Diversity and the Origins of Banking

Pride Festival for Diversity and Joy

Day of festivities in the historic town of Lichtensteig in Switzerland, where the founding bank house of Swiss international bank UBS takes pride of place and on cultural impact.

Crowd of people demonstrating diversity in front of the former town council building
 and a peek of the corner of the first bank building of the former Toggenburg Bank, founding place of Swiss international Bank UBS.

After some years of economic decline that manifested after the Covid-19 pandemic, with windows boarded up and only some elderly evening drinkers in the bars of the once bustling market town, it seemed young people with ideas and fun were coming back. On the last weekend of April 2026, a crowd of cheerful people in costumes of unicorns and comic figures waving rainbow flags and home-made signs with slogans for love, peace and togetherness roamed the streets. The Italian restaurant served drag queen brunch, local businesses opened their doors, demonstrating tolerance and diversity.