The new Financial Market Authority Liechtenstein (FMA) began its operational activities on 1 January 2005. The FMA is an integrated, independent financial supervisory authority with its own legal personality in the form of an establishment under public law. The new FMA incorporates the three previous supervisory bodies – the Financial Services Authority, the Due Diligence Unit, and the Insurance Division of the Office of Economic Affairs.

The core responsibilities of the FMA are supervision and regulation (as mandated by the Government) of the Liechtenstein financial market. The FMA executes the laws and ordinances previously enforced by the Government, the Financial Services Authority, the Insurance Division of the Office of Economic Affairs (with the exception of the Health Insurance Act and the Compulsory Accident Insurance Act), and the Due Diligence Unit. The FMA is responsible for granting, withdrawing, and revoking licenses for all financial intermediaries.

The FMA serves to safeguard the stability of the Liechtenstein financial market, the protection of clients, the prevention of abuses, and the implementation of and compliance with recognized international standards.

Organizational structure of the FMA, as of January 1, 2005