Because of its business model – take savings deposits and invest in bonds – Postfinance (pictured below) is cursed by Switzerland's regime of negative interest rates. The postal subsidiary views exemption from a ban on lending as one way to help itself, but this would require legislative changes, since Postfinance is government-backed. Bankers expect the Swiss government to unveil a high-altitude plan for the post office in March, which should give clarity on the lending question. 
5. Payments Leap
By June 30, the «largest financial infrastructure project of the last 30 years» should be in place: a new payments slip including a QR code (pictured below). SIX's subsidiary SIC is leading the $1 billion project, which is projected to save more than $270 million for payment providers, as well as reinforce defenses against money laundering.
6. Sword of Damocles: Jobs
Banks have already cut 70,000 jobs globally since last year, but the bloodletting isn't over. European banks make for 90 percent of the spending cuts – the continent's lenders are fighting a toxic cocktail of ultra-low interest rates, reluctant clients, and new, costly regulation. It would be surprising if UBS as well as Credit Suisse escaped another round of job cuts.
7. Not Ready to Let Go: Libor
