Offshore banking can be defined as using the services of a bank located in a different jurisdiction or country than the depositor resides in. Offshore banks are usually located in places considered as tax havens and also provide additional confidentiality and security for the depositor.
The term offshore was originated from the British Channel Islands, tax havens located literally offshore from the United Kingdom. These were the original tax havens and they started the usage of the term offshore for describing the industry. Those islands became major international banking centers because of those tax benefits and regulations. They were optimal places to hold assets abroad or save and invest.
Offshore bank accounts are often less regulated than domestic banks due to fewer restrictions from their governments. This allows for more types of offshore banking accounts and ways in which they can be manipulated.
Offshore banking has become a major worldwide business that circulates $2 Trillion every day. That's a far shot from just a few decades ago where there was a very limited number of offshore financial centers, which were usually surrounded by myths of drug money and illegal activity.
What services are available?
Just like with your regular domestic banks, you can obtain a full spectrum of services can be obtained from your offshore banking center.
These services include personal and corporate checking and savings accounts. These offshore financial centers also offer secure internet banking facilities that allow for wire and electronic funds transfers, debit and ATM cards which are accepted worldwide, credit cards, Loans and mortgages. Some even go so far as offer Anonymous numbered accounts to provide for extra confidentiality.
Investment management and custody is also provided by some banks. They also have Corporate Administration services, trustee services, fund management and foreign exchange. Banks tend to specialize between retail and private banking, so all the listed services might not be available at every bank. retail banks tend to be more economical and offer standard services. Private banking services, while more costly than their retail counterparts, tend to offer more personalized services for their clients.
Advantages
Privacy is the first to come to mind, considering that offshore entities have no obligation to release any of your personal or business information. Unless evidence can be shown proving your involvement in criminal activity, your information will not be given to any governing body or tax authority. Pretty much, they can't sue for or seize things which they don't know exist.
Because of offshore banking centers usually being located in Tax havens, your assets can grow almost free from any form of taxation. Thus, tax efficiency is another important benefit of holding assets overseas. This does not mean that you can avoid taxes altogether. There may be tax liability when trying to retrieve your assets to your country of residence.
Asset Protection is another one of the main benefits offered by offshore banking services. Holding offshore accounts gives you protection from Invasive bureaucracy, lawsuits, and it also protects your assets from seizures.
How Can I Get In On Offshore Banking Investments?
Legislative amendments to allow for the formation of Private Trust Companies has recently been introduced in the Bahamas. This demonstrates the government's commitment to the delivery of superior financial services to all clients.
The government is talking with stockholders including International Banks and Trust Companies, The Bahamas Financial Services Board among other financial institutions. A recent seminar was held to discuss the use and review of legislation as it pertains to Private Trust Companies.
A private trust company is formed for the purpose of acting as trustee of a single trust. Most of the world's wealth is held by private individuals and their families. The preservation of that wealth is what Private Wealth Management is about. PWM for families involves the creation of programs to generate wealth, protect wealth from predators, and control the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next. These services are usually geared to those individuals with a high net worth.
In 2003 the money owned by these individuals was around $29 Trillion and expected to jump to $41 Trillion by 2008. When you are talking about someone who will be interested in offshore banking investment it would most likely be someone with an amount of $100,000 to $5 million. If an investor has less than $100,000 to invest it is likely that offshore investing is right for them.
Nearly every bank with an inkling of being international offers a special rate of interest to wealthier private depositors and name it private banking. Minimums have fallen to under $10,000 in many instances. Many institutions are catering to the customer with $20,000 to invest in the hope that they will have $200,000 or $2 Million to invest in the future.
Offshore banking investment or private investment, usually means investment management offered on a personalized level by the individual or company with disposable wealth of over $100,000. You should exercise care when you are thinking of opening a private banking account. You need to be sure it is the type of bank you want to do business with. Private banking is not the same as offshore banking. You will need to know the difference. Find out what any bank hopes to gain from your business before you open any type of an account.
Private banking does not necessarily mean investment. Banks like to lend money to rich people. If you deposit money with a private bank that is not accompanied by lending or borrowing is usually going to charge you a fee. Many times these banks are hoping for more involvement from wealthy depositors in the future.
If you are a wealthy individual, you will undoubtedly be bombarded by offers from many different banks who want you to deposit your money in their institution. Whether you will choose an offshore or conventional bank will depend on your residential status. If you plan to have residence in a low tax area, or plan to do so in the near future, than you will probably want to do business with an offshore bank.
You will need to know everything about the bank you choose before you become involved with it. You will be able to choose the right bank for your particular needs once you have looked into what they are able to offer you.
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