Banking license

Anjouan offshore bank – the new offshore banking jurisdiction, located in the Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, provides clients with international business companies services, offshore banking licenses and offshore banking services. Anjouan (Nzwani) is ready to become one of the leading offshore banking license centers in the world.

Antigua offshore banking union – a process of licensing and foundation can be managed within a month, once the competent authority is satisfied with the fulfillment of all regulatory requirements. Before granting approval must be submitted the financial statement of the banking corporation.

Dominican offshore banking license – the major banks, multinational corporations, conglomerates, small and medium businesses and wealthy individuals want to use the indisputable advantages of the local branch.

Belize offshore banking license – the Law on offshore banks and other companies enables banks and other companies to run a similar business in Belize in foreign currency, securities and assets owned by non-residents of Belize.

Samoa offshore banking license – Samoa is one of the better offshore jurisdiction, which currently offers limited offshore banking licenses. Unlimited licenses can get the existing banks only.

St. Vincent offshore bank – there are two types of banking licenses on the islands of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The particular type of license is based on the due diligence process.

Saint Lucia offshore bank – based on the Law on international banks from 1999 that governs the operation of offshore banks in St. Lucia it is able to incorporate a bank in Saint Lucia.

Offshore banking alternatives

New Zealand Offshore Finance company – Offshore financial company (OFC) is able to offer banking services to individuals and corporations worldwide, with no restrictions in number of customers, the amount of deposit or number of offering currencies.

Swedish credit union – become the owner of a private institution that accepts deposits within the European Union. It is a great alternative to offshore banking licenses.

Panama licensed offshore company – Panama offshore financial services company. New offshore financial services institution. It is intended to provide services to companies registered in Panama, which intends are about to obtain a license for providing services such as payment processing, credit cards management, precious metals trading, leasing, factoring, etc.

 The banking sector and banks were always viewed by public and business world as a symbol of wealth and economic power. The same applies to offshore banks which may be advantageously established in many traditional or new offshore jurisdictions and financial centers. In most jurisdictions it is almost impossible for a new applicant who is not a respected international banking corporation to run a banking services.

The authorities which protect the tax sector from unfavorable impacts (often meaningless and confusing way), what may raise doubts regarding the banking sector and its reputation in the country, devised a series of bureaucratic and financial obstacles which take away the possibility to apply for a banking license for a serious candidates with lower capital ensuring.

A number of countries requires the amount of registered capital to be in hundreds of millions dollars which is often needed to be fully paid before issuing a license. These countries even focus their attention on entities which already hold a license in another country. Despite this, many entities, especially international holding companies are interested in providing banking services to the needs of its holding.

This banking license, which is in many countries called “internal” can be obtained in a standard way in a number of offshore jurisdictions at surprisingly reasonable prices and on favorable terms. The full or partially limited general or international bank license is more demanding in terms of requirements imposed in connection with the share capital, but there are places where you can obtain this type of license on acceptable terms.

The basic types of offshore banking licenses

Offshore banking licenses can be divided into two basic types, and these two groups can be further divided into variety of other groups.

General banking license is seen in most jurisdictions as a license for providing services in the country of registration or the license for international public banking services providers. Banks behave as other banking facilities, they may receive deposits from the public and operate current banking services for residents or non-residents. However, in the majority of countries such activity is limited to providing services to non-residents, ie. exclusively for offshore banking services. This type of offshore bank is determined for providing commercial banking services in a offshore regime. 

Limited banking license (often called “internal” license) is a type of license which limits territorial activities of the bank, possibility of providing services in foreign currencies or to certain persons. In most instances banks cannot accept deposits from the public and are allowed to provide its services only to entities that are listed in the banking license. This bank is used as a so-called corporate bank for active management of cash flow.

Offshore banking company incorporated that way may become a quality tool for:

• tax Planning,
• strengthening the reputation the financial group or holding company,
• active management of cash flow,
• issuing guarantees for the purpose of tenders,
• easier access to bank information about business partners and competitors,
• easier access to financial markets,
• progressive trade finance of holding company or financial group,
• establishing confidential and flexible bank accounts,
• providing loans and credits.

Most offshore bank are not subject of taxation, withholding taxes, fees and taxes for issued or received checks or other forms of direct and indirect taxes. This is an entirely new concept of banking services known for many years as OFFSHORE BANKING or INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE BANKING.

Another important offshore banking factor is strict anonymity and confidentiality, appreciated by many investors and depositors, who have a bank account opened to name of a natural person or legal entity which is often an offshore company. These offshore banks are fully respected entities within the whole international banking community, as evidenced by the fact that the majority of international banks domiciled in tax heavens such as Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Jersey, Guernsey, Labuan, Isle of Man or Hong Kong.

Leading bank centers with a very low or no taxes and a highly liberal environment are largely concentrated in three geographic regions – the Caribbean, Europe and the Pacific. The true is that the law is very different in these jurisdictions and that one jurisdiction may be at a certain issue more attractive than other jurisdictions. Therefore it is very important to carry out perfect analysis of the current situation before choosing the jurisdiction, in cooperation with specialized advisory company.

The advantages that are available to owners of private international banks significantly outweigh the benefits of most other investment instruments, such as investment funds, mutual investment associations, credit unions, investment companies etc. Financial activities which are reserved for banks, such as a tool for direct access to international capital markets, interbank benefits in the form of interbank loans and lower fees for foreign exchange and are available to individuals in the position of the owner of the offshore bank.

Main advantages of offshore bank private ownership

1. Profits – all banks, whether foreign or domestic, borrow funds from their depositors at a lower interest rate and lend money to borrowers at higher interest rate. Owners of private international banks not only raise money from depositors, but makes profit from the possibility of handling cash available only for banks. 

2. Privacy  – strict regulation related to banking sector in host countries protect the interests of financial institutions from unauthorized investigation of state and tax authorities, persons with legal claims or aggressive corporate competitors. Private international bank provides protection against attempts to financial breakthrough, which are quite normal in the domestic banking sector. 

3. Tax protection – international finance centers has gained the reputation of legitimate tax heavens. Because of the host countries has a low tax rate on incomes derived from international activities or no tax at all, private international bank can protect dividends, shares and management fees for its owner instead paying fees to the authorities of owners domicile. 

4. Ownership – ownership of offshore bank is burdened by minimum bureaucratic requirements. A private international bank can be owned by a surprisingly low price and the owner does not need a number of banking licenses, like in continental onshore jurisdictions. In most cases a sufficient authorization constitutes an experience in this sector or good bank references and a business plan that will convince the authorities of the host country about the honesty of business. 

5. Assets protection – assets deposited in your private international bank are immune against all judgment and judicial decisions connected with the confiscation of property or decisions issued in your home country. 

6. Image – as the owner of offshore bank you may enter into the world of private international bankers. You will get the admiration (and in your country will face even envy) of your business partners and you will give the impression of a rich person whom it is worth to trade with. 

7. Diversification of assets – the best way to ensure and protect the assets is its geographical distribution and diversification. There is no better way to implement this layout that to deposit them into one or more international banks which you can own and operate in accordance with your personal intentions. 

8. Integration – the vast majority of offshore banks currently offers the most modern means of communication and account management, such as internet banking, online brokerage service, e-commerce and many other services which are available worldwide and 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your offshore bank can be one of the pioneers in the field of electronic banking and participate in online business worth many millions. 

9. Reserves – many jurisdictions requires management of capital reserves. Some offshore banks are not required to keep reserves at the central bank. 

10. Regulatory obstacles – offshore banks are able to avoid a large number of smaller and even expensive regulatory obstacles that apply to domestic onshore banks. 

11. Free choice – offshore banks are not forced to purchase certain types of securities (such as government bonds), they can decide on the distribution of their resources according to their own choice and strategy. 

12. Interest – for international banks are not applicable credit limits, which may prevent them from taking advantage neither the requirements for minimum or maximum interest rate announced by the central bank. 

13. New technologies – a number of jurisdictions lacks technological advantages and demand for modern services. There are still many jurisdictions where the banks cannot provide e-Commerce, internet payment systems in a mode of B2B and B2C. These restrictions does not apply to the vast majority of offshore banks 

Information required from banking license applicants in most countries

• bank name and legal form
• status of the applicant (whether by establishing a branch of foreign bank or a new company)
• names and CVs of bank directors
• Certificates of criminal records of applicant and directors
• Bank and trade reference
• Submission of data on the economic management of the company applicant(s)
• Bank shareholders identity
• Information on the type of issued bank shares
• nominal value of the issued shares and the currency
• capital structure and capital ensuring
• capital reserves
• specification of the sources of funds
• document certifying paid-up the share capital (if registered in the host country)
• document certifying the payment of all taxes, stamps and license fees
• information on the residency in the host country
• information on the registered director or representative (if necessary)
• information on the auditor and the legal agent established in the host country
• the type of services to be provided
• territorial area of the bank
• arrangements for society protection against fraudulent or criminal conduct
• bank business plan (the authorities generally require a balance sheet in the range 3-10 years)
• benefits for the host country resulting from the bank´s activities
• signed and filled application for the banking license

Services we can offer

• analysis of the jurisdictions in which offshore bank should be established
• processing all documents for filling an application for banking license
• incorporation of the company applying for a banking license
• representation of your company in the licensing procedure
• providing comprehensive advisory services related to bank licensing procedure
• providing technical assistance following obtaining a license
• providing recommendations on banking software for online banking services
• placing the bank into operation
• bank employees training
• operational documents preparation
• providing the bank´s headquarters
• providing nostro accounts
• providing telecommunication services and Swift services

Usage of offshore banks

Establishment of own banking instruments

These instruments can be used in numerous ways. You can issue own letters of credit, deposit certificates etc., if are covered by funds (otherwise it would be perceived as a fraud in most jurisdictions).

Corporate image promotion, resulting from the management of a private bank.

This can facilitate your business in many ways: whether you are dealing with import and export, industrial production, first-class financial services, or if you just want to impress your business partners and get an advantage over the competitors – the offshore bank is probably the strongest business instrument which you can buy.