Important Events:
Switzerland and the World

Important Events:
Swiss Bank Corporation (SBC)
Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS)

The Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein launches an attack on Iran. An eight years long war breaks out.

Lech Walesa, leader of the polish trade union "Solidarity" during a strike on August 30, 1980. the communist regime finally was defeated by the General Election in 1989.

The investment banking subsidiary SBCI, Swiss Bank Corporation International Ltd., London, becomes operational.

Automation: In a realtime banking project SBC expands its terminal network to approx. 2'000 data stations enabling all Swiss branches to conduct their teller transactions and all payment traffic over these terminals.

SBC shows the following figures for 1980:
Assets of 74,1 billion CHF, an
Equity of 4,3 billion CHF and a
Net profit of 0,3 billion CHF.

Robert Holzach

Robert Holzach succeeds Philippe de Weck as Chairman of UBS.

	Nikolaus Senn

Nikolaus Senn is appointed President of General Management.

UBS opens a Branch in Hong Kong and a Representative Office in Houston, Texas.

From that year onwards, UBS establishes itself firmly as the number one bank in Switzerland. It has the most Assets (77,5 billion CHF), the largest Equity (4,8 billion CHF), and the highest Net profit (0,3 billion CHF).
This situation remains unchanged until 1995, when the Credit Suisse Group - after the acquisition of Swiss Volksbank and Winterthur Insurance - becomes the number one in Switzerland with Total Assets of 412 billion CHF (UBS: 387 billion CHF).

UBS is now also rated by the rating agency IBCA, London, and receives the highest marks possible.

Greece joins the European Community as the 10th member state.

Swiss Bank Corporation (Canada) Ltd., Toronto, is created through the merger of SBC Financial Ltd., Montreal, and Swiss Corporation for Canadian Investments Ltd., Montreal.

UBS opens its banking subsidiary Union Bank of Switzerland (Canada) Inc., Toronto.

The "Agreement on the Observance of Care by the (Swiss) Banks in Accepting Funds and on the Practice of Banking Secrecy" of 1977 is renewed in an amended version.

Argentina tries to annex the British Falkland Islands. The UK wins the resulting war.

Hedi Staffelbach is the first woman to be made a member of management in SBC's head office in Basle.

SBC in London becomes a member of LIFFE, the London International Financial Futures Exchange.

In New York, the SBC Portfolio Management International Inc. is set up.

SBC acquires Bank Haerry AG, Reinach AG.

Total Assets of SBC at the end of this year amount to 96,8 billion CHF).

UBS establishes a Representative Office in Monte Carlo.

UBS implements a new Corporate Identity concept.

At the end of this year Total Assets of UBS for the first time exceed 100 billion CHF (106,5 billion CHF).