At the same time, the 2025 figure marks the highest level in four years and a sharp jump from the CHF 590 million recorded in 2024.
Infographics: TBS
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Infographics: TBS
Money parked by Bangladeshi individuals and banks in Swiss banks soared 41% in 2025 to 834.2 million Swiss francs (CHF) (about Tk12,763 crore), reaching the second-highest level on record, according to annual data released by Switzerland’s central bank today (18 June).
With this jump, Bangladesh-linked holdings now stand just behind the all-time peak of CHF 871.1 million recorded at the end of 2021. At the same time, the 2025 figure marks the highest level in four years and a sharp jump from the CHF 590 million recorded in 2024.
The surge was driven largely by a 43% increase in deposits from Bangladeshi banks, which rose to CHF 822.7 million in 2025 from CHF 576.6 million a year earlier, according to Swiss National Bank (SNB) annual banking statistics.
In contrast, deposits held through individual customer accounts moved in the opposite direction. Such holdings fell nearly 10% to CHF 11.4 million in 2025 from CHF 12.6 million a year earlier.
Taken together, the latest surge follows a historic dip in 2023, when Bangladeshi funds in Swiss banks dropped to their lowest level in history before soaring in the following years.
However, these are official figures reported by banks to the Swiss National Bank (SNB) and do not indicate the quantum of the much-debated alleged black money held by Bangladeshis in Switzerland.
In that broader context, a White Paper committee formed by the interim government estimated in December 2024 that around $236 billion was siphoned out of Bangladesh between 2009 and 2023.
According to the report, the laundered money was primarily routed to or through the UAE, the UK, Canada, the US, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and India, and several tax havens.
Bangladesh yet to pledge commitment to the AEOI
Swiss banks, once famed for client secrecy, have shifted towards transparency, combating money laundering through initiatives like the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) started in 2018 to curb tax evasion.
The exchanged information allows the cantonal tax authorities to verify whether taxpayers have correctly declared their financial accounts abroad in their tax returns.
Identification, account and financial information is exchanged, including name, address, country of residence and tax identification number, as well as information concerning the reporting financial institution, account balance and capital income
In 2025, the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (FTA) exchanged information with 101 countries on around 3.4 million financial accounts within the framework of the global standard on the AEOI.
As of May 2026, the latest update from OECD’s Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes indicates that Bangladesh has not yet pledged commitment to the AEOI, whereas neighbouring countries like India and Pakistan have already participated in these exchanges.
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