Rise of the midshores

摘要

At the centennial gathering of the Swiss Bankers Association last November, held at a swanky hotel in the hills above Zurich, the celebrations were muted. In his opening address the group's chairman, Patrick Odier, felt obliged to note that "we have an image problem." His worry was not that only half a dozen of the audience of more than 100 were women. Instead, he was referring to his industry's travails since America launched its all-out assault five years ago on banks that served tax evaders.