Swiss giant Credit Suisse is to change its legal structure to meet stricter regulatory requirements for banks deemed too big to fail, it said today.
The reform comes after banking regulators across the globe introduced new rules amid the financial crisis, mindful of the risk posed to the broader economy if major players get into trouble.
In a statement, Credit Suisse said that it had decided to create a subsidiary for business booked in Switzerland -- chiefly wealth management, plus retail, corporate and institutional banking.
Credit Suisse's Britain-based operations will remain the hub of the groups' European investment banking business. Its two main British subsidiaries, Credit Suisse Securities Europe Ltd and Credit Suisse International are to be consolidated into one subsidiary.
The shake-up also aims to align the group's non-European business to the appropriate entities in the Americas, primarily Credit Suisse Securities USA LLC, and in the Asia Pacific region, through the Singapore Branch of Credit Suisse AG.
The aim, the group said, is give a sharper regional focus to client- and risk-management.
A third legal entity, named Credit Suisse USA Inc., will focus on the group's US operations.
Credit Suisse said the changes had been in the pipeline since 2012 to help the group "to meet developing and future regulatory requirements".
They should also results in a "substantially less complex and more efficient operating infrastructure", it added.
The changes were crafted after discussions with Switzerland's regulator the FINMA and were intended to meet the requirements set by Swiss, US and British law.
Credit Suisse is Switzerland's second-biggest bank, after rival UBS.
The group said the reform had been approved by its board, but still required final approval from the FINMA.
"Implementation of the program is well underway, with a number of key components to be implemented from mid-2015," it added.
