The complex financial world of Swiss Banking is far too extensive to examine in a brief article such as this one, however it is possible to introduce a few ideas, and render a few misconceptions regarding this misunderstood world redundant.
The mere mention of the words 'Swiss Banking' often conjures images of James Bond, and Bond Villains, luxurious lifestyles and mafia bosses stepping off private yachts with suitcases full of pristine condition 100 bills ready to be left in an anonymous account with a lengthy number. If this is what springs to mind your vision of Swiss Banking is far removed and detached entirely from reality as, contrary to what Hollywood may tell you, Swiss Banking and the entire world of offshore banking is not a haven for the rich and it is not a place to take your criminal activity.
To fully explain what the world of Swiss Banking entails it is necessary to understand certain concepts such as 'offshore banking', 'offshore bank account', 'tax haven' and more relevant terms such as OFC and IFC. I will begin this brief overview by explaining these concepts in the simplest possible way before offering a brief, but balanced, view as to what Swiss Banking actually is, and how it works.
Concepts such as offshore bank accounts are often, unreasonably, associated with criminal activity and tax evasion -- and tax havens as being the location where this activity takes place and is facilitated. This is an oversimplified gross misrepresentation of the truth in which the offshore banking world actually takes its place as fully integrated in the global economy. An offshore bank account is simply a bank account which is based in a different jurisdiction to where you, as an individual or entity, legally reside. No more -- no less. A tax haven is simply a location which has lower tax rates for foreign investors than would be available in their domestic jurisdiction -- and entices investment overseas.
These definitions are oversimplified for the purpose of facilitating understanding, but to illustrate how complex the issue is, the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) has not been able to produce a definition as to what a tax haven actually is. The idea behind them is that by offering zero or low tax to foreign investors, they can encourage investment from a foreign jurisdiction, which obviously has implications for another country. It may surprise you to learn that every country does this -- the USA for example offers several capital gains and investment tax relief benefits that, by traditional definitions, makes it the world's largest tax haven.
The entire concept of a tax haven is, however, over-simplistic and implies that tax evasion or avoidance is the only reason to move investment money to an alternative jurisdiction. Again this is a gross misrepresentation of the reality where there are a number of benefits and investment specialists who work to make an individual or corporation's investment work for them. The terms OFC (Offshore Financial Center) and IFC (International Financial Center) are becoming more popular and are, perhaps, a more appropriate label for a complex and diverse series of financial services.
Why then, would one open an account with a Swiss Bank? The answer depends on one's individual or corporate circumstances. Swiss Banking offers a wide range of services, but as a rule those who benefit will be on the wealthier side of society, but this is not limited to individuals. Nearly all multinational companies have offices, and are often focused in areas generally considered 'tax havens'. There is no minimum limit, but as services are often fee and commission based and structures such as trusts require set up and maintenance fees, an individual being required to be worth over U$1 million is common. Businesses are usually only worth moving offshore if profits of U$100,000 are being made annually, while opening an offshore bank account is usually not worthwhile for less than U$100,000.
However, for these, not inconsiderable, sums of money there are certain benefits such as tax benefits due to PTRs (Preferential Tax Regimes) in certain cases and in the case of Switzerland if you become a legalized resident. However Ta x Benefits are not the only benefit, and entering the world of Swiss Banking opens you to a world of specialist advisors in the world of asset protection and investment advice. Such advisors dedicate themselves to protecting and helping you to take full advantage of your money -- and is generally a fee or commission based service. Swiss financial institutions are famous for their professionalism and loyalty and uphold one of the most unique financial characteristics of Swiss Banking -- 'Banking Secrecy'.
The concept of Banking Secrecy originally developed from the 1934 Swiss Bank act and offers a legal support for your financial data and offers you a certain degree of discretion and peace of mind. This leads us to the first paragraph of this article -- the image of Swiss Banking. If there is intent of criminal activity, this anonymity is NOT designed to protect those interests. Swiss institutions follow a strict KYC (Know Your Customer) protocol which is used to determine legitimate sources of all funds being invested. If one's interests are motivated by illegal tax evasion, Swiss banking is not the place for you -- you are far more likely to be reported by the Swiss institution involved than be found by your own jurisdiction.
Dylan Ratigan: Trading Our Future: Tax Cheating and the Panama Free Trade Agreement
It completely discards the idea that people and corporations have responsibility to their own nation, indeed whether people and corporations have any nationality at all.
The only allegiance is to profit. Moving money to the place with the lowest tax rate is OK, regardless of what effect it has on the nation that the wealthy individual, and leaders of corporations, grew up in, were educated in, and are protected by.
This is why most Americans are rejecting the global economy, and why sometimes paranoid talk of "one world government" can gain traction.
if our wealthiest, and corporation leaders, have no sense of nationhood, maybe we should start yanking their citizenship and seizing "hostile assets"!
So, I can only ask a question of the author, William Meers: William, how much did the bankers and/or business interests pay you to write this ungodly unbalanced article?
*******************
lodger16x, F & F. Well said.