 
Lines	of	Defence	model.	The	profit-driven	business	units	
form	the	first	line.	They	actively	manage	risks	and	are	
responsible for constant compliance with internal and 
external risk tolerance and compliance requirements. 
The risk management and control units that are inde-
pendent of management represent the second line of 
defence.	Under	the	stewardship	of	the	Chief	Risk	Officer	
(CRO) or the General Counsel, they identify, evaluate 
and  monitor  risks  and  submit  regular  reports  to  the 
 Executive Board and the Board of Directors. The third 
line of defence is the Audit organisation unit, which is 
responsible  for  the  internal  auditing  of  the  Zürcher 
 Kantonalbank  under  the  applicable  laws  and  regula-
tions. Each line is supported by the appropriate commit-
tees	(see	Fig. 1).

Board of Directors and Committee of the Board. The 
Board of Directors approves the principles for risk man-
agement  and compliance,  the  Code  of Conduct, the 
framework for group-wide risk management and the 
risk tolerance regulations at group level. It is responsible 
for the regulation, organisation and monitoring of an 
effective  risk  management  system  as  well  as  the 
 management of overall risks. The Board of Directors is 
responsible  for  assuring  a  suitable  risk  and  control 
 environment  within  the  group  and  arranges  for  an 
 effective internal control system (ICS). It also approves 
transactions	involving	major	financial	exposure.	The	Risk	
Committee  and  Audit  Committee  of  the  Board  of 
 Directors support the Board in its tasks and duties in the 
areas  of  risk  management  and  the  internal  control 
 system. 

The  Committee  of  the  Board  approves  limits  and 
deals  with  transactions  involving  particular  business 
	policy	risks,	conflicts	of	interest	or	particular	effects	on	
the group’s reputation where these exceed the remit of 
the  Executive  Board  and  do  not  fall  within  the  remit  
of the Board of Directors.

Audit.	Audit	supports	the	Board	of	Directors	in	fulfilling	
its statutory supervisory and control tasks and discharges 
the  monitoring  tasks  assigned  to  it  by  the  Board  of 
 Directors. In  particular,  Audit  independently  and  ob-
jectively evaluates the appropriateness and effectiveness 
of the internal control and risk management processes 
and contributes towards their improvement. Audit also 
checks the bank’s compliance with regulatory provisions, 
internal directives and guidelines. Audit has unlimited 
rights of inspection, information and access within the 
entire group. Audit provides line managers with support 
in the form of consulting services that help to increase 
the	efficiency	of	organisational	structures	and	processes.

Executive Board. The Executive Board issues provisions 
for	the	identification,	evaluation,	control,	management,	
monitoring and reporting of risks in the form of direct-
ives. The Executive Board is also responsible for approv-
ing  transactions  that  entail  particular  business  policy 
risks,	 conflicts	 of	 interest	 or	 particular	 effects	 on	 the	
reputation  of  Zürcher  Kantonalbank, unless  they  are 

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Fig. 1: Risk and compliance organisation

Board of Directors and 
 Committee of the Board

Risk Committee  
of the Board of Directors

Audit Committee

Audit

Line organisation

Committees

Conflicts  
Committee

Risk Committee  
of the EB

International  
Committee

Executive Board

CRO

CEO

CEO

CRO
EB risk managers

CRO

CEO
CFO

CRO

EB Products,  
Services & Direct 
Banking
EB Private Banking
EB Institutionals &  
Multinationals

Risk and compliance  
functions

CRO line

Compliance line

General Counsel

General Counsel 1

General Counsel 1

General Counsel 1

Risk control

Preventative risk 
management

Risk management  
independent  
of individual case

Preventative  
management of  
compliance risks  
in individual cases

Risk managers

Risk managers

1  General Counsel has the right of escalation to the Committee of the Board at any time.

Representatives of  
CRO line

International  
Business Management, 
Investments & Pensions 
product management

Representatives  
of risk manager

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131 

	assigned	to	another	officer	under	the	applicable	regula-
tions.

Conflicts	 Committee.  Based  on  the  responsibilities 
 delegated to them, the members of the Executive Board 
represented	on	the	Conflicts	Committee	take	decisions	
regarding  transactions  that  entail  particular  business 
policy	 risks,	 conflicts	 of	 interest	 or	 particular	 effects	 
on	the	group’s	reputation.	The	Conflicts	Committee	is	
chaired	by	the	CEO;	its	escalation	body	is	the	Committee	
of the Board.

Risk Committee of the Executive Board. The Risk Com-
mittee	assists	the	Executive	Board	in	defining	risk	man-
agement processes. The Committee is chaired by the 
CRO and approves the methods of risk measurement on 
the basis of the responsibilities delegated to it. The risk 
managers represented on four separate sub-committees 
(credit, trading, treasury and operational risk) and mem-
bers  of  the  risk  and  compliance  organisation  discuss  
the Risk Committee’s business before formulating pro-
posals for its attention. In a crisis situation, individual 
crisis management teams reporting to the Risk Commit-
tee ensure that necessary and appropriate measures are 
defined	and	implemented.	

International Committee. The International Committee 
is	chaired	by	the	CRO.	It	is	responsible	for	defining	the	
specific	 business	 policy	 requirements	 for	 transactions	
with an international dimension, monitoring and report-
ing on such transactions, and approving the permissible 
business	activities	per country.	

Risk unit.	The	Chief	Risk	Officer	(CRO)	is	a	member	of	
the  Executive  Board  and  heads  the  Risk  unit. He  has  
a  right  of  intervention  that  permits  measures  to  be 
 assigned  to  the  risk  managers  if  required  by  the  risk 
situation or to protect the bank. The CRO also enjoys 
direct access to the Committee of the Board at all times.
Risk  Control  is  responsible  for  identifying  and 
 monitoring risks at portfolio level, monitoring compli-
ance with the risk tolerance requirements set out by the 
Board of Directors, and integrated risk reporting to the 
Executive Board and Board of Directors. The risk control 
function	 is	 responsible	 for	 defining	 methods	 of	 risk	

measurement,  model validation, as well  as execution 
and quality assurance in relation to the risk measure-
ment implemented. 

Preventative risk management is responsible for the 
analysis and examination of transactions and systems 
prior  to  their  conclusion  or  introduction  in  line  with 
 existing delineations of power and consultation duties, 
the	definition	of	requirements	at	individual	transaction	
or  system  level,  the  continuous  local  monitoring  of  
risks, and the provision of support in the training of risk 
managers. Preventive risk management in the area of 
operational risk security is carried out outside the Risk 
business unit by the respective process managers and in 
the Security department of the Logistics business unit.

Compliance line. The General Counsel reports directly 
to the CEO and manages the Legal & Compliance unit. 
As	 a	 member	 of	 the	 Risk,	 Conflicts	 and	 International	
Committees, he has a right of escalation to the Com-
mittee of the Board. He also enjoys direct access to the 
Committee of the Board at all times.

The Compliance function has the following duties: 
examining the compliance risk inventory on an annual 
basis and preparing the action plan with focal points 
relating to the management of compliance risks, formu-
lating	proposals	and	if	necessary	carrying	out	defined	
monitoring and control duties in the context of post-deal 
control,	as	well	as	defining	risk	management	tools.	Com-
pliance	 also	 defines	 risk	management	 measures	 inde-
pendently  of  the  individual  case,  such  as  the  editing  
of directives in the context of the implementation of  
new  directives  and  provision  of  training  courses. The 
Compliance function is further responsible for providing 
forward-looking legal advice with the objective of avoid-
ing	or	minimising	individual	identified	risks	and	threats	
arising from legal requirements. Legal advice is provided 
in the context of existing mandatory consultations, as  
a pre-deal consultation or on request.

Risk managers. The risk managers bear responsibility for 
profits	and	losses	generated	on	the	risks	entered	into.	
They are responsible for the continuous, active manage-
ment of risks and for constant compliance with internal 
risk  tolerance  regulations,  relevant  laws,  ordinances, 
circulars and standards. The sales units are responsible 

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for credit risks as risk managers and the Trading & Capi-
tal Markets organisational unit for market risks in the 
trading book. Interest rate risks in the banking book and 
liquidity  risks  are  the  responsibility  of  Treasury  in  the 
 Finance unit. All units of the bank are responsible for 
managing operational and compliance risks.

Risk reporting. The Risk Control and Compliance func-
tions report on a quarterly basis as part of integrated risk 
reporting to the Executive Board and Board of Directors 
on	 the	 development	 of	 the	 risk	 profile,	 on	 material	
	internal	and	external	events,	and	on	findings	from	mon-
itoring activities. Quarterly reports are supplemented by 
special  analyses  on  relevant  topics.  Besides  quarterly 
reporting, various reports are produced for the individ-
ual types of risk. In terms of the frequency with which 
they are published and the group of recipients, they are 
tailored to individual risks, and they provide comprehen-
sive, objective and transparent information for decision- 
makers and supervisory bodies.

1.2 Regulatory capital adequacy and  
liquidity requirements
This section includes the minimum disclosure to be pub-
lished in the Annual Report in accordance with FINMA 
Circular 2016 / 01. The other tables on qualitative and 
quantitative disclosure will be available online from the 
end of April 2019 at www.zkb.ch/disclosures.

Under	Basel III,	a	selection	of	different	approaches	is	
available to banks for the calculation of capital  adequacy 
requirements for credit, market and operational risks. 
The capital required for credit risks has been calculated 
using the IRB approach (F-IRB) since the end of 2017. 
For market risks, the model-based approach is used in 
combination with the international standard approach 
(SA-BIS)	for	specific	interest	rate	risks.	The	capital	base	
needed for operational risks is calculated using the basic 
indicator approach.

A  FINMA  Directive  from  2012  permits  Zürcher 
 Kantonalbank to solo-consolidate the subsidiary  Zürcher 
Kantonalbank	Finance	(Guernsey) Ltd.	in	line	with	the	
individual  institution  provisions. Accordingly,  the  re-
quired capital is calculated on a solo-consolidated basis 
by the parent company. 

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Fig. 2a: Minimum disclosure requirements for the group

in	CHF million	(unless	indicated	otherwise)

Eligible capital  1

1

2

3

Common equity Tier 1 (CET1)

Tier 1 capital (T1)

Total capital

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

4

RWA

Minimum required capital

4a Minimum required capital

Risk-based	capital	ratios	(as	a %	of	RWA)		1, 2

5

6

7

CET1 ratio 

Tier 1 capital ratio 

Total capital ratio 

CET1	buffer	requirements	(in %	of	RWA)

8

9

Capital	conservation	buffer	as	per the	Basel	minimum	standards	
(2.5	%	from	2019)	

Countercyclical	capital	buffer	(Art. 44a CAO)	in	accordance	with	the	Basel	
minimum standards 

10 Additional capital buffer due to international or national system relevance

11

Total	of	bank	CET1	specific	buffer	requirements

12 CET1 available after meeting the bank’s minimum requirements 

Capital	target	ratios	as	per Annex 8	to	the	CAO	(as	a %	of	RWA)		3

12a Capital	conservation	buffer	in	accordance	with	Annex 8 to	the	CAO	

12b Countercyclical	capital	buffers	(Art. 44	and	44a CAO)	

a
31.12.2018

b
30.09.2018

c
30.06.2018

d
31.03.2018

e
31.12.2017

11,171

11,910

12,658

10,523

11,262

12,008

10,519

11,259

12,013

10,514

11,261

12,025

10,506

11,255

12,019

62,674

64,345

64,673

65,065

63,822

5,014

5,148

5,174

5,205

5,106

17.8	%

19.0	%

20.2	%

16.4	%

17.5	%

18.7	%

16.3	%

17.4	%

18.6	%

16.2	%

17.3	%

18.5	%

16.5	%

17.6	%

18.8	%

1.9	%

1.9	%

1.9	%

1.9	%

1.3	%

–

–

1.9	%

12.2	%

–

–

–

–

1.9	%

10.7	%

–

–

–

–

1.9	%

10.6	%

–

–

–

–

1.9	%

10.5	%

–

–

–

–

1.3	%

10.8	%

–

–

Countercyclical	capital	buffer	(Art. 44 CAO)	

0.7	%

0.6	%

0.6	%

0.6	%

0.6	%

12c CET1 total requirement in accordance with Annex 8 to the CAO plus the 

countercyclical	capital	buffers	in	accordance	with	Art. 44	and	44a CAO

12d T1 target ratio in accordance with Annex 8 to the CAO plus countercyclical 

capital	buffers	in	accordance	with	Art. 44	and	44a CAO

12e Total capital target ratio in accordance with Annex 8 to the CAO plus 

countercyclical	capital	buffers	in	accordance	with	Art. 44	and	44a CAO

Basel III	leverage	ratio		1

13

14

Total Basel III leverage ratio exposure measure

Basel III	leverage	ratio	(Tier	1	capital	in	%	of	leverage	exposure	measure)

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR)  4

15

16

17

LCR numerator: total high-quality liquid assets (HQLA)

LCR	denominator:	total	net	outflows	of	funds

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) 

Financing ratio (NSFR)  5

18 Available	stable	refinancing

19

20

Required	stable	refinancing

Financing ratio (NSFR)

–

–

–

185,574

6.4	%

43,393

34,184

127	%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

179,300

177,504

179,916

177,195

6.3	%

6.3	%

6.3	%

6.4	%

44,389

34,077

130	%

47,860

35,152

136	%

45,284

34,167

133	%

48,491

31,680

153	%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1  Banks for which expected loss accounting is not applicable as well as banks that are not 

using the transitional regulations can ignore the relevant rows in accordance with  
FINMA Circular 2016 / 01. Zürcher Kantonalbank does not use expected loss accounting, 
which is why these rows are not applicable and not listed in this table.

2  Figures	for	capital	are	net	values	in	accordance	with	the	definitive	Basel III	provisions.	
Zürcher Kantonalbank chose not to make use of the transitional provisions under 
Art. 140	–	142 CAO,	which	allow	a	gradual	introduction	of	the	new	rules.	The	figures	are	

calculated in accordance with the provisions of the CAO for non-systemically-important 
banks.

3  Systemically important banks can forego the information in rows 12a to 12e,  

as	Annex 8	to	the	CAO	does	not	apply	to	them.	In	this	instance,	they	must	nevertheless	
provide	information	on	the	countercyclical	capital	buffer	in	accordance	with	Art. 44 CAO.
4  Simple average of the closing values on the business days during the quarter under review.
5  Rows 18 – 20 must only be disclosed once the NSFR regulation has entered into force.

As at 31 December 2018, the group had a minimum 
required	capital	of	CHF 5,014 million,	compared	with	
eligible	 capital	 of	 CHF  12,658  million.	 Both	 the	 total	
capital	ratio	of	20.2 percent	of	risk-weighted	assets	and	
the	leverage	ratio	of	6.4 percent	reflect	Zürcher	Kantonal-

bank’s  solid  equity  base.  The  liquidity  coverage  ratio 
(LCR)	of	127 percent	points	to	a	comfortable	liquidity	
situation	(Figure 2a).	The	following	minimum	disclosure	
requirements for the parent company essentially present 
the same picture of the capital and liquidity situation.

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Fig. 2b: Minimum disclosure requirements for the parent company

in	CHF million	(unless	indicated	otherwise)

Eligible capital  1

1

2

3

Common equity Tier 1 (CET1)

Tier 1 capital (T1)

Total capital

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)

4

RWA

Minimum required capital

4a Minimum required capital

Risk-based	capital	ratios	(as	a %	of	RWA)		1, 2

5

6

7

CET1 ratio 

Tier 1 capital ratio 

Total capital ratio 

CET1	buffer	requirements	(in %	of	RWA)

8

9

Capital	conservation	buffer	as	per the	Basel	minimum	standards	 
(2.5	%	from	2019)	

Countercyclical	capital	buffer	(Art. 44a CAO)	in	accordance	with	Basel	
minimum standards 

10 Additional capital buffer due to international or national system relevance 

11

Total	of	bank	CET1	specific	buffer	requirements	

12 CET1 available after meeting the bank’s minimum requirements

Capital	target	ratios	as	per Annex 8	to	the	CAO	(as	a %	of	RWA)		3

12a Capital	conservation	buffer	in	accordance	with	Annex 8 to	the	CAO	

12b Countercyclical	capital	buffers	(Art. 44	and	44a CAO)	

a
31.12.2018

b
30.09.2018

c
30.06.2018

d
31.03.2018

e
31.12.2017

10,931

11,671

12,418

10,332

11,072

11,817

10,327

11,067

11,821

10,321

11,067

11,832

10,313

11,062

11,827

62,493

64,039

64,347

64,715

63,458

4,999

5,123

5,148

5,177

5,077

17.5	%

18.7	%

19.9	%

16.1	%

17.3	%

18.5	%

16.0	%

17.2	%

18.4	%

15.9	%

17.1	%

18.3	%

16.3	%

17.4	%

18.6	%

1.9	%

1.9	%

1.9	%

1.9	%

1.3	%

–

–

1.9	%

11.9	%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.9	%

10.5	%

1.9	%

10.4	%

1.9	%

10.3	%

1.3	%

10.6	%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Countercyclical	capital	buffer	(Art. 44 CAO)	

0.7	%

0.7	%

0.6	%

0.6	%

0.6	%

12c CET1 total requirement in accordance with Annex 8 to the CAO plus the 

countercyclical	capital	buffers	in	accordance	with	Art. 44	and	44a CAO

12d T1 target ratio in accordance with Annex 8 to the CAO plus countercyclical 

capital	buffers	in	accordance	with	Art. 44	and	44a CAO

12e Total	capital	target	ratio	(in %)	in	accordance	with	Annex	8	to	the	CAO	
plus	countercyclical	capital	buffers	in	accordance	with	Art. 44	and	
44a CAO

Basel III	leverage	ratio		1

13

14

Total Basel III leverage ratio exposure measure

Basel III	leverage	ratio	(Tier	1	capital	in	%	of	leverage	exposure	measure)

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR)  4

15

16

17

LCR numerator: total high-quality liquid assets (HQLA)

LCR	denominator:	total	net	outflows	of	funds

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) 

Financing ratio (NSFR)  5

18 Available	stable	refinancing

19

20

Required	stable	refinancing

Financing ratio (NSFR)

–

–

–

185,361

6.3	%

43,370

34,366

126	%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

179,046

177,161

179,602

176,943

6.2	%

6.2	%

6.2	%

6.3	%

44,353

34,148

130	%

47,825

35,284

136	%

45,261

34,326

132	%

48,469

31,818

152	%

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1  Banks for which expected loss accounting is not applicable as well as banks that are not 

using the transitional regulations can ignore the relevant rows in accordance with  
FINMA Circular 2016 / 01. Zürcher Kantonalbank does not use expected loss accounting, 
which is why these rows are not applicable and not listed in this table.

2  Figures	for	capital	are	net	values	in	accordance	with	the	definitive	Basel III	provisions.	
Zürcher Kantonalbank chose not to make use of the transitional provisions under 
Art. 140	–	142 CAO,	which	allow	a	gradual	introduction	of	the	new	rules.	The	figures	are	

calculated in accordance with the provisions of the CAO for non-systemically-important 
banks.

3  Systemically important banks can forego the information in rows 12a to 12e,  

as	Annex 8	to	the	CAO	does	not	apply	to	them.	In	this	instance,	they	must	nevertheless	
provide	information	on	the	countercyclical	capital	buffer	in	accordance	with	Art. 44 CAO.
4  Simple average of the closing values on the business days during the quarter under review.
5  Rows 18 – 20 must only be disclosed once the NSFR regulation has entered into force.

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135 

Of	the	CHF 12,019 million	in	eligible	capital	at	the	end	
of	2017,	a	total	of	CHF 5,430 million	was	allocated	to	
the risk business in 2018. The percentage breakdown  
by  risk  category  of  the  allocated  capital  is  shown  in 
	Figure 4.	

Fig. 4: Risk capital assigned by the Board  
of Directors, by risk category

2	%

11	%

3	%

5	%

11	%

68	%

Credit risks
68	%
Operational risks
11	%

Market risks:

Trading portfolio assets
5	%
Assets and liabilities 
11	%
Real estate 
2	%
Financial investments and  
participations 
3	%

Fig. 3: Breakdown of the regulatory 
risk-weighted minimum required capital  
as at 31.12.2018, by risk category

7	%

7	%

1	%

85	%

Credit and counterparty  
credit risk
85	%
Market risks
7	%
Operational risk 
7	%
Non-counterparty-related risk 
1	%

The  breakdown  of  the  regulatory  minimum  required 
capital	 within	 the	 group	 of	 CHF 5,014 million	 shows	 
the  importance  of  the  lending  business  to  Zürcher 
 Kantonalbank. 

1.3 Capital allocation within internal risk management
Zürcher Kantonalbank employs a capital at risk approach 
to  internal  risk  management.  The  Board  of  Directors 
	defines	the	risk	tolerance	with	the	maximum	risk	capital.	
The Board of Directors determines the quantitative risk 
tolerance requirements by means of the allocation of 
risk capital to the risk categories credit risks, market risks 
and operational1 risks. The models are based on a time 
horizon of one year and a maximum default probability 
of	0.1 percent	per year.	The	risk	capital	for	market	and	
credit risks is allocated to the individual organisational 
units, and the cost of capital is charged to the units. In 
the case of operational risks, there is no internal alloca-
tion of the cost of capital.

1  The risk capital for operational risks also covers compliance risks.

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1.4 Risk categories 
Zürcher Kantonalbank divides risks into the following categories.

Fig. 5: Risk categories

Credit risk
Credit  risk	 constitutes	 the	 risk	 of	 financial	 losses	 that	 can	 arise	 if	 clients	 or	
counterparties	do	not	fulfil	contractual	obligations	that	are	falling	due	or	do	
not	fulfil	them	on	time.	Loans,	promises	of	payment	and	trading	transactions	
all involve credit risks. Credit risks also include: 
 ƒ Counterparty risks	refer	to	credit	risks	in	trading	transactions	(e.g. OTC	deriv-
atives	and	SLB transactions).	Trading	transactions	usually	include	mutual	claims,	
which also depend on market parameters. Counterparty risks are also referred 
to as counterparty default risks.

 ƒ Settlement risks describe the risk of losses in connection with transactions 
involving mutual payment and delivery obligations, where the bank must meet 
its	delivery	obligation	without	first	being	able	to	ensure	that	counter-payment	
will be made. 

 ƒ Country risks:	The	risk	of	losses	as	the	result	of	country-specific	events,	such	
as transfer risks (payment of a liability is restricted or prevented by a country) 
and risks arising from political and / or macroeconomic events.

Market risks
Market risks	comprise	the	risk	of	financial	losses	on	securities	and	derivatives	in	
the bank’s own portfolio as a result of changes in market factors, such as share 
prices, interest rates, volatilities or exchange rates (general market risks), as well 
as	for	issuer-specific	reasons	(specific	market	risks).	Market	risks	also	include:
 ƒ Balance sheet interest rate risk is the risk that changes in market interest rates 
will	impact	negatively	on	the	financial	situation	of	the	banking	book.	As	well	
as affecting current interest income, changes in interest rates have implications 
for future results. The interest rate risk is managed based on the market  interest 
method. 

 ƒ Market liquidity risk is the risk that a product can no longer be easily sold  
(or purchased) on a market. The higher the market liquidity, the greater the 
chance  of  purchasing  or  selling  a  product  for  an  appropriate  price  at  the 
desired time. 

 ƒ Issuer  (default)  risk  is  the  risk  of  a  loss  arising  from  a  change  in  fair  value 
 resulting from a credit event affecting an issuer to which the bank is exposed 
through marketable securities or derivatives from this issuer.

Liquidity risk
Liquidity refers to the bank’s capacity to settle its liabilities promptly and with-
out restrictions. Liquidity risk is the risk that this capacity to pay will be impaired 
under institution or market-related stress conditions. Liquidity risks also include 
(re)financing	 risk.	 Refinancing	 refers	 to	 the	 procurement	 of	 funds	 for	 the	
	financing	of	assets.	Refinancing	risk	is	the	risk	that	the	bank	is	not	in	a	position	
to	procure	sufficient	funds	at	appropriate	conditions	for	the	ongoing	financing	
of its lending business. 
 ƒ Short-term liquidity ensures that the bank is able to make payments over a 
short	period	of	time	in	the	event	of	a	systemic	or	institution-specific	liquidity	
crisis	by	holding	a	sufficiently	large	inventory	of	high-quality	liquid	and	unen-
cumbered	assets	as	a	financial	precaution	against	a	temporary	liquidity	gap.	
Often,	 30	 calendar	 days	 are	 used	 as	 the	 definition	 period.	 The	 regulatory	
indicator for short-term liquidity is the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR). 

 ƒ Structural liquidity	has	a	medium-term	horizon	and	ensures	that	refinancing	
as	 per  the	 liquidity	 profile	 of	 the	 assets	 takes	 place	 with	 stable	 liabilities.	
Structural liquidity requirements specify that illiquid assets such as loans to 
private individuals and companies, as well as parts of the trading portfolio, 
are	to	be	refinanced	through	long-term	liabilities.	The	regulatory	indicator	for	
structural liquidity is the net stable funding ratio (NSFR).

Operational risk
Operational risks refer to potential damage caused by the inappropriateness or 
failure of persons, systems or processes or due to external events. Operational 
risks also include:
 ƒ IT risks	refer	to	the	potential	damage	caused	by	the	loss	of	confidentiality,	

integrity and availability of data and functions in IT systems. 

 ƒ Cyber risks comprise the risk of attacks from the Internet or similar networks 
(referred	to	as	hacker	attacks)	on	the	confidentiality,	integrity	and	availability	
of data and functions in IT systems.

Compliance risk
Compliance  risks  are  behavioural  risks.  These  are  risks  that  are  caused  by 
breaches of the law, regulations or contracts and can result in legal and regu-
latory	sanctions,	financial	losses	and	reputational	damage.

Compliance is the observance of legal, regulatory and internal regulations as 
well as the adherence to industry standards and codes of conduct. Compliance 
involves ensuring the behaviour and actions of the Zürcher Kantonalbank and 
its employees meet applicable legal and ethical standards, and also comprises 
all  organisational  measures  designed  to  prevent  violations  of  the  law  and 
breaches  of  rules  and  ethical  norms  by  Zürcher  Kantonalbank,  its  governing 
bodies and its employees. 

Strategic risk
Strategic  risks	 are	 all	 possible	 factors	 of	 influence,	 events	 and	 decisions	 that	
have the potential to endanger the long-term success of the company. 

Business risk
Business risk is the risk that lower business volumes and margins will reduce  
the group’s operating income if the decline in income is not offset by a simul-
taneous  drop  in  operating  expenses.  Business  risks  also  include  unplanned 
 additional  costs  in  the  absence  of  correspondingly  higher  income.  Business 
risks materialise when actual income falls short of the budgeted income. This 
can occur on a one-off and a recurring basis. Typical examples of business risks 
are  unexpectedly  decreasing  margins  and  a  lack  of  client  demand  following  
an economic downturn.

Reputation risk
Reputation risks involve the risk of damage to the bank’s good reputation or,  
in  extreme  cases,  the  risk  of  losing  the  bank’s  good  reputation  altogether. 
Aligning business activities to the central core values of the company is the best 
way  in  which  to  guarantee  that  the  company’s  excellent  reputation  is  main-
tained and to prevent instances in which activities have a negative impact on 
the bank’s reputation.

Reputation denotes the image that a company enjoys among its stakeholders, 
i.e. the	bank’s	standing	in	terms	of	its	integrity,	competency,	performance	and	
reliability  from  the  perspective  of  stakeholders.  Reputational  damage  occurs 
when the perception of a stakeholder group differs from its expectations. The 
trustworthiness and credibility of the bank as aspects of its reputation are neg-
atively	 influenced	 by	 this	 difference.	 Reputation	 is	 determined	 by	 constantly	
comparing	perceptions	and	expectations	over	a	period	of	time	and	is	reflected	
in the company’s values and identity.

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Although Zürcher Kantonalbank treats reputational risks 
as a separate category, it also sees them as a derived risk: 
they are considered a reputation-affecting component 
of strategic risks, market and credit risks, liquidity risks, 
compliance risks, operational risks and business risks. 
Strategic risks and business risks are managed as part  
of the bank’s strategy and controlling process. Risk man-
agement	and	the	risk	profile	in	the	other	risk	categories	
are described in the following sections.

1.5 Credit risks

1.5.1 Strategy, organisation and processes
The strategy applied in the management of credit risks 
is set out in the internal lending policy. The strategy is 
revised and updated by the risk organisation as part of 
an annual, structured process and is approved by the 
Executive	Board.	The	principles	defined	in	the	lending	
policy include the measurement and management of 
risks based on uniform, binding objectives and instru-
ments, and the acceptance of risks based on objective, 
business-related criteria, in proportion to the bank’s risk 
capacity, together with sustainable management of the 
quality of the credit portfolio.

The bank adopts a risk- and cost-based pricing  policy, 
with transparent credit decisions and a selective, quality- 
oriented	strategy	for	the	acquisition	of	financing	busi-
ness. Particular attention is paid to environmental and 
social risks in the credit assessment process. In recogni-
tion of the total commitment of owners, higher risks 
may deliberately be accepted on occasion for SMEs from 
the Greater Zurich Area. 

The preventative risk management and risk control 
functions  are  separated  from  risk  management  at 
 Executive Board level. Preventative risk management is 
responsible	 for	 defining	 lending	 policy	 requirements,	
analysing and examining transactions in line with exist-
ing delineations of power, continuous local monitoring 
of risks, and providing support in the training of risk 
managers. Risk control is responsible for monitoring risks 
and	risk	reporting	at	portfolio	level,	as	well	as	defining	
methods of risk measurement.

Credit risks are managed and limited by means of 
detailed parameters and areas of responsibility within 
the credit process at individual exposure level and by 

means of limiting the risk capital for the credit business 
in accordance with the capital at risk approach at port-
folio level. Another key control element in credit risk 
management  is  risk-adjusted  pricing,  which  includes 
expected losses (standard risk costs) as well as the cost 
of  the  risk  capital  to  be  retained  in  order  to  cover  
un expected losses.

Expected losses are determined on the basis of the 
probability of default (PD), assumptions regarding the 
level of exposure at default (EAD) and the estimated loss 
given	default	(LGD).	Rating	models	specific	to	individual	
segments are used to determine default probabilities. 
The rating system for retail and corporate clients as well 
as  banks  combines  statistical  procedures  with  many 
years of practical experience in the lending business and 
incorporates both qualitative and quantitative elements. 
Country ratings are in principle based on the ratings of 
external agencies (country ceiling ratings and sovereign 
default ratings). 

A credit portfolio model is used as the basis for the 
modelling of unexpected losses. Besides default proba-
bilities, exposures in the event of default and loss rates, 
correlations	between	debtors	are	particularly	significant	
for the modelling of unexpected losses. In principle, the 
model  covers  balance-sheet  and  off-balance-sheet 
items.

The valuation of collateral for loans, and in particular 
the  calculation  of  market  and  collateral  values,  is 
 governed by an extensive set of internal rules setting out 
the relevant methods, procedures and responsibilities. 
These rules are continually reviewed and aligned with 
regulatory requirements and market changes. For the 
valuation of mortgage collateral, the bank uses recog-
nised estimation methods that are tailored to the type 
of property, including hedonic models, income capitali-
sation approaches and expert appraisals, among others. 
The models used as well as the individual valuations are 
reviewed on a regular basis. The maximum loan-to-value 
ratio  for  mortgages  depends  on  how  realisable  the 
	collateral	is	and	is	influenced	by	factors	such	as	location	
and type of property (family home or commercial prop-
erty, for example). Readily marketable collateral (securi-
ties, precious metals, account balances, for example) is 
generally valued at current market prices. The lending of 
readily marketable collateral is subject to the deduction 

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of	specified	margins.	These	margins	differ	primarily	in	
terms	 of	 the	 collateral’s	 susceptibility	 to	 fluctuations	 
in value.

Credit exposures are restricted by limits. In addition 
to the limits at counterparty and counterparty group 
level, limits are placed on sub-portfolios, for instance for 
foreign exposures. All credit and contingent exposures 
are monitored on a daily basis, exposures from trading 
transactions on a real-time basis. In the case of trading 
transactions,  pre-deal  checks  can  be  undertaken  to 
 examine and ensure adherence to counterparty limits. 
Any breaches of limits are reported promptly to the com-
petent  management  level. An  early-warning  system 
identifies	negative	developments,	which	are	communi-
cated	to	the	officers	responsible.	The	rating	of	corporate	
clients is generally reviewed once a year on the basis of 
the	annual	financial	statements.	A	supplementary	review	
of ratings, limits and exposures in the retail and corpo-
rate  client  business  is  undertaken  using  risk-oriented 
criteria. Ratings,  limits  and  exposures  in  the  banking 
sector are reviewed periodically and on an extraordinary 
basis in the event of a deterioration in the credit rating 
of a particular institution.

Value adjustments. As part of their risk management 
role, the bank’s relationship managers constantly  monitor 
all positions in the credit portfolio to identify any signs 
of impairment of value. Should any signs be found, a 
standardised  impairment  test  is  used  to  determine 
whether a loan should be classed as impaired. Impaired 
loans are those where the borrower is unlikely to be able 
to meet his future obligations. Where it appears that the 
bank will be unable to collect all amounts due on a claim, 
the bank makes an allowance for the unsecured part of 
the  loan,  taking  into  account  the  borrower’s  credit-
worthiness. In determining the required value adjust-
ment, mortgage collateral (including valuation discounts, 
settlement and holding costs) and readily marketable 
collateral (freely tradable securities as well as other  easily 
realised	assets	such	as	deposits,	precious	metals,	fiduci-
ary  investments,  etc.)  are  considered  at  their  current 
liquidation value. The recoverability of other collateral 
(e.g. leased	assets,	guarantees)	has	to	be	demonstrated	
in particular. The authority to approve the creation of 
new  individual  value  adjustments  rests  with  the  risk 

managers. Above a certain amount, the approval of the 
risk organisation is also required.

Interest and associated commission payments that 
have	not	been	received	in	full	90 days	after	becoming	due	
are	classified	as	past	due.	They	are	deemed	to	be	impaired	
and are usually fully adjusted if they are not covered by 
collateral. Individual value adjustment rates may apply in 
the case of major positions. Collective  individual valuation 
adjustments	are	made	for	overdrafts	of	up	to	CHF 30,000	
and for interest and associated commission payments 
outstanding	for	more	than	90 days;	in	all	other	cases,	
individual value adjustments are generally made.

A central, specialised unit manages impaired posi-
tions  across  all  client  segments.  This  unit  steers  the 
 positions through the stabilisation and resolution pro-
cess  and  ensures  that  existing  value  adjustments  are 
regularly reviewed and adjusted where necessary. 

Country risks. The country risk of individual exposures is 
determined on the basis of the risk domicile, where this 
is  not  identical  to  the  domicile  of  the  borrower,  in 
 accordance with the Swiss Bankers Association’s guide-
lines on the management of country risk. In the case of 
secured exposures, the domicile of the collateral is taken 
into account when determining the risk domicile. The 
risks for each country, total country risks and total coun-
try risks outside the bank’s best internal rating category 
are subject to limits, adherence to which is monitored 
on a constant basis.

Settlement  risks.  A  settlement  risk  arises  in  the  case  
of transactions with mutual payment and delivery obli-
gations  where  Zürcher  Kantonalbank  must  meet  its 
 obligations without being able to ensure that counter- 
payment is also being made. Settlement risk can occur 
in relation to foreign exchange transactions, securities 
lending and borrowing (SLB) and OTC repo transactions 
as  well  as  transactions  involving  different  payment 
 systems  and  time  zones  in  the  interbank  sector.  
Zürcher  Kantonalbank  is  a  member  of  the  CLS  Bank 
International Ltd.	joint	venture,	a	clearing	centre	for	the	
settlement  of  foreign  exchange  transactions  on  a  
“delivery versus payment” basis, which helps ensure that 
a substantial element of the settlement risk arising as  
a result of foreign exchange trading is eliminated. 

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Concentration risks. Zürcher Kantonalbank uses a sys-
tems-based method for monitoring concentration risks. 
Besides measurement for the purpose of preparing reg-
ulatory reports, concentration risks are limited at product 
and	client	level	using	benchmarks	that	are	reflected	in	
the corresponding powers of authorisation. Internal con-
centration risk reporting includes information on prod-
uct, sector and individual position concentrations. Due 
to the bank’s roots within the Greater Zurich Area, a 
large concentration risk in the credit portfolio takes the 
form of geographical concentration risk in the mortgage 
portfolio.

1.5.2	Risk	profile
The following sections provide information about the 
most important sub-portfolios in the credit exposures of 
Zürcher Kantonalbank on the basis of various criteria.

Credit exposures by rating category. Default probability 
ratings are assigned internally on the basis of a scale 
from	1 to 19.	Figure 6	shows	credit	exposures	to	coun-
terparties  by  rating  category  using  Standard & Poor’s 
rating scale. 

Fig. 6: Credit exposures by rating category

AAA

AA

A

BBB

BB

B

C

D

0

10	%

20	%

30	%

40	%

50	%

60	%

Share	as %

 End of 2018
 End of 2017

Credit  exposures  by  client  portfolio.	 Figure  7	 shows	
	credit	exposures	classified	in	accordance	with	the	bank’s	
internally	defined	client	portfolios.

Fig. 7: Credit exposures by client portfolio

Private 
individuals

Companies

Banks and 
securities dealers

Financial sector 
excluding banks
Governments and  
public-sector 
entities

in	CHF million

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

 Covered 2018 
 Covered 2017 

 Uncovered 2018
 Uncovered 2017

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Credit  exposures  in  relation  to  “private  individuals” 
 consist almost entirely of receivables secured by mort-
gages	 and	 represent	 53  percent	 (2017:	 55  percent)	 
of  total  credit  exposures. The  “corporates”  portfolio 
consists of credit exposures in relation to clients of a 
	commercial	 nature	 (incl.  real	 estate	 companies	 and	
 cooperative building associations). The share of this cli-
ent	group	in	total	credit	exposures	is	23 percent	(2017:	
24 percent),	83 percent	(2017:	83 percent)	of	which	is	
secured  by  mortgages  or  cash.  In  the  “banks  and 
 securities dealers” portfolio, the largest share of credit 
exposures in volume terms is in the form of collateralised 
transactions  such  as  reverse  repo  transactions.  Other 
credit exposures in relation to banks arise as a result of 
trading  operations  and  from  the  international  trade 
	financing	business.	Insurance	companies,	pension	funds,	
financial	holding	companies,	investment	fund	compa-
nies  and  similar  companies  together  constitute  the 
 “Financial sector excluding banks” portfolio. “Govern-
ments	and	public	entities” –	the	smallest	portfolio,	with	
a	share	of	5 percent	of	the	volume	of	credit	exposures –	
consists of positions with central banks, central govern-
ments and public authorities and institutions.

Mortgage  loans  to  private  individuals.  Real  estate 
	financing	 for	 private	 individuals	 is	 part	 of	 Zürcher	
 Kantonalbank’s core business. Two-thirds of mortgage 
loans  relate  to  owner-occupied  residential  property.  
The remaining loans are secured with rented residential 
properties or properties that are used for commercial 
purposes. Mortgage loans to private individuals  increased 
by	2 percent	in	2018.	The	median	gross	loan-to-value	
ratio for all properties in the private client portfolio was 
49 percent	(2017:	50 percent).

Unsecured loans. Of the unsecured loans in the “corpo-
rates”	portfolio,	76 percent	(2017:	79 percent)	relate	to	
clients  in  the  AAA  to  BBB  (investment  grade)  rating 
 categories. The volume of unsecured loans in the cor-
porate	clients	portfolio	grew	by	approximately	6 percent	
in comparison with the previous year. 

Fig. 8: Unsecured credit exposures  
to corporate clients by rating category

AAA

AA

A

BBB

BB

B

C

D

in	CHF million

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

 End of 2018
 End of 2017

Fig. 9: Unsecured credit exposures to banks  
and securities traders by rating category

AAA

AA

A

BBB

BB

B

C

D

in	CHF million

0

1,000

2,000

 End of 2018
 End of 2017

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In the “banks and securities traders” client portfolio, the 
volume	of	unsecured	loans	is	some	5 percent	higher	than	
on the reporting date at the end of 2017. The level of 
this	 exposure	 changes	 significantly	 every	 day,	 unlike	
	other	 forms	 of	 lending,	 due	 to	 the	 influence	 of	 the	
bank’s	trading	transactions.	75 percent	(2017:	86 per-
cent) relates to clients in rating categories AAA to BBB 
(investment	grade).	The	higher	volumes	in	the	BB rating	
category	 mainly	 relate	 to	 foreign	 trade	 financing	 in	
 various emerging markets.

Impaired loans / receivables. Impaired loans amounted to 
CHF 504 million	(2017:	CHF 472 million).	After	deduct-
ing  the  estimated  liquidation  value  of  collateral,  this 
equals	net	debt	of	CHF 218 million	(2017:	CHF 197 mil-
lion,	see	also	Note 2	to	the	balance	sheet).	

Non-performing loans / receivables. The nominal value 
of	non-performing	loans	amounted	to	CHF 125 million	
at	the	end	of	the	reporting	period	(2017:	CHF 139 mil-
lion).	 Loans	 are	 classified	 as	 non-performing	 when	
 interest, commission or amortisation payments or the 
repayment of the principal have not been received in full 
90 days	after	becoming	due.	This	also	includes	claims	
against borrowers in liquidation, and loans with special 
conditions	arising	from	a	borrower’s	financial	standing.	
Non-performing loans are also often a component of 
impaired loans.

Value adjustments and provisions. The volume of value 
adjustments and provisions for default risks increased  
by	CHF 5 million	to	CHF 314 million	in	2018	(see	also	
Note 16	to	the	balance	sheet).	

1.6 Market risk

1.6.1 Strategy, organisation and processes
In the trading business, Zürcher Kantonalbank pursues 
a strategy focused on client transactions. The individual 
desks hold trading mandates approved by the Risk Com-
mittee of the Executive Board, which set out the basic 
conditions in terms of the objectives pursued, instru-
ments used for underlying and hedging transactions, the 
form of risk management, and the holding period.

The preventative risk management and risk control 
functions are separated from risk management at Exec-
utive Board level. The responsibilities of the preventative 
risk  management  function,  which  is  independent  of 
Trading, and the risk control function downstream of it 
include the monitoring of compliance with risk limits and 
trading mandates, the calculation and analysis of the 
result	from	trading	activities	(P	&	L)	and	risk	figures,	as	
well as the preventative analysis of potentially high-risk 
transactions. The risk organisation is also responsible for 
defining	 and	 implementing	 methods	 of	risk	measure-
ment,  their  independent  validation,  and  internal  and 
external risk reporting.

Market risks are measured, managed and controlled 
on the one hand by assigning risk capital in accordance 
with the capital at risk approach and on the other by 
using value at risk limits. This is supplemented by the 
periodic performance of stress tests and by the moni-
toring  of  market  liquidity  risks. The  value  of  trading 
 positions  is  determined  using  the  fair  value  method, 
whereby marking to market or marking to model, which 
is subject to stricter rules, is applied on a daily basis.

The “trading market risks” capital at risk corresponds 
to the assigned risk capital for the market risks of trading 
transactions	on	a	one-year	horizon	and	at	a	confidence	
level	 of	 99.9  percent.	 The	 modelling	 is	 based	 on	 a	
stressed  value  at  risk  (stressed  VaR).  Besides  general 
 market risks, the model also takes into account issuer 
default risks.

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The bank performs daily back-testing for the purpose of 
examining  the  forecast  accuracy  of  the  value  at  risk. 
Regulatory back-testing is based on a comparison of the 
value at risk for a holding period of one day with the 
back-testing result. Any breach of limits is reported to 
the competent management level immediately.

The market risk model is validated annually on the 
basis	of	a	defined	process.	Validation	includes	quantita-
tive  as  well  as  qualitative  aspects. The  quantitative 
 validation focuses on the back-testing of the risk-factor 
distribution, while the qualitative validation focuses on 
aspects such as data quality, operation and further de-
velopment of the model, as well as ongoing plausibility 
checks on the model results. In addition to the annual 
review of the model, risks not modelled in the value at 
risk are periodically analysed in a separate process and 
monitored with regard to materiality.

Zürcher  Kantonalbank  calculates  value  at  risk  for  a 
	10-day	period	and	at	a	confidence	level	of	99 percent	
using a Monte Carlo simulation. The loss distribution is 
arrived at from the valuation of the portfolio using a 
large number of manufactured scenarios (full valuation). 
The necessary parameters for determining the scenarios 
are estimated on the basis of historical market data, with 
more  recent  observations  being  accorded  a  higher 
weighting for the forecasting of volatility than less recent 
ones. As a result, value at risk responds rapidly to any 
changes  in  volatility  on  the  markets.  Value  at  risk  is 
 calculated on a daily basis for the entire trading book. 
The	four	groups	of	risk	factors –	commodities,	curren-
cies,  interest  rates  and  equities –  are  calculated  and 
shown  both  separately  and  on  a  combined  basis 
	(Figure 10).

The  bank  uses  different  types  of  scenarios  for 
stress-testing: in matrix scenarios, all market prices and 
their corresponding volatilities are heavily skewed. Such 
a	 scenario	 might	 include	 a	 30  percent	 general	 fall	 in	
equity	 market	 prices	 with	 a	 simultaneous	 70 percent	
increase  in  market  volatility.  This  enables  the  risk  of 
 losses due to general changes in price and volatility to 
be	 identified.	 Non-linearity	 or	 asymmetry	 of	 risks	 can	
also be observed in the matrix scenarios. In addition to 
the matrix scenarios, Zürcher Kantonalbank further iden-
tifies	probability-based	scenarios	which	are	accorded	a	
0.1 percent	probability	of	occurring.	These	scenarios	are	
calculated with increased correlations between risk fac-
tors	so	as	to	take	account	of	the	reduced	diversification	
effect typically observed in an extreme situation.

The bank additionally monitors the market liquidity 
risk  of  individual  portfolios. In  the  equity  derivatives 
 sector, the potential trading volume resulting from the 
hedging strategy in the event of a change in the key risk 
factors  is  compared  with  the  total  market  volume. 
 Hypothetical  offsetting  expenses  are  calculated  for 
bonds and bond-type products, based on observed bid-
ask spreads and taking into account additional pricing 
supplements / discounts. Large positions are examined 
regularly	to	ensure	there	is	sufficient	liquidity;	valuation	
reserves are formed if necessary, causing a reduction in 
core capital in the context of capital adequacy.

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Fig. 10: Market risks in the group trading book

Risks	including	volatility	risks	in	CHF million	

Commodi-
ties 1

Currencies 2

Interest 
rates

Equities

Diversifi-
cation 

Modelled  
total risk 

Total risk 3

Risks based on the model approach 
(value at risk with 10-day holding period)
as at 31.12.2018

Average current year 2018

Maximum

Minimum

As at 31.12.2017

1

0

1

0

0

1

1

4

0

1

10

10

14

7

18

6

3

12

1

2

– 7

– 5

– 9

– 3

– 4

11

10

14

6

17

13

12

17

9

20

1  Excluding gold.
2  Incl. gold.
3  Sum of modelled total risk and risk premium for trading products not fully modelled.

Risk	profile.	At	CHF 12 million,	the	annual	average	value	
at	risk	remained	on	a	par	with	the	prior	year	(CHF 11 mil-
lion)	(Figure 10).	Interest	rate	risks	continue	to	dominate	
in	 the	 composition	 of	 value	 at	 risk	 (Figure  11).	The	
amount	of	equity	risk	in	value	at	risk	as	at	31 December	
2018	is	significantly	higher	than	the	average	for	2018	
due to the turbulence observed on the equity markets 
in the fourth quarter. 

Back-testing  results.  The  quality  of  the  value  at  risk 
 approach used is assessed by comparing the value at risk 
for a holding period of one day with the realised daily 
back-testing	result	(Figure 12).	In	the	case	of	a	one-day	
holding period and 99-percent quantile, the value at risk 
is expected to be exceeded two to three times each year. 
The value at risk was not exceeded in 2018.

Fig. 11: Components of value at risk  
as at 31.12.2018 (in CHF million)

Commodity risk

0.6

Currency risk

1.3

Interest rate risk

Equity risk

Diversification	effect

Total value at risk

10.6

9.6

6.2

– 7.1

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Fig. 12: Comparison of back-testing results1 and value at risk (in CHF million)

10

5

0

– 5

– 10

 Back-testing of the P & L trading book 

 1-day value-at-risk

First quarter 2018

Second quarter 2018

Third quarter 2018

Fourth quarter 2018

1  The back-testing result corresponds to the trading income used and adjusted for the 

purpose of methodological reviewing of the quality of the risk model. 

1.6.2. Strategy, organisation and processes for the 
management of market risks in the bank book

1.6.2.1 Interest rate risks in the balance sheet

Strategy, organisation and processes. In managing the 
banking book, Zürcher Kantonalbank pursues a strategy 
focused on medium-term optimisation of net interest 
income. The interest rate risk is managed based on the 
market interest method. For client deposits and loans 
with  a  variable  interest  rate,  the  interest  rate  risk  is 
 determined by taking into account the bank’s presumed 
future rate-setting behaviour and client behaviour, and 
is reviewed at least once a year.

The interest rate risk in the bank book is managed in 
strategic terms by the Board of Directors and in tactical 
terms by the CFO and Treasury. The strategic interest rate 
risk position is set by the Board of Directors on a period-
ic basis in the form of an investment strategy for equity 
(equity benchmark). The CFO and Treasury manage the 
deviation of the interest rate risk position in the banking 
book from the equity benchmark within the risk limits 
set by the Board of Directors. The Risk unit is responsible 
for the measurement and monitoring of risk as well as 
independent reporting on interest rate risk.

Banking	book	products	without	defined	interest	rates	
and  capital commitment  are  variable products. These 
include, in particular, savings and transaction accounts 
as well as to a comparatively low extent variable mort-
gages. These products are modelled by replicating these 
(real) variable products through synthetic products with 
defined	fixed	interest	rates	on	the	basis	of	econometric	
analyses and expert-based empirical values. A key com-
ponent	of	this	modelling	approach	is	the	definition	of	a	
“floor”,	which	can	be	considered	a	non-interest-rate-	
sensitive partial volume in terms of capital commitment. 
The	duration	of	the	replication	of	the	floor	is	determined	
by the assumed setting of conditions in the event of 
interest rate changes. The model is subject to an  annual 
review and is approved by the Risk Committee of the 
Executive Board. 

Interest rate risk management takes account of the 
present value as well as earnings prospects. From the 
present value perspective, interest rate risks are man-
aged by allocating risk capital in accordance with the 
capital	at	risk	approach	(risk	horizon	of	one	year,	confi-
dence	level	of	99.9 percent)	and	by	applying	value	at	
risk	limits	(holding	period	of	20 trading	days,	confidence	
level	 of	 99  percent).	 In	 addition,	 stress	 scenarios	 are	
 simulated in order to analyse and limit the impact of 
extraordinary changes in the interest rate environment. 

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From the prospective earnings perspective, stress tests 
provide an indication of the structural contribution in 
the event of extraordinary changes in market interest 
rates with unchanged positioning over a one-year period. 
Besides the structural contribution, margin effects are 
particularly	significant	for	client	deposits	with	variable	
interest.  This  applies  especially  in  an  environment  of 
 negative market interest rates for balance sheet items 
such as retail client deposits on which no negative inter-
est is charged. Additional monitoring tools allow such 
margin effects to be analysed for different interest rate 
scenarios over a period of several years. 

Risk	 profile.  The  maturity-dependent  sensitivity  data 
shown	in	Figure 13	indicate	the	change	in	value	in	Swiss	
francs when interest rates for each maturity band fall by 
one	 basis	 point	 (0.01  percentage	 points).	The	 client	
 deposits contained in the hedged item are represented 
via  replicating  portfolios  with  average  maturities  of 
	between	14	and	26 months.	

The	 interest	 rate	 sensitivity	 of	 the	 CHF banking	 book	
stood	at	CHF 8.7 million	per basis	point	as	at	31 Decem-
ber	2018,	approximately	8 percent	up	on	the	previous	
year	 (CHF  8.0  million).	 The	 increase	 occurred	 in	 the	
 strategic interest rate risk position (equity benchmark) 
defined	by	the	Board	of	Directors,	which	accounts	for	
more than two thirds of the total interest rate exposure, 
and  is  largely  a  result  of  the  increase  in  equity. The 
 interest rate exposure serves as a strategic hedge against 
persistently low Swiss franc interest rates as well as the 
stabilisation of interest gains. In the event of an interest 

rate rise, the positive margin effects successively com-
pensate the anticipated losses in terms of the structural 
contribution. 

The	euro	and	US dollar	interest	rate	exposures	are	almost	
fully hedged as of the end of 2018. 

The  value  at  risk  of  the  interest  rate  risk  position  of  
the  banking  book  is  the  same  as  the  previous  year. 
	(Figure 14)

Fig. 14: Value at risk of interest rate risk  
in the banking book

in	CHF million	

As at 31.12.2018

As at 31.12.2017

Value	at	risk	(99	%	quantile)

– 118

– 110

1.6.2.2 Risks in the investment portfolio
The risks in the investment portfolio comprise issuer risks 
on	 debt	 and	 equity	 securities	 in	 financial	 investments	
and real estate price risks. Interest rate risks are managed 
and limited as part of asset and liability management. 

Strategy, organisation and processes. The basis of the 
investment portfolio is mainly operational. Debt securi-
ties	 in	 financial	 investments	 form	 part	 of	 the	 bank’s	
 liquidity buffer, participations mainly relate to companies 
within	the	financial	market	infrastructure,	and	the	real	
estate position consists almost entirely of property in use 
by the bank.

Fig. 13: Interest rate sensitivity of the banking book CHF

Basis point sensitivity  1

in	CHF 1,000

up to 12 months

1 to 5 years

over 5 years

Hedged item

Hedge

Total as at 31.12.2018

Total as at 31.12.2017

1  Basis point sensitivity is measured as a cash value effect when the interest rate  

in the maturity band concerned falls by one basis point (bp). A basis point equals 
0.01 percentage	points.

– 82

285

203

250

3,764

– 1,643

2,120

1,778

6,087

249

6,336

6,000

Total

9,769

– 1,110

8,659

8,028

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The	purchase	of	financial	investments	and	real	estate	as	
well as the acquisition of participations are subject to 
detailed regulations and responsibilities. The investment 
strategy	 for	 the	 financial	 investments	 managed	 by	
 Treasury is laid down in the risk tolerance requirements 
approved by the Risk Committee of the Executive Board. 
Only	debt	instruments	with	a	first-class	credit	rating	that	
are considered high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) may be 
purchased. The Risk unit is responsible for the measure-
ment  and  monitoring  of  risk  as  well  as  independent 
 reporting on investment portfolio risks.

Risks relating to the investment portfolio are man-

aged internally by assigning risk capital. 

For	the	determination	of	this	risk	capital	for	financial	
investments and participations, Zürcher Kantonalbank 
uses	an	internal	default	model	that	takes	diversification	
effects into account. For real estate owned by the bank, 
risk capital is allocated based on regulatory minimum 
capital adequacy requirements.

Risk	profile. The carrying amount of debt securities in 
financial	investments	was	CHF 4.5 billion	as	at	31 De-
cember	 2018	 (2017:	 CHF  4.4  billion).	 The	 portfolio	
	consists	of	first-class	bonds	and	is	diversified	in	terms	of	
counterparty  groups  and  countries.  The  presentation  
of Financial investments and Participations can be found 
in	Notes 5	and	6	to	the	balance	sheet.

1.7 Operational risks

1.7.1 Strategy, organisation and processes
The objective of Zürcher Kantonalbank’s management 
of  operational  risk  is  the  risk-oriented  protection  of 
 people, information, services and assets, and the main-
tenance and restoration of critical business functions in 
an operational emergency. The management of opera-
tional risk is therefore an essential part ensuring that  
the canton, clients, partners, public and regulator have 
	confidence	in	the	bank.	The	assessment	of	operational	
risks	takes	account	of	both	direct	financial	losses	and	
the	 consequences	 of	 a	 loss	 of	 client	 confidence	 and	
 reputation. 

The  group-wide  inventory  of  operational  risks  con-
stitutes the basis for the management of operational 
risks. Through  periodic,  systematic  assessments,  the 
 operational  risks  with  respect  to  individuals,  critical 
 information, services and assets are assessed, managed 
and documented. 

The measurement of operational risks is based on  
an estimate of potential claims and the probability of 
occurrence. To calculate the operational residual risks, 
inherent  risks  are  set  against  existing  risk-mitigating 
measures. If the residual risks exceed the risk tolerance, 
additional	risk-mitigating	measures	are	defined	and	im-
plemented.  The  effectiveness  of  the  risk-mitigating 
measures is monitored as part of the bank-wide internal 
control system (ICS). The specialist operational risk func-
tion	of	the	Risk	unit	specifies	the	processes	and	methods,	
and provides tools for monitoring the internal control 
system.

1.7.2	Risk	profile
There was no fundamental change in the bank’s envi-
ronment for the management of operational risks com-
pared	with	the	previous	year.	There	are	two	significant	
risk	factors –	a	professional	cyber-crime	industry	that	is	
constantly specialising and an increase in the potential 
for attacks due to the continuing advance of digitisation. 
Zürcher Kantonalbank is therefore continuing to give the 
management of cyber and process risks a high level of 
attention. Fraud attempts that are detected too late and 
operational  errors  can  quickly  result  in  consequential 
damage in the technologically interconnected business 
environment. The bank is responding to this challenging 
environment with a large number of technical protective 
measures, by raising the awareness of employees and 
clients, and by developing rule- and model-based instru-
ments for detecting erroneous or fraudulent transac-
tions. 

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Zürcher	Kantonalbank	pursues	a	long-term	refinancing	
policy	that	includes	both	cost	and	risk	aspects.	Refinanc-
ing	risks	are	managed	via	a	deliberate	diversification	in	
terms	of	maturities,	refinancing	instruments	used	and	
related markets, to limit dependence on funding  sources. 
For this purpose, Treasury uses both short- and long-
term instruments, which are placed on the domestic and 
international	markets.	The	diversified	refinancing	base	
is	 reflected	 in	 a	 broad	 product	 portfolio,	 comprising	
 client deposits, bank deposits and money and capital 
market	refinancing.

1.8.2	Risk	profile
The liquidity ratios fell slightly year-on-year in 2018. The 
average LCR, which is calculated as a simple average of 
the end-of-day values of the business days during the 
quarter	 under	 review,	 lies	 between	 127  percent	 and	
136 percent.	High-quality	liquid	assets	(HQLA)	average	
between	CHF 43.4 billion	and	CHF 47.9 billion.	These	
HQLA	can	be	subdivided	into	Level 1	assets	(cash,	central	
bank	deposits,	tradeable	securities)	and	Level 2	assets	
(tradeable securities with less strict criteria). The major-
ity	of	Level 1	assets	are	held	in	the	form	of	central	bank	
deposits.	The	liquidity	risk	profile	is	actively	managed,	
particularly  through  targeted  management  of  time 
 deposits, money-market instruments as well as SLB and 
repo  transactions.  The  changes  in  the  LCR  and  the 
 internal statistical measures of liquidity risk are mainly 
driven	by	fluctuations	in	non-operational	sight	deposits,	
time deposits, money-market instruments and SLB and 
repo transactions with banks and major clients. 

1.8	Liquidity	and	refinancing	risks

1.8.1 Strategy, organisation and processes
The Treasury organisational unit, which reports to the 
CFO, is responsible for managing the liquidity risks and 
refinancing	of	Zürcher	Kantonalbank.	Treasury	delegates	
operational liquidity management to the Money Trading 
unit,	which	ensures	the	efficient	use	of	liquidity	based	
on internal and regulatory rules. In line with the require-
ments of the bank’s risk policy, the Board of Directors 
defines	 the	 liquidity	 risk	 tolerance	 using	 an	 internal	
 model. The risk organisation oversees compliance with 
the rules and reports to the Board of Directors in this 
regard on a regular basis.

The  measurement,  management  and  control  of 
short-term liquidity risks are based both on the internal 
model and on the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR), a reg-
ulatory  indicator. The  internal  model  is  based  on  a 
bank-specific	stress	scenario	for	balance-sheet	and	off-
balance-sheet transactions. In this scenario, substantial 
outflows	of	varying	intensity	in	the	client	and	interbank	
business are assumed, among other things. The result 
of  the  liquidity  risk  measurement  is  an  automatically 
produced daily report on the availability of liquid assets 
and  securities  eligible  for  unencumbered  repo  trans-
actions	in	financial	investments	and	trading	positions,	
liquidity	inflows	and	outflows	under	the	stress	scenario	
as well the liquidity position left after the stress scenar-
io.	The	related	emergency	plan	constitutes	a	significant	
element of liquidity risk management. This supports the 
situationally appropriate conduct of the relevant func-
tions in a crisis.

The minimum requirement for the regulatory liquid-
ity	ratio	LCR	is	100 percent.	The	bank	uses	an	internal	
model to divide wholesale deposits into operational and 
non-operational	categories.	Net	outflows	of	funds	from	
the collateralisation of derivatives due to changes in mar-
ket values are calculated using the look-back method. 
Besides Swiss francs, which make up by far the largest 
part of the balance sheet of Zürcher Kantonalbank, the 
LCR is also monitored and periodically reported in other 
major currencies. 

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Figure  15	 shows	 a	 year-on-year	 comparison	 of	 the	
 coverage ratio for asset-side client transactions. Loans 
to	clients	amounted	to	CHF 89.7 billion	and	client	assets	
to	CHF 85.7 billion	as	at	31	December	2018.	This	results	
in	a	coverage	ratio	of	95.5 percent,	which	is	slightly	high-
er than in the previous year. 

Fig. 15: Coverage ratio of client business  
(in CHF billion)

100

90

80

70

60

50

93.8	%

95.5	%

2017

2018

 Client lending
 Client assets
 Coverage ratio

1.9 Compliance and legal risks

1.9.1 Processes and methods
The  risk  management  instruments  used  to  manage 
 compliance and legal risks include information on the 
relevant legal frameworks, internal legal advice, training 
and education of employees as well as the implemen-
tation of ordinances through internal bank directives. 
They also include monitoring and controlling, investiga-
tions	and	clarifications	in	the	event	of	violation	of	the	
rules, as well as the conducting and overseeing of civil, 
criminal and administrative proceedings.

The Compliance function maintains the bank-wide 
compliance	risk	inventory.	It	defines	the	risk	manage-
ment  tools  for  compliance  risks  and  supports  the 
 preventative  management  of  compliance  risks  on  a 
	case-by-case	 basis.	To	 fulfil	 its	 role,	 the	 Compliance	
 function has unlimited rights of information, access and 
inspection. 

1.9.2	Risk	profile
The regulatory changes continue to clearly show that 
the requirements imposed on Zürcher Kantonalbank are 
becoming increasingly stringent, which in turn means 
that the bank is subject to ever greater exposure from a 
regulatory perspective.

In	the	previous	financial	year,	Zürcher	Kantonalbank	
reached	a	settlement	with	the	US Department	of	Justice	
(DoJ)	in	connection	with	its	legacy	business	with	US cli-
ents. The cross-border asset management business has 
been adjusted gradually since 2009. Zürcher Kantonal-
bank  is  committed  to  a  strict  tax-compliant  business 
policy, and in terms of geographic coverage focuses on 
selected  core  markets  with  an  emphasis  on  Europe. 
Zürcher Kantonalbank evaluates all its risks on a constant 
basis, including risks in this connection. Where neces-
sary, it takes corresponding measures in terms of risk 
provisioning. All assessments are associated with a great 
deal of uncertainty.

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m)   Multi-year comparison

All	figures	in	the	multi-year	comparison	are	based	on	the	
accounting	rules	for	banks,	securities	dealers,	financial	
groups and conglomerates (ARB).

Income statement 
Net result from interest operations

in	CHF million

Result from commission business and services

Result from trading activities and the fair value option

Other result from ordinary activities

Operating income

Operating expenses

Value adjustments on participations and depreciation and 
amortisation	of	tangible	fixed	assets	and	intangible	assets

Changes to provisions and other value adjustments and 
losses

Operating result

Extraordinary result

Changes in reserves for general banking risks

Taxes

Consolidated	profit

Balance sheet 
(before	appropriation	of	profit)  in	CHF million
Balance sheet total

Mortgage loans

Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Provisions

Equity

Key	figures	
Return on equity (RoE)

Cost / income ratio (CIR) ²

Common	equity	Tier 1	ratio	(CET1)	3 

Core	capital	ratio	(Tier 1)		3 

Total capital ratio  3 

Leverage ratio  3

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR)  5

in %

Customers’ assets 
Total customers’ assets

in	CHF million

Headcount / branches 
Headcount after adjustment for part-time employees,  
as at the reporting date

Number

Branches  6

2018

1,213 

776 

286 

46 

2,320 

– 1,430

– 192

194

892

103

– 200

– 7

788

2017

2016

2015

2014

1,202

770

334

31

2,336

– 1,434 

1,187

728

379

31

2,325

– 1,441 1

1,162

668

328

47

2,204

– 1,374

– 120

– 124

– 106

2

784 

8

–

– 11

782

– 8

752 1

16

–

– 7

7611

– 61

664

66

–

– 8

722

1,127 

526 

233 

43 

1,929 

–	1,191 

–	93 

–	38 

607 

41 

–

–	0 

647 

169,408 

163,881

157,985

154,410

145,872 

81,256 

85,537 

255 

11,852 

7.1 

61.4 

17.8 

20.2 

20.2 

6.8 

127 

79,087

81,381

585

11,228

7.3

61.1

16.5 4

18.84

18.8 4

6.8

153

77,275

80,890

636

10,793

7.4  1

61.7  1

15.6

17.5

17.5

6.7

132

73,623

80,820

584

10,429

7.5

62.4

15.8

16.8

17.9

7.0

128

71,349 

79,969 

539 

9,487 

7.2 

61.7 

14.6 

15.6 

16.6 

5.8 

–		 

295,194 

288,802

264,754

257,505

208,677 

5,087 

75 

5,117

78

5,173

89

5,179

91

4,844 

97 

1  Excludes	the	CHF 70 million	non-recurring	personnel	expense	related	to	the	creation	 

of provisions for pension benefit obligations.

4  Including effects stemming from the changeover to IRB and SA-CCR.
5  Up	until	2016 –	average	for	the	quarter;	from	2017,	a	simple	average	of	the	end-of-day	

2  Calculation:	Cost	/	income	ratio	(excl. changes	in	default-related	value	adjustments	and	

values on business days during the quarter under review.

losses from interest operations).

6  Including	branches	of	Zürcher	Kantonalbank	Österreich AG	in	Salzburg	and	Vienna	 

3  In accordance with the provisions for systemically important banks.

as well as ATM banks.

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Multi-year comparison (continued)

Profit	distribution	
Share paid to canton to defray cost of capital

in	CHF million

Distribution to canton

Distribution to municipalities

Total	profit	distribution

Additional compensation for state guarantee

Additional payments from public service mandate

Rating agencies  
Fitch

Moody’s

Standard & Poor’s

Rating

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

13 

230 

115 

358 

22 

140 

 AAA 

 Aaa 

 AAA 

18

230

115

363

23

131

AAA

Aaa

AAA

21

220 

110 

351 

22 

119 

AAA 

Aaa 

AAA 

26

200 

100 

326 

21 

128 

AAA 

Aaa 

AAA 

34 

164 

82 

280 

–

106 

AAA 

Aaa 

AAA 

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Ernst & Young Ltd
Maagplatz 1
P.O. Box
CH-8010 Zurich

Phone
Fax
www.ey.com/ch

+41 58 286 31 11
+41 58 286 30 04

Report of the statutory auditor to the Cantonal Parliament of Zurich
on our audit of the consolidated financial statements
as of 31 December 2018 of

Zurich, 28 February 2019

Zürcher Kantonalbank, Zurich

Report of the statutory auditor on the consolidated financial statements

Mrs. President
Ladies and Gentlemen

As  statutory  auditor,  we  have  audited  the  consolidated  financial  statements  of Zürcher
Kantonalbank,  which  comprise  the  consolidated  balance  sheet, consolidated  statement  of
income,  consolidated  statement  of  cash flows,  consolidated  statement  of  changes  in  equity
and the notes to the consolidated financial statements (pages 88 to 148), for the year ended
31 December 2018.

Board of Directors’ responsibility
The  Board  of  Directors  is  responsible  for  the  preparation  of  the  consolidated  financial
statements in accordance with the Swiss accounting principles for banks and the requirements
of Swiss law. This responsibility includes designing, implementing and maintaining an internal
control  system  relevant  to the preparation  of  consolidated financial  statements  that  are free
from material misstatement,  whether due to fraud  or error. The Board  of  Directors  is further
responsible for selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies and making accounting
estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.

Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based
on  our  audit.  We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  Swiss  law  and  Swiss  Auditing
Standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An  audit  involves  performing  procedures  to  obtain  audit  evidence  about  the  amounts  and
disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the
auditor’s  judgment,  including  the  assessment  of  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the
consolidated  financial  statements,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error.  In  making  those  risk
assessments,  the  auditor  considers  the  internal  control  system  relevant  to  the  entity’s
preparation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that
are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the
effectiveness  of  the  entity’s  internal  control  system.  An  audit  also  includes  evaluating  the
appropriateness  of  the accounting  policies  used  and  the  reasonableness  of  accounting
estimates  made,  as  well  as  evaluating  the overall  presentation  of the consolidated financial
statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate
to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

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Page 2

Opinion
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2018
give a true and fair view of the financial position, the results of operations and the cash flows
in accordance with the Swiss accounting principles for banks and comply with Swiss law.

Report on key audit matters based on the circular 1/2015 of the Federal Audit
Oversight Authority
Key  audit  matters  are  those  matters  that,  in  our  professional  judgment,  were  of  most
significance in our audit of the consolidated financial statements of the current period. These
matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements as
a whole,  and in forming  our  opinion thereon,  and  we  do  not  provide  a separate  opinion on
these matters. For each matter below, our description of how our audit addressed the matter
is provided in that context.

We  have fulfilled  the  responsibilities  described  in  the Auditor’s  responsibility section  of our
report, including in relation to these matters. Accordingly, our audit included the performance
of procedures designed to respond to our assessment of the risks of material misstatement of
the  consolidated  financial  statements.  The  results  of  our  audit procedures,  including  the
procedures performed to address the matters below, provide the basis for our audit opinion on
the consolidated financial statements.

Loans – impairment of client loans and amounts due from banks as well as
determination of allowances and provisions

Audit matter Zürcher  Kantonalbank discloses  client loans,  which  consist  of  amounts  due
from clients and mortgage receivables, as well as amounts due from banks at
nominal  value  less  any  necessary  allowances.  If  required,  provisions  are
recorded for limits that are set but not used as of the balance sheet date. The
need for an allowance or provision is determined on a case-by-case basis and
is based on the difference between the carrying amount of a receivable, or, if
greater, the limit, and the prospective recoverable amount, taking into account
the  counterparty  risk  and  the  net  income  from  the  use  of  any  collateral.
Determining  allowances  and  provisions  requires  making  estimates  and
assumptions, which by definition involve judgments and can vary depending
on the valuation.

As  of  31  December  2018, Zürcher  Kantonalbank discloses  client  loans  and
amounts  due  from  banks  totaling  CHF  94.5 billion.  Their  share  as  a
percentage  of  total  assets  amounted  to  55.8% as  of  the  reporting  date.
Therefore, the valuation of the impairment of client loans and the amounts due
from banks as well as the determination of allowances and provisions are key
audit matters.

Significant  accounting  principles  regarding  client  loans,  amounts  due  from
banks  as  well  as  allowances  and  provisions  are  described  by  Zürcher
Kantonalbank on pages 95, 96, 99, 100 and 101 as well as on pages 137 to
141 of the bank’s annual report. Furthermore, we refer to notes 2 and 16 on
pages 103, 104 and 114 in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

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Financial Report Group

153 

Page 3

Our audit
response

Our  audit  included  auditing the  processes  and  controls  in  connection  with
granting  and  monitoring  loans  as  well  as  assessing  the  identification  and
calculation  of  allowances  and  provisions.  Moreover,  we  performed  sample
tests on the impairment of selected client loans and amounts due from banks,
and evaluated the compliance of significant accounting principles as well as
the  appropriateness  of  the  disclosures  in  the  notes  to  the  consolidated
financial statements.

Our  audit  procedures  did  not
lead  to  any  reservations  concerning  the
impairment  of  client  loans  and  amounts  due  from  banks  as  well  as
determination of allowances and provisions.

Fair value measurement of financial instruments

Audit matter Fair  value  is  defined  as  the  amount  for which  an  asset  is  exchanged  or  a
liability  settled  between  knowledgeable,  willing  parties  in  an  arm’s  length
transaction.  This  amount  corresponds  to  the  price  requested  in  a  price-
efficient and liquid market or, if this is missing, to the price determined on the
basis of a valuation model. Valuation models are significantly affected by the
assumptions that are used, including interest, forward and swap rates, spread
curves  and  the  volatility  and  estimates  of  future  cash  flows.  There  is  a
significant degree of judgment involved in making these assumptions.

Zürcher Kantonalbank discloses financial instruments at fair value measure-
ment – largely in connection with client business – in different balance sheet
items. As of 31 December 2018, the fair value of positive replacement values
of derivative financial instruments amounts to CHF 1.3 billion, while that of the
negative  replacement  values  comes  to  CHF  0.8  billion. The  underlying
contract  volume  before  taking  into  account  netting  agreements  amounts to
CHF  819.5  billion.  Furthermore,  as  of  31  December  2018,  Zürcher
Kantonalbank  discloses  obligations  that  were  determined  using  a valuation
model from other financial instruments at fair value measurement totaling CHF
2.5 billion. As a result of the inherent scope of judgment and the significance
of the listed balance sheet items in the consolidated financial statements of
Zürcher  Kantonalbank,  the  valuation  of  these  items  represents  a  key  audit
matter.

Zürcher  Kantonalbank explains  the  relevant  accounting principles  on pages
96, 97, 101, 102 as well as on pages 141 to 146 of their annual report. Further-
more, we refer to notes 3, 4 and 14 on pages 104, 105, 106 and 112 in the
notes to the consolidated financial statements

We audited the processes and controls with regard to fair value measurement,
the validation  and application  of valuation models  as  well  as  the significant
assumptions  on  which  these  are  based.  Moreover,  we  assessed  the
assumptions made in connection with the valuation and their appropriateness
on the basis of sample testing. We compared the prices considered on price-
efficient and liquid markets with independent sources using sample testing.

Our audit procedures did not lead to any reservations concerning the fair value
measurement of financial instruments.

Our audit
response

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Financial Report Group

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Page 4

Report on other legal requirements
We confirm that we meet the legal requirements on licensing according to the Auditor Oversight
Act  (AOA)  and  independence  (article  728  CO  and  article  11  AOA)  and that  there  are  no
circumstances incompatible with our independence.

In accordance with article 728a para. 1 item 3 CO and Swiss Auditing Standard 890, we confirm
that  an  internal  control  system  exists,  which  has  been  designed  for  the  preparation
of consolidated financial statements according to the instructions of the Board of Directors.

We recommend that the consolidated financial statements submitted to you be approved.

Ernst & Young Ltd

Bruno Patusi
Licensed audit expert
(Auditor in charge)

Timo D’Ambrosio
  Licensed audit expert

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Parent Company Financial Statements

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Financial Report Parent Company

157 

Income statement

in	CHF million

Notes

2018

2017

Change

Result from interest operations
Interest and discount income

Interest	and	dividend	income	from	financial	investments

Interest expense

Gross result from interest operations

33

Changes in value adjustments for default risk and losses  
from interest operations

Subtotal net result from interest operations

Result from commission business 
and services
Commission income from securities and investment activities

Commission income from lending activities

Commission income from other services

Commission expense

Subtotal result from commission business and services

Result from trading activities 
Result from trading activities and the fair value option

Other result from ordinary activities 
Result	from	disposal	of	financial	investments

Income from participations

Result from real estate

Other ordinary income

Other ordinary expenses

Subtotal other result from ordinary activities

Operating income

Operating expenses 
Personnel expenses

General and administrative expenses

Subtotal operating expenses

Value adjustments on participations and depreciation and 
amortisation	of	tangible	fixed	assets	and	intangible	assets

Changes to provisions and other value adjustments and losses

Operating result

Extraordinary income

Extraordinary expenses

Changes in reserves for general banking risks

Taxes

Result of the period

1,811 

43 

– 632 

1,221 

– 10 

1,211 

622 

50 

110 

– 110 

671 

1,608

48

– 446

1,210

– 9

1,201

612

52

104

– 111

657

203 

– 5 

– 186 

11 

– 1 

10 

9 

– 2 

5 

1 

14 

Change
in %

12.6

– 11.3

41.8

0.9

10.1

0.9

1.5

– 4.1

5.0

– 1.3

2.1

32

272 

315

– 43 

– 13.5

2 

91 

9 

24 

– 3 

123 

2,278 

– 959 

– 407 

– 1,366 

– 189

195

917

24

– 0

– 200

– 0 

741 

3

76

9

21

– 3

106

2,279

– 965

– 407

– 1,372

– 117

2

792

9

– 0

–

–

800

– 1 

15 

– 0 

3 

0 

17 

– 1 

6 

– 0 

6 

– 72 

193 

126 

15 

– 0 

– 200 

– 

– 60 

– 42.3

20.1

– 2.0

15.6

– 14.0

16.4

– 0.1

– 0.7

0.0

– 0.5

61.6

– 

15.9

172.2

547.1

– 

– 

– 7.5

34

35

36

36

36

39

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Financial Report Parent Company

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Appropriation	of	profit

in	CHF million

Result of the period

Profit	carried	forward

Distributable	profit

Appropriation	of	profit
Profit	distribution

Dividend

– of which, share paid to canton to defray cost of capital

–	of	which,	dividends	for	the	benefit	of	the	canton

–	of	which,	dividends	for	the	benefit	of	the	municipalities

Profit	retained

Allocated to reserves

– of which, allocated to voluntary retained earnings reserve

Profit	carried	forward

The	appropriation	of	profit	was	approved	by	the	Board	of	Directors	on	24	January	2019.	
Approval of the annual financial statements and the appropriation of profit by the  
Cantonal Parliament is scheduled for 29 April 2019.

2018

2017

Change

741 

1 

742 

358 

13 

230 

115 

383 

383 

1

800 

1 

801 

363 

18 

230 

115 

437 

437 

1

– 60

– 0

– 60

– 5

– 5

0 

0 

– 54

– 54

– 0

Change
in %

– 7.5

53.0

– 7.4

– 1.4

– 28.5

0.0

0.0

– 12.4

– 12.4

– 33.1

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

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159 

Balance sheet
as at 31 December

in	CHF million

Assets
Liquid assets

Amounts due from banks

Amounts	due	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due from customers 

Mortgage loans

Trading portfolio assets

Positive	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	instruments	

Other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Financial investments

Accrued income and prepaid expenses

Participations

Tangible	fixed	assets

Intangible assets

Other assets

Total assets

Total subordinated claims

– of which, subject to conversion and / or debt waiver

Liabilities
Amounts due to banks

Liabilities	from	securities	financing	transactions

Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Trading portfolio liabilities

Negative	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	
instruments

1

2

2

3

4

3

5

10

1

3

4

Liabilities	from	other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

3, 14

Cash bonds

Bond issues

Central mortgage institution loans

Accrued expenses and deferred income

Other liabilities

Provisions

Reserves for general banking risks

Bank’s capital

Statutory retained earnings reserve

Voluntary retained earnings reserve

Profit	carried	forward

Result of the period

Equity

Total liabilities

Total subordinated liabilities

– of which, subject to conversion and / or debt waiver

Off-balance-sheet transactions
Contingent liabilities

Irrevocable commitments

Obligations to pay up shares and make further contributions

Credit commitments

10

16

16

17, 21

21

21

21

21

21

2

2

2

2

Notes

2018

2017

Change

Change
in %

40,940

4,792

17,004

8,435

81,256

8,017

1,431

–

4,606

322

574

674

0

274

41,145

4,416

14,326

7,814

79,087

7,651

1,553

– 

4,627

308

615

770

1

392

168,326

162,706

166

46

37,049

6,876

85,618

2,418

753

1,351

167

11,666

9,463

712

199

253

5,036

2,425

1,213

2,383

1

741

11,799

168,326

1,491

1,491

4,100

8,806

263

–

188

31

35,378

6,623

81,463

1,859

867

1,699

191

12,419

9,275

607

521

582

4,836

2,425

1,213

1,946

1

800

11,221

162,706

1,513

1,513

4,090

9,177

233

– 

– 204

377

2,678

621

2,169

366

– 121

– 

– 21

14

– 41

– 96

– 1

– 118

5,620

– 21

16

1,671

254

4,155

559

– 114

– 348

– 24

– 753

188

105

– 322

– 329

200

– 

– 

437

0

– 60

577

5,620

– 23

– 23

10

– 371

30

– 

– 0.5

8.5

18.7

7.9

2.7

4.8

– 7.8

– 

– 0.5

4.4

– 6.7

– 12.5

– 81.7

– 30.1

3.5

– 11.4

50.8

4.7

3.8

5.1

30.1

– 13.1

– 20.5

– 12.4

– 6.1

2.0

17.3

– 61.9

– 56.5

4.1

– 

– 

22.5

53.0

– 7.5

5.1

3.5

– 1.5

– 1.5

 0.2

– 4.0

13.1

– 

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Financial Report Parent Company

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Statement of changes in equity

in	CHF million

2017

Opening amount

Capital increase

Capital decrease

Other contributions / other capital paid in

Reclassifications

Capital costs of endowment capital

Allocation to the canton from previous year’s 
profit

Allocation to municipalities from previous year’s 
profit

Valuation adjustments with no income effect

Other allocations to (transfers from) 
the reserves for general banking risks

Other allocations to (transfers from) 
other reserves

Result of the period

Total equity as at 31.12.2017

2018
Opening amount

Capital increase

Capital decrease

Other contributions / other capital paid in

Reclassifications

Capital costs of endowment capital

Allocation to the canton from previous year’s 
profit

Allocation to municipalities from previous year’s 
profit

Valuation adjustments with no income effect

Other allocations to (transfers from) 
the reserves for general banking risks

Other allocations to (transfers from) 
other reserves

Result of the period

Total equity as at 31.12.2018

Statutory  
retained  
earnings  
reserve

Reserves for 
general
banking risks

Voluntary
retained  
earnings
reserve

Bank’s capital

Distributable 
profit

Total 
equity

2,425

1,213

4,836

1,521

776

10,771

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,425

1,213

4,836

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

425

–

1,946

–

–

–

–

– 21

– 220

– 110

–

–

– 425

800

801

–

–

–

–

– 21

– 220

– 110

–

–

–

800

11,221

2,425

1,213

4,836

1,946

801

11,221

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

200

–

–

2,425

1,213

5,036

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

437

–

2,383

–

–

–

–

– 18

– 230

– 115

–

–

– 437

741

742

–

–

–

–

– 18

– 230

– 115

–

200

–

741

11,799

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Financial Report Parent Company

161 

They are generally based on the accounting and  valuation 
principles of the group, with the following exceptions: 
All participations are recognised at the lower of cost or 
market	in	the	statutory	financial	statements.	Goodwill	
from acquisitions is included under participations. In the 
single-entity	financial	statement,	the	reserves	for	gener-
al banking risks are shown as an individual item in the 
balance sheet. At group level, retained earnings reserves 
include reserves for general banking risks created before 
2018. Creation and release of such reserves is shown 
under Changes in reserves for general banking risks.

Notes Parent Company

Under	 Art.  36	 of	 the	 Swiss	 Ordinance	 on	 Banks	 and	
 Savings Banks, institutions that draw up consolidated 
financial	statements	are	exempt	from	disclosing	certain	
information	in	the	individual	financial	statements.	For	
reasons of clarity, the same numbering has been used 
for	the	required	tables	as	in	the	consolidated	financial	
statements. The portrait details, explanations relating to 
risk	 management,	 identification	 of	 default	 risks	 and	
	definition	of	the	need	for	value	adjustments,	valuation	
of coverage and details of business policy on the use of 
derivative	financial	instruments	as	well	as	on	the	use	of	
hedge accounting in the group also apply to the parent 
company. This is also the case for material events occur-
ring after the balance sheet date.

Accounting and valuation principles
Accounting, valuation and reporting are based on the 
provisions of the Code of Obligations and Swiss banking 
law, the accounting rules for banks, securities dealers, 
financial	groups	and	conglomerates	(ARB)	according	to	
Circular 2015 / 01 issued by the Swiss Financial Market 
Supervisory	Authority	of	28 September	1997	and	the	
regulations	based	on	it.	The	statutory	financial	statements 
of the parent company are prepared in compliance with 
the	provisions	of	Art. 25	para. 1 a)	Banking	Ordinance	
(“Reliable	 assessment	 statutory	 single-entity	 financial	
statements”).

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

i)   Information on the balance sheet

1	 Breakdown	of	securities	financing	transactions

in	CHF million

Book value of receivables from cash collateral delivered in connection with securities borrowing  
and reverse repurchase transactions

Book value of obligations from cash collateral received in connection with securities lending and  
repurchase transactions

Book value of securities lent in connection with securities lending or delivered as collateral in connection with 
securities borrowing as well as securities in own portfolio transferred in connection with repurchase agreements

– of which, with unrestricted rights to resell or pledge

Fair value of securities received and serving as collateral in connection with securities lending or securities 
borrowed in connection with securities borrowing as well as securities received in connection with reverse 
repurchase agreements with an unrestricted right to resell or repledge

– of which, repledged securities

– of which, resold securities

2  Overview of collateral for loans / receivables and off-balance-sheet  

transactions, as well as impaired loans / receivables

2018

17,004

6,876

4,480

4,480

49,237

114

34,889

2017

14,326

6,623

3,401

3,401

43,042

140

32,051

Overview by collateral

in	CHF million

Loans (before netting with value adjustments)
Amounts due from customers

Mortgage loans

– Residential property

–	Office	and	business	premises

– Commercial and industrial premises

– Other

Total mortgage loans

Total loans (before netting with value adjustments) 2018

Total loans (before netting with value adjustments) 2017

Total loans (after netting with value adjustments) 2018

Total loans (after netting with value adjustments) 2017

Off-balance-sheet
Contingent liabilities

Irrevocable commitments

Obligations to pay up shares and make further contributions

Credit commitments

Total off-balance-sheet transactions 2018

Total off-balance-sheet transactions 2017

Type of collateral

Secured  
by mortgage 

Other  
collateral 

Unsecured 

Total 

68

1,158

7,320

8,546

67,751

8,758

2,369

2,362

81,239

81,307

79,140

81,307

79,140

85

1,040

–

–

1,125

1,120

14

–

0

1

16

1,174

993

1,174

993

1,246

45

–

–

1,290

1,584

19

13

33

1

66

7,385

6,940

7,209

6,768

2,770

7,722

263

–

10,754

10,796

67,784

8,770

2,402

2,364

81,321

89,867

87,073

89,691

86,901

4,100

8,806

263

–

13,169

13,500

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163 

2  Overview of collateral for loans / receivables and off-balance-sheet  
transactions, as well as impaired loans / receivables (continued)

Information on impaired loans

Impaired loans 
2018

2017

in	CHF million

Gross debt amount

Estimated liquidation  
value of collateral

Net debt amount

Individual value  
adjustments  1

503

471

286

275

217

197

181

177

1  Individual	value	adjustments	of	100 percent	of	the	net	debt	amount	are	normally	made.	

Individual rates for value adjustments may apply in the case of major positions.

3	 Trading	portfolios	and	other	financial	instruments	 

at fair value

Assets 
Debt securities, money market securities / transactions

in	CHF million

– of which, listed 1

Equity securities

Precious metals and commodities

Other trading portfolio assets

Total trading transactions

Debt securities

Structured products

Other

Total	other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Total assets

– of which, determined using a valuation model

– of which, securities eligible for repo transactions in accordance with liquidity requirements

in	CHF million

1  Listed = traded on a recognised exchange.

Liabilities 
Debt securities, money market securities / transactions

– of which, listed 1

Equity securities

Precious metals and commodities

Other trading portfolio liabilities

Total trading transactions

Debt securities

Structured products

Other

Total	other	financial	instruments	at	fair	value

Total liabilities

– of which, determined using a valuation model

1  Listed = traded on a recognised exchange.

2018
3,513

3,467

2,671

1,724

110

8,017

–

–

–

–

8,017

156

1,143

2018
2,400

2,392

9

2

7

2,418

–

1,351

–

1,351

3,770

1,359

2017

3,033

2,970

2,724

1,682

213

7,651

–

–

–

–

7,651

276

845

2017

1,851

1,840

7

0

0

1,859

–

1,699

–

1,699

3,558

1,711

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

4	 Derivative	financial	instruments	(assets	and	liabilities)

in	CHF million

Positive  
replacement values 

Negative  
replacement values

Contract 
volume 1

Positive  
replacement values

Negative  
replacement values

Contract 
volume

Trading instruments

Hedging instruments

Interest rate instruments
Forward contracts including FRAs

Swaps

Futures

Options (OTC)

Options (exchange-traded)

Total

Foreign exchange / precious 
metals
Forward contracts

Combined interest rate / currency swaps

Futures

Options (OTC)

Options (exchange-traded)

Total

Equity securities / indices
Forward contracts

Swaps

Futures

Options (OTC)

Options (exchange-traded)

Total

Credit derivatives

Credit default swaps

Total return swaps

First-to-default swaps

Other credit derivatives

Total

Other 2
Forward contracts

Swaps

Futures

Options (OTC)

Options (exchange-traded)

Total

Total before netting
agreements
2018

– of which, determined using a valuation model

2017

– of which, determined using a valuation model

12

4,809

–

45

–

5

4,218

–

15

–

30,425

346,678

26,987

3,016

2

4,865

4,239

407,106

1,822

414

–

204

–

2,440

–

67

–

215

207

489

6

4

–

–

10

–

17

–

0

–

17

7,821

7,821

7,988

7,988

1,841

327,731

685

–

120

–

3,689

80

53,029

–

2,646

384,528

–

44

–

69

185

298

5

4

–

–

9

–

17

–

0

–

17

–

752

4,265

2,008

5,531

12,557

537

356

–

–

893

–

512

752

6

–

1,270

7,209

7,209

7,136

7,136

806,354

–

625,993

–

–

348

–

–

–

348

–

104

–

–

–

104

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

452

452

570

570

–

460

–

–

–

–

14,607

–

–

–

460

14,607

–

8

–

–

–

8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,561

–

–

–

1,561

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

468

468

837

837

16,168

–

19,329

–

1  The contract volume shows the amount of underlying on which a derivative is based or  
the notional amount underlying the derivative in accordance with the requirements  
of FINMA Circular 2015 / 01, irrespective of whether the derivative is traded long or short. 

The contract volume is determined differently depending on the type of contract and does 
not permit any direct conclusions to be drawn about the risk exposure.

2  Includes commodities and hybrid derivatives.

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4	 Derivative	financial	instruments	(assets	and	liabilities)	(continued)

Total after netting
agreements  3	
2018

2017

Breakdown by counterparty
Positive replacement values 
(after netting agreements)

2018

in	CHF million

Positive replacement values 
(cumulative)

Negative replacement values 
(cumulative)

1,431

1,553

753

867

Central clearing houses

Banks and securities dealers

Other customers

135

338

958

3  For over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, the positive and negative replacement values  

of derivative financial instruments as well as the related cash collateral are offset (netting). 

For this purpose, a relevant bilateral agreement with the affected counterparties must be  
in place. This agreement must be proven to be recognised and legally enforceable.

5  Financial investments

in	CHF million

Debt securities

– of which, intended to be held to maturity

– of which, not intended to be held to maturity (available for sale)

Equity securities

of	which,	qualified	participations	1

Precious metals

Real estate 2

Total	financial	investments

–  of which, securities eligible for repo transactions in accordance 

with liquidity requirements

1  At	least	10 percent	of	the	capital	or	votes.
2  The insurance value of the real estate within financial investments amounted  

to	CHF 3.3 million.

Book value

Fair value

2018
4,332

4,332

–

51

–

219

4

4,606

4,258

2017

4,300

4,300

–

59

–

268

–

4,627

4,215

2018
4,478

4,478

–

67

–

219

4

4,768

4,402

2017

4,468

4,468

–

75

–

268

–

4,811

4,380

Counterparties by rating
Moody’s

Standard & Poor’s, Fitch

Debt securities: Book values

2018

in	CHF million

Aaa – Aa3

AAA – AA–

A1 – A3

A+ – A–

Baa1 – Baa3

BBB+ – BBB–

Ba1 – Ba3

Lower than Ba3

BB+ – B–

Below B–

Unrated

Unrated

4,029

25

–

–

–

278

All debt instruments without a rating fulfil the conditions of high-quality liquid assets (HQLA) 
according to the Liquidity Ordinance (LiqV).
If two ratings exist with different risk weightings, the rating with the lower risk weighting  
is used. 

If two or more ratings exist with different risk weightings, those ratings which correspond  
to the two lowest risk weightings are taken into consideration.
The higher of the two risk weightings is used. Top priority is given to the issue rating and 
second priority to the issuer rating.

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10 Other assets and liabilities

in	CHF million

Compensation account

Deferred income taxes recognised as assets

Amount recognised as assets in respect of employer  
contribution reserves

Amount recognised as assets relating to other assets 
from pension schemes

Negative goodwill

Settlement accounts

Indirect taxes

Other

Total

Other assets

Other liabilities

2018
124

–

–

–

–

45

63

41

274

2017

188

–

–

–

–

24

153

27

392

2018
–

–

–

–

–

135

33

31

199

2017

–

–

–

–

–

356

38

127

521

11 Assets pledged or assigned to secure own commitments,  

and assets under reservation of ownership

2018

2017

Book value

Effective
commitment

Book value

Effective
commitment

in	CHF million

Pledged / assigned assets
Amounts due from banks

Amounts due from customers

Mortgage loans

Trading portfolio assets

Financial investments

Total pledged / assigned assets

1,289

1,980

11,828

2

–

15,100

1,271

1,910

9,463

2

–

12,646

2018
148

–

4

–

–

152

1,523

1,419

11,725

11

–

1,506

1,368

9,275

11

–

14,678

12,160

2017

166

–

10

–

–

176

Change

– 18

–

– 6

–

–

– 24

No assets are subject to reservation of ownership.
Note 1	shows	instruments	serving	as	collateral	for	which	a	right	of	resale	or	pledging	 
has been granted in connection with securities financing.

12 Liabilities relating to own pension schemes and number and nature  
of equity instruments of the bank held by own pension schemes

Liabilities to own pension schemes 
from balance-sheet transactions 
Amounts due in respect of customer deposits

Cash bonds

Negative	replacement	values	of	derivative	financial	instruments

Accrued expenses and deferred income

Other liabilities

Total

Own pension schemes do not hold any of the bank’s equity instruments.

in	CHF million

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13 Information on pension schemes

a)  Employer contribution reserves (ECR) 

Nominal value  Waiver of use

Net amount

Net amount

Influence	of	
ECR on 
personnel 
expenses

Influence	of	
ECR on 
personnel 
expenses

in	CHF million

End of 2018

End of 2018

End of 2018

End of 2017

2018

2017

Zürcher Kantonalbank pension fund

Total

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

b)	 Economic	benefit	/	obligation	and	the	pension	expenses

Over- / 
underfunding

Economic interest  
of the bank 

Change  
in economic 
interest versus 
previous year 

Contribu- 
tions paid 

Pension expenses in 
personnel expenses  

in	CHF million

End of 2018

2018

2017

2018

2018

2018

2017

Employer-sponsored funds / employer-sponsored 
pension schemes

Pension plans without overfunding / underfunding 1

Pension plans with overfunding

Pension plans with underfunding

Pension schemes without own assets

Total

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

105

–

–

–

–

105

–

–

–

–

115

–

–

–

105

105

115

1  Including	change	in	provisions	for	pension	benefit	obligations	(2018:	release	CHF 1 million	/	2017:	creation	CHF 8 million).

14 Issued structured products

Underlying risk of the embedded derivative

Valued as a whole

Valued separately

Book value

Total

in	CHF million

Interest rate instruments With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Equity securities

With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Foreign currencies

With own debenture component 

Commodities / precious 
metals

Without oDC

With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Loans

With own debenture component 

Real estate

With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Without oDC

Hybrid instruments

With own debenture component 

Without oDC

Total 2018

Total 2017

Booked in  
trading portfolio

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Booked in  
other	financial	
instruments  
at fair value

–

–

1,199

–

74

–

62

–

8

–

–

–

8

–

1,351

1,699

Value of the host 
instrument

Value of the 
derivative

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,199

–

74

–

62

–

8

–

–

–

8

–

1,351

1,699

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16 Presentation of value adjustments and provisions, reserves  
for general banking risks, and changes therein during  
the current year

in	CHF million

Provisions for deferred taxes

Provisions	for	pension	benefit	obligations	1

Provisions for default risks

Provisions for other business risks 2

Provisions for restructuring 

Other provisions 3

Total provisions

Reserves for general banking risks

Value adjustments for default and country risks

– of which, value adjustments for default risks 
in respect of impaired loans / receivables 4

– of which, value adjustments for latent risks

Use in conformity 
with designated  
purpose  
and reversals 

Balance at 
end of 2017

Reclassifi- 
cations 

Currency 
differences 

Past due 
interest, 
recoveries  

New creations 
charged  
to income  

Releases 
to income  

Balance at 
end of 2018

–

42

131

213

–

196

582

4,836

177

177

–

–

– 11

– 22

– 29

–

– 74

– 135

–

– 11

– 11

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2

–

1

3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2

2

–

–

–

67

1

–

19

87

200

62

62

–

–

– 1

– 44

– 126

–

– 113

– 284

–

– 49

– 49

–

–

30

133

62

–

29

253

5,036

181

181

–

1  In line with its sustainable human resources policy, the Board of Directors decided in 

December 2016 that the bank would assume certain costs for the financing of transitional 
solutions in connection with the realignment of the pension fund to the changed 
environment.

2  Value adjustments and provisions for other business risks relate to provisions for settlement 

Recoveries from amounts due derecognised in previous periods are reported directly  
in Changes in value adjustments for default risk and losses from interest operations  
(2018:	CHF 7 million	/	2017:	CHF 13 million).
For more details on the management of credit risks, operational risks and legal and 
compliance	risks,	please	refer	to	section I)	Risk	report.	

risks, for example, which cover identifiable risks as at the balance sheet date. 

3  Other provisions include provisions for litigation, provisions for employees’ holiday credits 

and provisions for the ZKB company anniversary in 2020.

4  Default risks consist primarily of counterparty risks, for which value adjustments of 
100 percent	of	the	net	debt	amount	are	generally	made.	Individual	rates	for	value	
adjustments may apply in the case of major positions.

On	13	August	2018,	Zürcher	Kantonalbank	concluded	the	US Department	of	 
Justice’s	investigation	into	the	bank’s	legacy	business	with	US clients	with	a	Deferred	
Prosecution Agreement (DPA). 
Pursuant	to	this	settlement,	the	bank	agreed	to	make	a	payment	of	USD 98.5 million.	 
The payment was made in the second half of 2018. The provisions made for this purpose 
were sufficient. For further information on provisions no longer required in this regard,  
please	see	Note 36.

17 Presentation of the bank’s capital

in	CHF million

Endowment capital

Total bank’s capital

In April 2014, the Cantonal Parliament set the endowment capital ceiling, which has  
an	indefinite	time	limit,	of	CHF 3,000 million.	
Zürcher Kantonalbank’s capital consists of endowment capital in the amount of 
CHF 2,425 million.	The	Board	of	Directors	can	call	on	the	unused	CHF 575 million	 
of the endowment capital as needed. 

Total par value 2018

Total par value 2017

2,425

2,425

2,425

2,425

The	profit	distribution	takes	place	on	the	basis	of	the	provisions	in	Section 26f	of	the	Law	on	
Zürcher	Kantonalbank	of	28 September	1997,	as	amended	on	1 January	2015,	and	has	 
no direct link to the endowment capital. 

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18 Number and value of equity securities or options on equity securities  

held by all executives and directors and by employees, and disclosures  
on any employee participation schemes
Neither Zürcher Kantonalbank nor its subsidiaries have employee  
participation schemes. 

19 Amounts due from / to related parties

in	CHF million

Holders	of	qualified	participations

Group companies

Linked companies

Transactions with members of governing bodies

Other related parties

Affiliated companies are public-law institutions of the respective canton or public-private 
enterprises in which the canton holds qualified participations.
On- and off-balance-sheet transactions with related parties are conducted at usual market 
conditions, with the exception of loans to members of governing bodies. Loans to governing 
bodies are granted on employee terms in some cases. 

Due from

Due to

2018
6

397

573

21

–

2017

1

422

596

21

–

2018
839

337

810

24

–

2017

545

264

1,258

25

–

This	primarily	involved	the	usual	balance	sheet	banking	business,	i.e. it	was	mainly	amounts	
due from and due to customers. The totals above also include securities items and claims and 
liabilities from transactions in derivatives (positive and negative replacement values).
The	off-balance-sheet	transactions	with	related	parties	in	the	amount	of	CHF 1,303 million	
(2017:	CHF 1,408 million)	primarily	include	irrevocable	loan	commitments,	in	particular	the	
keepwell	agreement	with	Zürcher	Kantonalbank	Finance	(Guernsey) Ltd.,	and	other	
contingent liabilities. 

20	Disclosure	of	holders	of	significant	participations

Zürcher Kantonalbank is an independent public-law institution  
of the Canton of Zurich.

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21 Disclosure of own shares and composition of equity capital

in	CHF million

Reserves for general banking risks

Bank’s capital

Statutory retained earnings reserve

Voluntary retained earnings reserve

Profit	carried	forward

Result of the period

Total equity

The bank does not hold any of its own shares.
The statutory retained earnings reserve cannot be distributed.

22 Disclosures in accordance with the Ordinance against Excessive Compensation 
with	respect	to	Listed	Stock	Corporations	and	Article 663c	para. 3	CO	for	
banks whose equity securities are listed
The requirements are not applicable for Zürcher Kantonalbank.

26 Breakdown of total assets by credit rating of country groups  

(risk domicile view)

2018
5,036

2,425

1,213

2,383

1

741

11,799

2017

4,836

2,425

1,213

1,946

1

800

11,221

Rating system
ZKB’s own country rating

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

Total

Moody’s

Aaa / Aa1 / Aa2 / Aa3

A1 / A2 / A3

Baa1 / Baa2 / Baa3

Ba1 / Ba2

Ba3

B1 / B2 / B3

Caa1 / Caa2 / Caa3 / Ca / C

For further information, please see the “Credit risks” section in the Risk Report. 

2018
Net foreign exposure

2017
Net foreign exposure

in	CHF million	

Share	as %

in	CHF million	

Share	as %	

10,414

743

792

430

256

90

1

81.8 

5.8 

6.2 

3.4 

2.0 

0.7 

0.0 

9,167

908

791

485

63

77

9

79.7

7.9

6.9

4.2

0.5

0.7

0.1

12,725

100.0 

11,501

100.0 

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j)   Information on  

off-balance-sheet  
transactions

30	Breakdown	of	fiduciary	transactions	

in	CHF million

Fiduciary investments with third-party companies

Fiduciary investments with group companies and linked companies

Fiduciary loans

Fiduciary transactions arising from securities lending and borrowing 
(in the bank’s own name for the account of customers)

Other	fiduciary	transactions

Total

2018
398

–

–

–

–

2017

218

–

–

–

–

398

218

31 Breakdown of managed assets and presentation of their development

a)  Breakdown of managed assets

Type of managed assets 
Assets in collective investment schemes managed by the bank

Assets under discretionary asset management agreements 

Other managed assets

Total managed assets (including double counting) 1

– of which, double counting

in	CHF million

2018
78,821 

62,735 

150,484  

292,040 

45,296 

2017

82,422 

64,067 

140,017 

286,506 

43,825 

1  The client assets shown include all client assets of an investment nature held with  
Zürcher Kantonalbank, as well as client assets held with third-party banks that are 
managed by Zürcher Kantonalbank. Zürcher Kantonalbank also includes client deposits  
that are not of an investment nature in its reported client assets. Non-inclusion of  
accounts that do not have an investment element would lead to greater volatility in 

managed client assets and thus distort the meaningfulness of trends in client assets.  
Assets held with Zürcher Kantonalbank but managed by third parties (custody-only) are  
not included. Banks and significant investment fund companies (including collective 
pension fund foundations, investment trusts, pension foundations and pension funds) for 
which Zürcher Kantonalbank acts exclusively as custodian bank are treated as custody-only.

b)  Presentation of the development of managed assets

in	CHF million

Total managed assets (including double counting) at beginning 

+/–	net	new	money	inflow	or	net	new	money	outflow	1

+/– price gains / losses, interest, dividends and currency gains / losses

+/– other effects

Total managed assets (including double counting) at end

2018
286,506 

17,671 

– 11,140 

– 997 

292,040 

2017

263,384 

5,650 

16,438 

1,034 

286,506 

1  The net new money inflow / outflow corresponds to the development of managed  
client assets adjusted for fluctuations in prices and exchange rates, interest and  
dividend payments, fees and expenses charged to clients, and reclassification of assets. 

Changes due to acquisitions / disposals of subsidiaries are not included. The interest billed 
to loan clients is included in the change in net new money inflow / outflow.

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k)  Information on the  
income statement

32 Breakdown of the result from trading activities and the fair value option

a)  Breakdown by business area  

(in	accordance	with	the	organisation	of	the	bank	/	financial	group)

in	CHF million

Result from trading in foreign exchange, bank notes and precious metals

Result from trading in bonds, interest rate and credit derivatives

Result from trading in equities and structured products

Result from other trading activities 1

Total

1  The result from other trading activities includes results from securities lending and borrowing  

as well as positions for which the Executive Board or Asset Management is responsible.

b)  Breakdown by underlying risk and based on the use of the fair value option

2018
102

65

52

52

272

2017

131

87

38

58

315

in	CHF million

Result from trading in foreign exchange, bank notes and 
precious metals

Result from trading in bonds, interest rate and  
credit derivatives

Result from trading in equities and structured products 

Result from other trading activities 

Total

– of which, from fair value option on assets

– of which, from fair value option on liabilities

2018

102

65

52

52

272

–

246

2  Trading income from other products includes hybrid products and real estate derivatives.

Result from trading activities from:

Foreign 
exchange 
and bank 
notes

Precious 
metals

Securities 
lending and 
borrowing

Bonds, 
interest rate 
and credit 
derivatives

Equities  
and equity 
derivatives

Commodi- 
ties and 
commodity 
derivatives

Other 
products  2

59

0

3

0

62

–

2

44

–

0

– 0

44

–

0

–

–

–

57

57

–

–

– 1

63

– 1

– 1

61

–

1

0

2

50

– 5

48

–

233

–

–

– 1

 0

– 0

–

9

–

–

1

–

1

–

1

33	Disclosure	of	material	refinancing	income	in	the	item	Interest	and	discount	

income as well as material negative interest 
During	financial	year	2018,	refinancing	income	from	trading	activities	of	
CHF –	50.0 million	(previous	year:	CHF –	13.3 million)	was	included	in	the	item	
Interest and discount income. 
The item Interest and discount income also  includes the result of currency swaps 
in	the	amount	of	CHF 626.5 million	(previous	year:	CHF 488.3 million),	which	
were entered into solely for the  purpose of engaging in interest arbitrage. 
Negative interest on lending business is shown as a reduction in the interest  
and discount income. Negative interest on deposit- taking business is shown  
as a reduction in interest expenses.

in	CHF million

Negative interest on lending business (reduction in interest and discount income)

Negative interest on deposit-taking business (reduction in interest expenses)

2018
204

117

2017

204

115

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34 Breakdown of personnel expenses

in	CHF million

Salaries for members of the bank’s governing bodies and personnel

– of which, alternative forms of variable compensation

AHV, IV, ALV and other social security contributions 1

Changes	in	book	value	for	economic	benefits	and	obligations	arising	from	pension	schemes

Other personnel expenses

Total

1  Including	change	in	provisions	for	pension	benefit	obligations	(2018:	release	CHF 1 million	/	2017:	creation	CHF 8 million).

35 Breakdown of general and administrative expenses

in	CHF million

Office	space	expenses

Expenses for information and communications technology

Expenses	for	vehicles,	equipment,	furniture	and	other	fixtures,	as	well	as	operating	lease	expenses

Fees	of	audit	firms

–	of	which,	for	financial	and	regulatory	audits

– of which, for other services

Other operating expenses

– of which, compensation for any cantonal guarantee

Total

36 Explanations regarding material losses, extraordinary income and expenses,  

as well as material releases of hidden reserves, reserves for general  
banking risks, and value adjustments and provisions no longer required

in	CHF million

Extraordinary income
Reversal of impairment on other participations

Income from sale of other real estate / bank premises

Income from sale of participations

Other

Total

Extraordinary expenses
Losses from disposal of other real estate / bank premises

Losses from disposal  of participations

Other

Total

Changes in reserves for general banking risks
Creation of reserves for general banking risks 1

Release of reserves for general banking risks

Total

2018
761

–

166

–

32

959

2018
32

158

1

4

4

0

212

22

407

2017

755

–

178

–

32

965

2017

32

158

1

4

4

0

212

23

407

2018

2017

1

21

0

1

24

0

0

0

0

200

–

200

7

2

–

– 0

9

–

–

0

0

–

–

–

1  CHF 200 million	of	reserves	for	general	banking	risks	were	created	during	the	year.	 

This was directly related to the release of provisions for other business risks and other 
provisions that were no longer required following the completion of the investigation  

by	the	US Department	of	Justice	into	the	bank’s	legacy	business	with	US clients.	 
Please	see	Note 16	for	the	level	of	reserves	for	general	banking	risks,	provisions	for	 
other business risks and other provisions.

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37 Disclosure of and reasons for revaluations of participations and  

tangible	fixed	assets	up	to	acquisition	cost	at	maximum

in	CHF million

Participations
CLS Group Holdings AG

Valiant Holding AG  1

Zürcher Kantonalbank Österreich AG

Total

Registered	office

Lucerne

Lucerne 

Salzburg

1  Appreciation	in	the	first	half	of	2017	and	reallocation	to	financial	assets	as	at	1	July	2017.

Appreciation is applied to non-listed participations in accordance with the mean 
value method and, for listed participations, in accordance with the market value 
method.

39 Presentation of current taxes, deferred taxes,  

and disclosure of tax rate

in	CHF million

Creation of provisions for deferred taxes

Reversal of provisions for deferred taxes

Recognition of deferred taxes on losses carried forward

Recognition of other deferred taxes

Expenses for current income and capital taxes

Expenses for property gains taxes

Total

Unrecognised tax reductions on losses carried forward, and tax credits not recognised  
under the principle of prudence

Hypothetical deferred income taxes calculated at theoretical tax rates on revaluations  
of investments not relevant for tax purposes

Figures	in	table:	minus	=	expense;	plus	=	income

As Zürcher Kantonalbank is an independent public-law institution that is exempt 
from	taxes	on	its	income	and	capital	under	both	cantonal	tax	law	(Art. 61)	and	the	
federal	law	on	direct	taxation	(Art. 56),	no	weighted	average	tax	rate	is	disclosed.

2018

2017

0

–

1

1

0

4  

1

5

2018
– 

–

– 

– 

– 

– 0

– 0 

–

–

2017

–

–

–

–

–

– 

– 

–

–

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Financial Report Parent Company

175 

Pawnbroking agency
of Zürcher Kantonalbank

Zürcher Kantonalbank is required to operate a pawn-
broking	agency	(Art. 7	para. 3	of	the	Law	on	Zürcher	
Kantonalbank). Since 1872, the pawnbroking agency 
has been granting loans in return for the depositing of 
pledged items. It is managed as an independent business 
operation in Zurich, at Zurlindenstrasse 105. The follow-
ing section shows the balance sheet, income statement 
and loan transactions of the pawnbroking agency. 

Balance	sheet	(before	appropriation	of	profit)

in	CHF 1,000

2018
371

19

–

2017

340

17

–

Liabilities 
Zürcher Kantonalbank

Surplus from auctions

Accounts payable

6,357

6,111

Provisions

in	CHF 1,000

–

0

Reserve fund

Profit	carried	forward

239 Operating	profit

6,708

Balance sheet total

2018
5,555

185

10

140

2017

5,263

200

17

140

1,088

1,065

1

12

1

23

6,992

6,708

Assets 
Cash

Postal account

Accounts receivable

Loans

Inventory

Furniture, IT system

Accrued interest

Balance sheet total

Income statement

Expenses 
Operating expenses

Refinancing	expenses

Losses

Depreciation and provisions

Operating	profit

Total

Loan transactions

–

0

245

6,992

2018
946

41

1

–

12

in	CHF 1,000

2017

912

Income 
Interest on loans

43 Other income

in	CHF 1,000

2018
816

183

2017

811

168

1

–

23

1,000

979

Total

1,000

979

Total loans at 31.12.2017

New	loans	in	2018	(incl. renewals)

Repayments in 2018

Proceeds	from	auctions	incl. inventory	receipts

Total loans at 31.12.2018

Items 

in	CHF 1,000

–

–

10,306

199

–

–

13,027

134

Items 

5,136

10,480

–

–

in	CHF 1,000	

6,111

13,406

–

–

5,111

6,357

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Financial Report Parent Company

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Ernst & Young Ltd
Maagplatz 1
P.O. Box
CH-8010 Zurich

Phone
Fax
www.ey.com/ch

+41 58 286 31 11
+41 58 286 30 04

Report of the statutory auditor to the Cantonal Parliament of Zurich
on our audit of the financial statements as of 31 December 2018 of

Zurich, 28 February 2019

Zürcher Kantonalbank, Zurich

Report of the statutory auditor on the financial statements

Mrs. President
Ladies and Gentlemen

As statutory auditor, we have audited the financial statements of Zürcher Kantonalbank, which
comprise  the  balance  sheet,  income  statement,  statement  of  changes  in  equity  and  notes
(pages 157 to 175), for the year ended 31 December 2018.

Board of Directors’ responsibility
The  Board  of  Directors  is  responsible  for  the  preparation  of  the  financial  statements  in
accordance with the requirements of Swiss law and the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank. This
responsibility  includes  designing,  implementing  and  maintaining  an  internal  control  system
relevant  to  the preparation  of financial  statements  that  are free from material misstatement,
whether due to fraud or error. The Board of Directors is further responsible for selecting and
applying appropriate accounting policies and making accounting estimates that are reasonable
in the circumstances.

Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with Swiss law and Swiss Auditing Standards. Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether
the financial statements are free from material misstatement.

An  audit  involves  performing  procedures  to  obtain  audit  evidence  about  the  amounts  and
disclosures  in  the  financial  statements.  The  procedures  selected  depend  on  the  auditor’s
judgment,  including  the  assessment  of  the  risks  of  material  misstatement  of  the financial
statements,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  error.  In  making  those  risk  assessments,  the  auditor
considers  the  internal  control  system  relevant  to  the  entity’s  preparation  of  the  financial
statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but
not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control
system. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of the accounting policies used
and  the  reasonableness  of  accounting  estimates  made,  as  well  as  evaluating  the  overall
presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained
is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion
In  our  opinion,  the financial  statements  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2018 comply  with
Swiss law and the Law on Zürcher Kantonalbank.

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177 

Page 2

Report on key audit matters based on the circular 1/2015 of the Federal Audit
Oversight Authority
Key  audit  matters  are  those  matters  that,  in  our  professional  judgment,  were  of  most
significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period. These matters were
addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming
our  opinion  thereon,  and  we do  not  provide a  separate  opinion  on  these matters. For  each
matter below, our description of how our audit addressed the matter is provided in that context.

We  have  fulfilled  the  responsibilities  in  the  Auditor’s  responsibility section  of  our  report,
including  in  relation  to  these  matters.  Accordingly,  our  audit  included  the  performance  of
procedures designed to respond to our assessment of the risks of material misstatement of
the  financial  statements.  The  results  of  our  audit  procedures,  including  the  procedures
performed to address the matters below, provide the basis for our audit opinion on the financial
statements.

Loans – impairment of client loans and amounts due from banks as well as
determination of allowances and provisions

Audit Matter

Zürcher  Kantonalbank discloses  client loans,  which  consist  of  amounts  due
from clients and mortgage receivables, as well as amounts due from banks at
nominal  value  less  any  necessary  allowances.  If  required,  provisions  are
recorded for limits that are set but not used as of the balance sheet date. The
need for an allowance or provision is determined on a case-by-case basis and
is based on the difference between the carrying amount of a receivable, or, if
greater, the limit, and the prospective recoverable amount, taking into account
the  counterparty  risk  and  the  net  income  from  the  use  of  any  collateral.
Determining  allowances  and  provisions  requires  making  estimates  and
assumptions, which by definition involve judgments and can vary depending
on the valuation.

As  of  31  December  2018,  Zürcher  Kantonalbank discloses  client loans  and
amounts  due  from  banks  totaling  CHF  94.5 billion.  Their  share  as  a
percentage  of  total  assets  amounted  to  56.1%  as of  the  reporting  date.
Therefore, the valuation of the impairment of client loans and the amounts due
from banks as well as the determination of allowances and provisions are key
audit matters.

Significant  accounting  principles  regarding  client  loans,  amounts  due  from
banks  as  well  as  allowances  and  provisions  are  described  by  Zürcher
Kantonalbank on pages 95, 96, 99, 100 and 101 as well as on pages 137 to
141 of the bank’s annual report. Furthermore, we refer to notes 2 and 16 on
pages 162, 163 and 168 in the notes to the financial statements.

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Page 3

Our audit
response

Our  audit  included  auditing the  processes  and  controls  in  connection  with
granting  and  monitoring  loans  as  well  as  assessing  the  identification  and
calculation  of  allowances  and  provisions.  Moreover,  we  performed  sample
tests on the impairment of selected client loans and amounts due from banks,
and evaluated the compliance of significant accounting principles as well as
the appropriateness of the disclosures in the notes to the financial statements.
Our  audit  procedures  did  not  lead  to  any  reservations  concerning  the
impairment of client loans and amounts due from banks as well as determina-
tion of allowances and provisions.

Fair value measurement of financial instruments

Audit matter Fair  value  is  defined  as  the  amount  for  which  an  asset  is  exchanged  or a
liability  settled  between  knowledgeable,  willing  parties  in  an  arm’s  length
transaction.  This  amount  corresponds  to  the  price  requested  in  a  price-
efficient and liquid market or, if this is missing, to the price determined on the
basis of a valuation model. Valuation models are significantly affected by the
assumptions that are used, including interest, forward and swap rates, spread
curves  and  the  volatility  and  estimates  of  future  cash  flows.  There  is  a
significant degree of judgment involved in making these assumptions.

Zürcher Kantonalbank discloses financial instruments at fair value measure-
ment – largely in connection with client business – in different balance sheet
items. As of 31 December 2018, the fair value of positive replacement values
of derivative financial instruments amounts to CHF 1.4 billion, while that of the
negative  replacement  values  comes  to  CHF  0.8  billion.  The underlying
contract  volume  before  taking  into  account  netting  agreements  amounts
to  CHF  822.5  billion.  Furthermore,  as  of  31  December  2018,  Zürcher
Kantonalbank  discloses  obligations  that  were  determined  using  a valuation
model from other financial instruments at fair value measurement totaling CHF
1.4 billion. As a result of the inherent scope of judgment and the significance
of  the  listed  balance  sheet  items  in  the  financial  statements  of  Zürcher
Kantonalbank, the valuation of these items represents a key audit matter.

Zürcher  Kantonalbank explains  the  relevant  accounting principles  on  pages
96,  97,  101,  102  as  well  as  on  pages  141  to  146  of their  annual  report.
Furthermore, we refer to notes 3, 4 and 14 on pages 163 to 165 and 167 in
the notes to the financial statements.

We audited the processes and controls with regard to fair value measurement,
the validation  and application  of valuation models  as  well  as  the significant
assumptions on which these are based. Moreover, we assessed the assump-
tions made in connection with the valuation and their appropriateness on the
basis of sample testing. We compared the prices considered on price-efficient
and liquid markets with independent sources using sample testing.

Our audit procedures did not lead to any reservations concerning the fair value
measurement of financial instruments.

Our audit
response

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179 

Page 4

Report on other legal requirements
We  confirm  that  we  meet  the  legal  requirements  on  licensing  according  to  the  Auditor
Oversight Act (AOA) and independence (article 728 CO and article 11 AOA) and that there
are no circumstances incompatible with our independence.

In  accordance  with  article  728a  para.  1  item  3  CO  and  Swiss  Auditing  Standard  890,  we
confirm that an internal control system exists, which has been designed for the preparation of
financial statements according to the instructions of the Board of Directors.

We further confirm that the proposed appropriation of available earnings complies with Swiss
law  and  the  Law  on  Zürcher  Kantonalbank.  We  recommend  that  the  financial  statements
submitted to you be approved.

Ernst & Young Ltd

Bruno Patusi
Licensed audit expert
(Auditor in charge)

Timo D’Ambrosio
  Licensed audit expert

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180

Glossary

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

A

Assessment  — Appraisal of a project, 

situation or participant.

Audit  — The business unit Audit  

(the Inspectorate) is responsible  
for the group’s internal auditing.  
In organisational terms, it reports 
directly to the Board of Directors 
and	assists	the	latter	in	fulfilling	 
its supervisory and control tasks.

B

Basel III  — The reforms published by 
the Basel Committee for Banking 
Supervision	in	2010,	Basel III,	include	
a further revision of the Basel 
Capital Accord. Besides stricter, 
risk-based capital requirements with 
a	countercyclical	effect,	Basel III	sets	
limits	on	leverage	for	the	first	time	
(leverage	ratio).	It	also	specifies	a	
global minimum liquidity standard.

Basel Committee on Banking Super-

vision  — The Basel Committee on 
Banking Supervision was estab-
lished by the Bank for International 
Settlements (BIS) in 1974 and is 
made up of representatives of 
central banks and banking super-
visory	authorities	from	27 countries.	
Switzerland is represented by 
FINMA and the SNB. The Basel 
Committee serves as a forum  
for cooperation on banking 
supervision issues and is the world’s 
most important standard-setting 
body for banking regulation.  
Of particular importance is the  
Basel Capital Accord, also known  
as	Basel I,	Basel II	and	Basel III.

Bid-ask spread  — Difference between 
the buying and selling price of  
a	financial	instrument	or	currency.
Business continuity management  —  
Business continuity management 

ensures a company’s critical 
business functions are maintained 
or restored in the case of internal  
or external events.

C

Capital at risk  — The maximum risk 
capital	specified	by	the	Board	 
of Directors, divided between the 
various risk categories of credit, 
market and operational risks in 
order to limit the various business 
activities.

Capital budgeting  — Planning process 
for determining risk capital. The 
available funds (risk capital) are 
allocated to the various investment 
opportunities (risk categories,  
risk managers).

Clearing house  — Financial sector 

institution that ensures the orderly 
settlement	of	financial	transactions	
between two counterparties  
by acting as a central counterparty 
through	which	financial	trans-
actions between different parties 
are processed.

Commodity trade finance  — Financing 
for commodities trading in the form 
of loans.

Compliance  — Compliance involves 
ensuring that the conduct and 
actions of the bank and its employ-
ees meet applicable legal and 
ethical standards and also covers all 
organisational measures designed 
to prevent violations of the law and 
breaches of rules and ethical norms 
by the bank.

Confidence level  — Also known  

as	confidence	interval	or	expectancy	
range. Indicates an interval for the 
accuracy of the estimated position 
of	a	parameter.	The	confidence	
interval is the range that contains 

the true position of the parameter 
with	a	specific	frequency	(confidence 
level) when random samples are 
drawn	an	infinite	number	of	times.

Core capital  — This term was intro-

duced as part of the Basel Capital 
Accord	(Basel III)	and	refers	to	the	
equity available to a company on a 
permanent basis in order to cover 
losses in its operations. Core capital 
primarily consists of paid-up 
corporate capital or endowment 
capital,	as	well	as	capital	and	profit	
reserves	(Common	Equity	Tier 1).	
Additional	Tier 1	capital,	such	 
as perpetual hybrid capital, is also 
included.

Core capital ratio (Tier 1)  — This term 
was introduced as part of the  
Basel	Capital	Accord	(Basel III)	 
and describes the level of required 
core capital as a percentage of 
risk-weighted assets.

Corporate governance  — Corporate 

governance is the totality of 
principles aimed at safeguarding the 
owner’s	interests;	it	is	intended	to	
guarantee transparency and provide 
a proper system of checks and 
balances at the highest level of the 
company while preserving deci-
sion-making	powers	and	efficiency.

Cost / income ratio (CIR)  — The 

cost /  income ratio is a key measure 
of	the	efficiency	of	a	participant	in	
the	financial	sector.

Countercyclical capital buffer  — The 
countercyclical capital buffer is a 
preventative capital measure within 
the	Basel III	framework	aimed	at	
preventing excessive bank lending. 
The level and implementation 
 timescale for the capital buffer are 
determined by the Federal Council 
at the Swiss National Bank’s request, 

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Glossary

181 

Key risk takers  — Key risk takers have 
a	sustained	influence	on	the	bank’s	
business operations (risks, image, 
etc.), on the group’s result and 
therefore on the implementation  
of the strategy. (See remuneration 
report,	p. 80)

L

Letter of credit  — The (documentary) 
letter of credit is an instrument 
guaranteeing the settlement of 
payment and credit transactions in 
connection with international trade. 
An importer’s bank issues a written 
commitment in which it agrees  
to make payment to the exporter  
of a good upon receipt of the 
documents	specified	in	the	letter	 
of credit. 

Leverage ratio  — The leverage ratio  
is an unweighted equity ratio  
and measures a bank’s degree of 
indebtedness.	It	defines	the	
relationship between equity and  
the sum of all assets and various 
off-balance-sheet items.

Liquidity  — A company’s ability to 

meet its commitments in full and on 
time. The Banking Act requires banks 
in Switzerland to have adequate 
liquidity. The money market is 
central to the liquidity management 
of banks. The SNB provides the 
money market with liquidity  
to implement its monetary policy.

with FINMA monitoring implemen-
tation of the measure at bank level. 
The	SNB	can	confine	the	counter-
cyclical capital buffer to just  
one sector of the credit market 
(e.g. residential	mortgages).

Credit valuation adjustment (CVA)  —  
Additional capital requirement to 
account for the risk of a change  
in a counterparty’s credit quality 
where OTC derivatives are not 
settled via a central counterparty.

Creditworthiness  — Ability and 
willingness of an individual, 
company or country to repay debts.

FERI assesses quantitative and 
qualitative criteria in investment 
research as well as portfolio and  
risk management.

FINMA  — The Swiss Financial Market 
Supervisory Authority (FINMA) is 
responsible for supervising banks, 
insurance companies, exchanges, 
securities dealers, collective invest-
ment schemes, as well as distribu-
tors and insurance brokers. An 
independent authority, it works to 
protect creditors, investors and 
policyholders, as well as to ensure 
the	effectiveness	of	the	financial	
markets.

E

Endowment capital  — Equity made 

I

Impairment  — Decrease in value 

where the book value of an asset 
(participation,	tangible	fixed	asset	
or intangible asset) exceeds the 
recoverable amount (the greater of 
net market value or value-in-use).
IRB approach  — The internal ratings- 
based (IRB) approach is a bank- 
specific	modelling	approach	based	
on internal ratings, used to deter-
mine risk-weighted capital require-
ments for credit risk. IRB approaches 
are more risk-sensitive than the 
standard approach and have to be 
approved by FINMA.

Issuer  — Issuer of securities such  

as equities or bonds.

available to Zürcher Kantonalbank, 
as a public-law institution, by the 
canton, as owner.

Exception to policy  — Procedure  
or approach that deviates  
from internal guidelines on an 
 exceptional basis.

F

Fair value  — Fair value is the amount 
for which mutually independent, 
knowledgeable business partners 
would exchange an asset or repay  
a debt.

FATCA  — The United States Foreign 

Account Tax Compliance Act aims to 
prevent	US taxpayers	from	minimis-
ing their taxes, particularly through 
using	financial	institutions	located	
abroad. The law came into effect  
for	financial	institutions	worldwide	
on	1 July	2014,	and	had	to	be	
implemented in stages by 2017.

FERI Award  — FERI EuroRating 

Services AG	selects	the	best	invest-
ment funds and fund companies 
across German-speaking countries. 

K

Key rate sensitivity  — The degree of 
sensitivity of an asset’s net present 
value to minor changes in an 
interest	rate,	e.g. the	effect	on	the	
net present value of a portfolio of 
financial	investments	of	a	reduction	
in the market interest rate by 
0.01 percent.

M

Monte Carlo simulation  — Stochastic 
process based on very frequently 
conducted random experiments. 
The aim is to use probability theory 
to analytically solve problems  
that	are	difficult	or	impossible	to	
solve.

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Glossary

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

N

Negative replacement value  — The 
replacement value corresponds  
to the market value of outstanding 
derivative	financial	instruments.	
Negative replacement values 
constitute	a	financial	obligation	 
and thus a liability.

Netting  — The term netting describes 
the offsetting of receivables and 
payables under a netting agreement 
between two counterparties. 
Netting agreements must be 
enforceable under bankruptcy law. 
As a result of netting, the level  
of gross receivables / payables is 
reduced to a net position.

O

OTC transaction  — Transaction that 

takes place over the counter (OTC), 
i.e. not	on	an	exchange	but	on	 
a direct, individual basis between 
two counterparties.

P

Positive replacement value  — The 
replacement value corresponds  
to the market value of outstanding 
derivative	financial	instruments.	
Positive replacement values consti-
tute a receivable and thus an  
asset.

R

Repo (repurchase agreement)  — Finan-
cial transaction where the borrower 
agrees to transfer securities to the 
lender in return for an agreed sum 
of money and redeem them for 
payment plus interest at the end  
of the term.

Return on equity (RoE)  — The return 

on	equity	measures	the	profitability	
of equity and is calculated from  

the	relationship	between	net	profit	
and equity.

Risk capital allocation  — The allocation 

of risk capital (capital at risk) to  
the various risk categories (or risk 
managers) as part of the planning 
process.

Risk-adjusted pricing  — Pricing where 
the price level depends on the level 
of risk entered into.

Risk-weighted assets (RWA)  —  

The term risk-weighted assets  
was introduced as part of the  
Basel	Capital	Accord	(Basel III)	and	
constitutes the main basis for 
measuring risk-weighted capital 
ratios such as the core capital ratio. 
Risk weighting assumes that not 
every position entails the same level 
of risk. For this reason, less risky 
positions require less equity to 
underpin them than riskier ones.

S

SLB transaction  — Securities lending 
and borrowing (SLB) transactions 
involve a lender transferring a 
security to a borrower to use for a 
fixed	or	indefinite,	but	callable	
period;	in	return,	they	receive	a	fee	
from the borrower.

SME  — Small and medium-sized  
enterprises with fewer than 
250 em	ployees.	Microbusinesses	
and small enterprises are those  
with	fewer	than	20 employees.	
Companies	with	20	to	249 em-
ployees are considered medium- 
sized enterprises.

Swiss standard approach  — Banks in 
Switzerland were previously able  
to use two standard approaches to 
calculate risk-weighted assets: the 
Swiss standard approach (SA-CH) 
and the international standard 

approach (SA-BIS) for credit risks.  
In the course of implementing 
Basel III	in	Switzerland,	FINMA	
abolished the Swiss standard 
approach. With effect from the end 
of 2018, banks are only permitted 
to use the international standard 
approach. Banks may also use 
additional,	institution-specific	
model approaches for credit risk 
based on internal ratings (IRB 
approaches). However, these need 
to be approved by FINMA.
Systemically important banks  —  
A bank or group of banks is 
systemically important if it performs 
functions in the domestic lending 
and deposit business as well  
as payment transactions that are 
indispensable to the Swiss economy 
and not substitutable at short 
notice. Other criteria such as size, 
risk	profile	and	integration	are	also	
taken into account. Systemically 
important banks in Switzerland are 
subject to particularly strict require-
ments (“too big to fail”).

V

Value at risk (VaR)  — The maximum 
loss	not	exceeded	on	a	specific	 
risk	position	(e.g. a	securities	
portfolio) with a given probability 
(e.g. 95 percent)	over	a	given	period	
of	time	(e.g. 10	days).

Variable compensation component  —  

An unsecured entitlement to a 
future allocation of a cash sum that 
is deferred for a period of three 
years. It is also subject to additional 
conditions, in particular the sustain-
able success of the business.
Volatility  —	Fluctuation,	e.g. in	the	

price of a security.

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183 

Index

A

Accounting and valuation principles  —  

93, 100, 161

Acquisition  — 11, 43, 49, 51, 54, 61, 
94, 97, 98, 108, 109, 122, 125, 
137, 146, 161, 171, 174
Appreciation  — 49, 125, 174
Appropriation of profit  —  

inside back cover 1,	13,	55,	149,	
158, 175

Areas of responsibility  — 67, 84, 137
Asset management  —	inside back cov-
er 2,	13,	15,	16,	28,	31,	33,	38,	43,	
45, 63, 72, 93, 108, 111, 122, 123, 
148, 171, 172

Audit  — 58, 60 – 65, 67, 72, 78, 79, 

124, 129, 130, 173

Audit Committee  — 57, 58, 61, 62, 

64, 66, 69, 70, 129, 130

Auditor  — 57, 61, 62, 64, 65, 67, 69, 

124, 173

B

Balance sheet  —	inside back cover 1,	
51, 53, 55, 89, 93 – 95, 98, 99, 
101 – 103, 109, 110, 114, 115, 120, 
121, 136, 137, 141, 144, 145 – 147, 
149, 159, 161, 162, 166, 168, 169, 
175

Bank’s capital  — 55, 89, 92, 108, 114, 
115, 117, 120, 127, 159, 160, 168, 
170

Board of Directors  — 7 – 9, 14, 21, 26, 
33, 55, 57 – 75, 77 – 79, 82 – 85, 
114, 129 – 132, 135, 144, 145, 147, 
158, 168

Branch  —	inside back cover 1,	6,	 

15, 29, 35, 60, 61, 79, 83, 149,  
186

Branch and ATM network  — 12, 21, 

35

C

Cash flow statement  — 90, 91
Commission business and services  —  
inside back cover 1,	52,	88,	126,	
149, 157

Committee of the Board  — 8, 49, 

57 – 62, 64 – 72, 77 – 79, 82, 83, 85, 
129 – 131

Communication policy  — 67
Compensation  —	inside back cover 1,	
21, 49, 58, 60, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 
77 – 85, 95, 97, 109, 115, 124, 150, 
166, 170

Compensation and Personnel 

 Committee  — 58, 61, 62, 63, 68, 
69, 71, 72, 77, 78

Compliance  — 25, 33, 44, 59, 62,  
63, 64, 65, 82, 114, 128 – 132, 
135 – 137, 141, 147, 148, 161, 168
Consolidated profit  —	inside back cov-
er 1,	13,	55,	88,	89,	92,	115,	117,	
120, 126, 127, 149

Contingent liabilities  — 89, 99, 103, 
115, 117, 118, 121, 159, 162, 169

Core capital  —	inside back cover 1,	

133, 134, 142, 149

Corporate governance  — 25, 57, 58, 

61 – 63, 67, 77

Cost / income ratio (CIR)  — 

	inside back cover 1,	12,	149

Countercyclical buffer  — 12, 133, 134
Currencies  — 30, 45, 112, 120, 142, 

143, 147, 167, 

D

Default risk  — 53, 81, 82, 88, 90, 95, 
100, 114, 126, 136, 141, 157, 161,  
168

Derivative financial instruments  —  

54, 89, 91, 94 – 97, 101, 105, 106, 
110, 116, 117, 120, 159, 161, 
164 – 166

Digitalisation  — 8, 14, 17, 27, 30 – 32, 

36, 93, 146

E

Emergency plan  — 147
Employee benefits  — 49, 50
Employees  —	inside back cover 1,	 

7, 8, 16, 17, 20, 26, 29, 36, 37, 42, 
45, 47 – 50, 57, 64, 78 – 83, 110, 
111, 114, 129, 136, 146, 148, 149, 
168, 169

Endowment capital  — 12, 20, 21, 55, 

90, 160, 168

Equity capital  — 9, 45, 101, 115,  

170

Executive Board  — 7, 9, 14, 33, 57, 
59 – 61, 63 – 67, 73 – 75, 78 – 82, 
84, 123, 129 – 132, 137, 141, 144, 
146, 172

Extraordinary expenses  — 88, 125, 

126, 157, 173

Extraordinary income  — 88, 93, 125, 

126, 157, 173

F

Fair value  —	inside back cover 1,	 
54, 88, 89, 91, 94, 96, 97, 103, 
104, 106, 112, 116, 117, 120, 123, 
126, 136, 141, 149, 157, 159, 162, 
163, 165, 167, 172

Fiduciary transactions  — 121, 171
Financial investment  — 53, 88, 89, 91, 
96, 97, 101, 106, 110, 116, 117, 
120, 126, 135, 145 – 147, 157, 159, 
165, 166

Financing  — 9, 15, 21, 29, 32, 33, 36, 
38, 40 – 43, 53, 93, 95, 100, 101, 
114, 128, 136, 137, 168

Foreign currencies  — 45, 55, 89, 94, 

97, 112, 115, 117, 120, 167

G

General and administrative  

expenses  —  
52, 53, 88, 98, 99, 124, 126, 157, 
173

Cantonal Parliamentary Committee  —  

Dividend  — 13, 21, 55, 88, 90, 92, 96, 

Goodwill  — 52, 54, 94, 98, 109, 161, 

57, 65

122, 126, 157, 158, 171

166

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184

Index

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

H

Headcount  —	inside back cover 1,	 

47, 49, 80, 149

Hedge accounting  — 96, 101, 161

I

Income statement  —	inside back cov-
er 1,	51,	53,	88,	93,	96	–	99,	123,	
126, 149, 157, 168, 172, 175

Method of consolidation  — 94
Mortgage lending  — 31, 84
Mortgage loans  —	inside back cover 1,	
33, 39, 54, 89, 91, 95, 103, 110, 
116, 117, 120, 128, 140, 149, 159, 
162, 166

N

Profit distribution  —	inside back cov-
er 1,	14,	21,	61,	150,	158,	168
Provisions  —	inside back cover 1,	 

32, 40, 53, 57, 64, 88 – 90, 95, 96, 
98 – 100, 112, 114, 117, 120, 
124 – 127, 129, 132, 133, 134, 141, 
149, 157, 159, 161, 167, 168, 
173 – 175

Negative interest rates  — 31, 33, 39, 

Public service mandate  — 

Information and control instruments  —  

63, 128

65

Intangible assets  —	inside back cov-
er 1,	52,	54,	88,	89,	90,	94,	98,	
109, 117, 120, 149, 157, 159

Interest operations  —	inside back cov-
er 1,	13,	51	–	53,	88,	95,	96,	100,	
114, 126, 149, 157, 168

Internal control system  — 33, 62, 128, 

129, 146

IRB approach  —	inside back cover 1,	

12, 63, 132, 149

IT Committee  — 58, 61, 64, 68, 

70 – 72

K

Key figure  —	inside back cover 1,	 

12, 33, 50, 128, 149

L

Leasing  — 42, 43, 45, 95, 109
Lending policy  — 42, 137
Leverage ratio  —	inside back cover 1,	

133, 134, 149

Liquidity  — 33, 40, 53, 63, 91, 128, 

132, 136, 142, 147

Liquidity coverage ratio (LCR)  — 

	inside back cover 1,	53,	133,	134,	
136, 147, 149

	inside back cover 1,	11,	20	–	22,	33,	
39, 57, 59 – 61, 65, 66, 150

Net new money (NNM) inflow / out-

flow  — 15, 39, 122, 171

New investment offering  — 7, 15, 29, 

R

32, 36, 38

Notes  — 52 – 55, 88, 89, 93, 95, 146, 

157, 159, 161

O

Off-balance-sheet  — 89, 98, 99, 103, 
104, 115, 117, 121, 137, 147, 159, 
162, 163, 169

Operating expenses  —	inside back cov-
er 1,	51,	52,	88,	124,	126,	136,	
149, 157, 173, 175

Operating income  —	inside back cov-
er 1,	13,	51,	53,	88,	136,	149,	157
Ownership  — 7, 21, 22, 42, 57, 110, 

166

P

Parent company  — 45, 47, 50, 62,  
67, 77, 83, 93, 94, 99, 114, 115, 
132 – 134, 156, 161

Participations  —	inside back cover 1,	
15, 45, 51, 52, 54, 59, 88 – 90, 97, 
98, 106 – 108, 115, 117, 120, 125, 
126, 135, 145, 146, 149, 157, 159, 
161, 165, 169, 173, 174

Rating  —	inside back cover 1,	 

12, 15, 33, 44, 51, 106, 119, 128, 
137 – 141, 146, 150, 165, 170
Replacement value  — 54, 89, 91, 

94 – 97, 105, 106, 110, 115 – 117, 
120, 159, 164 – 166, 169
Research  — 9, 14, 40, 44, 45
Reserves  —	inside back cover 1,	 

51, 53, 55, 88 – 90, 92, 93, 98, 99, 
109, 112, 114, 115, 117, 120, 125, 
126, 142, 149, 157 – 161, 166, 167, 
168, 170, 173

Retained earnings reserve  — 55,  
89, 92, 94, 99, 115, 117, 120, 
158 – 161, 170

Return on equity (RoE)  — 

	inside back cover 1,	12,	123,	127,	
149

Risk Committee  — 58, 61, 63, 68, 69, 

71, 129 – 131, 141, 144, 146

Risk management  — 33, 34, 54, 60, 
61, 63, 64, 78, 82, 97, 100, 101, 
128 – 131, 135, 137, 138, 141, 144, 
147, 148, 161

Location  — 14, 15, 29, 37, 41 – 43, 

Pension fund  — 50, 77, 78, 83, 84, 

S

100, 128, 137, 186

M

Managed assets  — 45, 50, 121, 122, 

171

Market penetration  — 11, 15, 42

99, 110 – 112, 114, 122, 140, 167, 
168, 171

Period of consolidation  — 94
Personnel expenses  — 52, 53, 77, 83, 
88, 99, 110, 112, 124, 126, 149, 
157, 167, 173

Scope of consolidation  — 57, 94, 108, 

109, 114

Securities financing business  — 53, 

54, 89, 91, 95, 103, 110, 116, 117, 
120, 159, 162, 166

Service mandate  — 9, 14, 20, 21, 22

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Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Index

185 

(Shareholders’) equity  — 

Variable compensation  — 49, 77 – 84, 

110, 124, 173

Vision  — 3, 20, 26, 27, 29

	inside back cover 1,	7,	9,	12,	40,	55,	
57, 82, 89, 90, 92, 94, 101, 115, 
133, 134, 144, 145, 149, 159, 160, 
170

Stability  — 8, 12, 21, 26, 78
State guarantee  —	inside back cov-

er 1,	7,	9,	11,	12,	20,	21,	62,	124,	
150, 173

Strategy  — 7, 8, 17, 21, 26 – 28, 33, 
35, 39, 45, 47, 48, 59, 60 – 63, 
65 – 67, 78, 80, 93, 97, 128, 137, 
141, 142, 144 – 147

Structured products  — 45, 52, 97, 
104, 112, 123, 163, 167, 172

Support mandate  — 21, 22
Sustainability  — 7, 14, 15, 21, 22,  

24, 25, 40, 46, 50, 59, 61, 66, 67, 
78, 100

Sustainability mandate  — 21, 22, 25, 

39, 46

T

Tangible fixed asset  —	inside back cov-
er 1,	52,	54,	88	–	90,	98,	108,	109,	
117, 120, 125, 149, 157, 159, 174
Taxes  —	inside back cover 1,	29,	31,	
38, 42, 53, 88, 93, 99, 109, 114, 
126, 127, 149, 157, 166, 168, 174

Total capital  —	inside back cover 1,	

133, 134

Trading activities  —	inside back cov-

er 1,	51,	52,	53,	54,	82,	88,	94,	96,	
97, 123, 124, 126, 141, 149, 157, 
172

U

Universal bank  — 8, 11, 17, 20 – 22, 

27, 42 – 44

V

Value adjustment  —	inside back cov-

er 1,	51	–	53,	88,	90,	95,	96,	98,	100, 
103, 104, 107, 114, 125, 126, 138, 
141, 149, 157, 161 – 163, 168, 173

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186

Branches

Zürcher Kantonalbank Annual Report 2018

Canton of Zurich
We have a strong local base. With 67 branches  
and	around	340 ATMs	we	have	the	densest	network	 
of branches and ATMs in the Canton of Zurich.

In Switzerland

Zurich

Feuer-
thalen

Marthalen

Andelfingen

Rafz

Eglisau

Bülach

Embrach

Dielsdorf

Seuzach

Oberwinterthur

Winterthur

Winterthur-Seen

Rümlang

Kloten

Bassersdorf

Regensdorf

Effretikon

Seebach

Höngg

Dietlikon

Oerlikon

Wallisellen
Schwamendingen

Turbenthal

International

Luxembourg

Frankfurt

Mumbai*

Beijing*

Singapore*
Vienna / Salzburg

São Paulo*

Guernsey

Dietikon

Schlieren

Urdorf
Albisrieden

Altstetten

Prime Tower

Wiedikon

Neumünster

Unispital

City

Klusplatz

Witikon

Dübendorf

Volketswil

Fehraltorf

Fällanden

Pfäffikon

Bauma

Uster

Wollishofen

Bonstetten-
Wettswil

Adliswil

Thalwil

Langnau a.A.

Affoltern a.A.

Hausen a.A.

Zumikon

Küsnacht

Erlenbach

Wetzikon

Egg

Gossau

Hinwil

Meilen

Horgen

Männedorf
Stäfa

Bubikon

Hombrechtikon

Rüti

Wald

Wädenswil

Richterswil

  Branches/locations Zürcher Kantonalbank  
	 Locations	Swisscanto	Holding AG	 

 *  Representation offices

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Contact

For further information about Zürcher Kantonalbank, 
please don’t hesitate to contact us: 

Retail Clients
+ 41 (0)844 843 823
kundenservice@zkb.ch

Private Banking
+ 41 (0)844 843 827
privatebanking@zkb.ch

Corporate Clients
+ 41 (0)844 850 830 
kundenservice@zkb.ch

Financial Institutions & Multinationals
+ 41 (0)44 292 87 00
international@zkb.ch

Media
+ 41 (0)44 292 29 79
medien@zkb.ch

You can also find further information at zkb.ch

Imprint
Published by: Zürcher Kantonalbank, Zurich; Design and layout: hilda design matters, Zurich; Photography: Markus Bühler, Zurich  
(cover, page 6), Dominique Meienberg, Zurich (pages 68 – 75); Printing: Multicolor Print AG (NZZ Mediengruppe); Copyright:  
Zürcher Kantonalbank; Reproduction is permitted with the editor’s permission and indication of the source. Printed in Switzerland  
on 100 %  recycled paper.

Disclaimer
This Annual Report is for information purposes only and is expressly not addressed to any person who by domicile or nationality is prohibited from accessing such informa-
tion according to the applicable law. The statements and information herein are neither an offer nor a recommendation to buy or sell financial instruments, use banking 
services, enter into other activities or carry out legal transactions. This Annual Report contains statements and forecasts which relate to or could influence the future devel-
opment of Zürcher Kantonalbank and its business activity. These statements and forecasts reflect estimates and expectations at the time of preparing the report. By their 
nature, they are subject to uncertainty, as risks and other factors may influence actual performance and results. This means that actual performance may differ substantially 
from the estimates and expectations set out by Zürcher Kantonalbank in this Annual Report. In case of any deviations resulting from the translation, the German version 
shall prevail.

Copyright © 2019 Zürcher Kantonalbank.

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