2026-02-19
Added · Updated
The Swiss National Bank has defined the framework for its Extended Liquidity Facility to provide liquidity support to banks domiciled in Switzerland. The standardised process allows participating banks to obtain liquidity against mortgages and securities, with pilot testing scheduled until mid-2026 and full operation beginning in 2027. The SNB has published essential guidelines, instruction sheets, and collateral conditions to prepare eligible counterparties for the facility's implementation.
Press release Page 1/2 Communications P.O. Box, CH-8022 Zurich Telephone +41 58 631 00 00 communications@snb.ch Zurich, 19 February 2026 Swiss National Bank establishes basis for Extended Liquidity Facility The Swiss National Bank has set out in more detail the framework for its announced Extended Liquidity Facility (ELF) to provide liquidity support to banks domiciled in Switzerland. In particular, the SNB has defined a standardised and scalable process for the ELF that will enable participating banks to quickly obtain liquidity support against collateral as necessary. Under the ELF, banks can use mortgages and securities as collateral. The ELF process will be tested with pilot banks as well as with SIX Terravis and SIX SIS until mid-2026. The ELF is scheduled to go into operation at the beginning of 2027 and will contribute to the stability of the banking system. The following documents contain all the fundamental information on the ELF and are available at www.snb.ch, Extended Liquidity Facility (ELF):
Zurich, 19 February 2026 Press release Page 2/2