Zug, Switzerland, Aug. 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montezy GmbH today announced that it has established its Swiss anti-money-laundering compliance foundation through membership in VQF, a self-regulatory organisation recognised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA.
Montezy is supervised by VQF for compliance with the obligations applicable to it under the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act. For the company, this marks an important step in building responsible cross-border financial services from a clear institutional base.
The announcement reflects a principle that has guided Montezy from the beginning: trust in financial services should be supported by defined responsibilities, continuing oversight and precise communication, not broad promises.
Building from a Swiss Institutional Base
Montezy chose Switzerland as its home because of the country’s established financial-services framework, emphasis on accountability and clear distinction between different forms of financial supervision.
That distinction is central to responsible financial communication. A company should be able to explain not only the framework under which it operates, but also the scope and limits of that framework.
For Montezy, VQF membership provides a clear starting point. It places the company within an established Swiss system for supervising financial intermediaries’ compliance with anti-money-laundering obligations while the company continues to develop its services.
This is not a claim that one Swiss status replaces the requirements of other jurisdictions. Cross-border financial services remain subject to the applicable rules in each market. Instead, Montezy’s Swiss foundation establishes a defined set of responsibilities from which the company can approach future growth carefully and transparently.
VQF Membership Means Ongoing Supervision
VQF is headquartered in Zug and has performed the role of a FINMA-recognised self-regulatory organisation under the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act since 1998. It describes itself as Switzerland’s oldest and largest cross-industry SRO, with members drawn from payment services, credit, investment, fiduciary services and other areas of the non-bank financial sector.
Membership is not a certificate awarded once and then set aside. VQF monitors the anti-money-laundering obligations of its members, conducts periodic reviews and provides training relating to the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act.
FINMA explains that professional financial intermediaries covered by the relevant provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act must join a recognised SRO. Those intermediaries are supervised by the SRO to which they are affiliated, rather than directly by FINMA. FINMA, in turn, recognises and supervises the SRO itself.
This structure creates a clear chain of accountability. VQF defines how its members must implement statutory due-diligence requirements, monitors whether those requirements are followed and can impose penalties or suspend a member when obligations are not met.
Institutional Credibility in Practice
The value of a supervisory framework lies in what it requires organisations to do consistently.
Under the Swiss framework described by FINMA, relevant duties include establishing the identity of contractual partners and beneficial owners, maintaining appropriate records, assessing risk and reporting suspicions of money laundering when the legal conditions are met. Compliance may be examined through periodic checks by internal or external auditors.
VQF’s organisational structure reinforces the continuing nature of this work. Its Supervisory Commission is responsible for admitting members, approving audit reports and handling sanctions and disciplinary proceedings.
FINMA also applies risk-based supervision to recognised SROs. Its tools include periodic on-site reviews, supervisory discussions and analysis of SRO annual reports.
For Montezy, these institutional arrangements matter because they turn compliance from a general aspiration into defined work: understanding customers, identifying relevant risks, documenting decisions, maintaining appropriate controls and responding when an issue requires escalation.
What the Framework Means for Montezy
Montezy is building for individuals, freelancers and businesses whose financial lives extend across borders. These customers often depend on financial services for client payments, supplier obligations, business expenses and everyday cash flow.
In that context, clarity is not a cosmetic feature. Customers and partners should be able to understand who they are dealing with, why certain information is requested and what responsibilities sit behind a financial service.
Montezy’s VQF membership provides an institutional foundation for developing those expectations responsibly. As the company builds its service, compliance considerations are intended to form part of its processes from the beginning rather than being added after growth has already taken place.
This includes a commitment to clear onboarding expectations, accountable internal controls and communication that accurately describes Montezy’s regulatory position. It also means avoiding statements that could confuse anti-money-laundering supervision with a banking licence, deposit protection or direct prudential supervision by FINMA.
A Statement from Montezy
Draft executive quotation — approval required before attribution or publication
“We chose to build Montezy in Switzerland because institutional clarity matters in financial services. VQF membership gives us a defined framework for our Swiss anti-money-laundering obligations and reinforces our belief that compliance should be part of the company from the beginning. For our future customers and partners, we want responsibility and transparency to be visible in how Montezy is built, not added later as a marketing claim.”
Building the Next Stage Responsibly
Montezy remains in the product-development stage. The company’s next priority is to continue building its cross-border financial service within the obligations applicable to its activities and intended markets.
VQF membership is not the conclusion of that work. It is the institutional starting point for an ongoing practice of review, documentation, training and improvement.
As Montezy develops, the company intends to maintain the same standard of clarity in its public communication. Product scope, market availability, eligibility, launch timing and specific service arrangements will be communicated only when they are confirmed.
For customers and partners evaluating a financial-services provider, that precision matters. Institutional credibility is built not only by explaining what a company can do, but also by being clear about what its current status does, and does not, mean.
Regulatory Clarification
Montezy GmbH is a member of VQF, a FINMA-recognised self-regulatory organisation, and is supervised by VQF for compliance with the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act.
VQF membership concerns anti-money-laundering supervision. It is not a banking licence, does not provide deposit insurance and does not mean that Montezy is directly prudentially supervised by FINMA.
For the latest news from Montezy, visit: https://montezy.ch/
Media enquiries: support@montezy.com
About Montezy
Montezy GmbH is a Swiss financial-technology company building clear, transparent and responsible financial services for cross-border individuals, freelancers and businesses.
Montezy GmbH is a member of VQF. VQF is a self-regulatory organisation recognised by FINMA, and Montezy is supervised by VQF for compliance with the obligations applicable to it under the Swiss Anti-Money Laundering Act. VQF membership concerns anti-money-laundering supervision. It is not a banking licence and does not mean that Montezy is directly prudentially supervised by FINMA.
Montezy remains in the product-development stage. Product features, service scope, eligible markets and launch timing are subject to the company’s official announcements.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading securities.
Robin Wang support@montezy.com
