The Swiss government on Sunday denied a newspaper report that the country had reached a deal in principle with the US over undeclared funds hidden by wealthy Americans in Swiss offshore bank accounts.
"There is no agreed framework. The negotiations for an industry-wide deal to enable all Swiss banks to draw a line under the matter are ongoing," Swiss government spokesman Mario Tuor said in an e-mailed statement to Reuters.
Tuor was responding to a report in Sunday's edition of weekly Neue Zuercher Zeitung am Sonntag which said that, instead of an industry-wide settlement for the Swiss private banking industry, banks including Credit Suisse and Julius Baer as well as all others with US clients would negotiate individual penalties with US officials.
The NZZ am Sonntag cited undisclosed sources in its story.
The Swiss government's comments on Sunday, however, left the door open to an alternative to an industry-wide settlement.
"The federal council will explore possible solutions in its regular meetings with bank representatives," Tuor said, without elaborating.
The plan outlined by the NZZ am Sonntag would see each Swiss bank with US clients negotiating individual settlements with the US for its role in hiding untaxed money.
Most of the 13 banks in the crosshairs of US justice officials, which include Credit Suisse and Julius Baer, have said they are already in settlement negotiations.