Let me warn you that this post will get technical. If reading about what goes on in the machinery of a bank doesn’t actually interest you, this particular article is not for you. This post is inspired by a couple of suggestions in comments and on the forums. To a…
It’s been a long time since we looked at a jurisdiction in Europe. To make up for this, I will be covering two European jurisdictions in a row. This week, it’s Cyprus and the week after next, it’s Northern Cyprus. Cyprus is often compared to the other EU member tax…
Once an online gambling affiliate starts taking off and the tax man comes to collect their lawful amount, many turn to the offshore sector for refuge. In this article, I will go through some common solutions used by large gambling affiliates and pros and cons. Incorporation As a gambling affiliate,…
Today we will be looking at Saint Luc- err… Sorry, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Mostly known for the shoe-box banks Loyal Bank and the aptly named Euro Pacific Bank, being neither in Europe nor the Pacific. While the official ISO-3166 alpha-3 shorthand is VCT, the long Saint Vincent and…
Time for another one of these. Same format as last time: First impressions Fees Opening An Account Internet Banking Card Products Customer Service Account Management Other Services Final Notes Again: Take particular note to that I will not be discussing the financial health of the bank. This is not a…
At long last, it is finally the Seychelles’ turn to be dissected and examined. Its reputation is among the worst in the industry. Few surpass it: Nauru, Comoros, Liberia, and maybe Vanuatu. What may superficially look like just another IBC jurisdiction with an international banking act actually has some interesting…
I get a lot of questions about starting various types of financial services businesses. In this article I will go through the basics and – for most of you – shatter your dreams. What is a Financial Service? A financial service is an activity where funds are being handled on…
Today we continue our journey across jurisdictions that are so similar it becomes difficult to tell them apart. This time, the subject matter is the island of Saint Lucia, a tax haven which sees an overrepresentation of Italian clientèle. This tiny little island hinges at the extreme of the Caribbean,…
It’s been a while since I did one of these. One of Africa’s largest banks and head-quartered in South Africa, Standard Bank has established itself as one of the foremost gateways into Africa. This review will focus on Standard Bank International, which is the bank’s offshore wing in Isle of…
The time has finally come to cover one of the most requested jurisdictions: Belize. This former British territory, previously known as British Honduras, is one of the cheapest and most popular offshore jurisdictions in the world today. Belize is one of the most heavily marketed jurisdictions on message boards, online…