Remarks and Disclaimer
Bank Account opening terms
Remarks and Disclaimer
Bank Account opening terms
Company formation and bank account opening are two different services. Generally speaking, offshore company formation is easy. Opening a proper bank account for the same company is not. It can be incredibly difficult and time-consuming.
System is becoming more and more regulated all over the world. To open the account for an offshore company, all banks will require very detailed personal and business information from the owners and controllers of the offshore account.
In particular, the bank will need to know and identify the actual beneficial owner(s) of the offshore company. All such persons, as well as everyone who will be granted account signatory rights, will have to provide a number of documents – such as certified passport copy, proof of address (utility bill or bank account statement), bankers and/or professional reference and detailed business description/plan. These documentary requirements vary, depending on the chosen bank. This is required by the laws that regulate banking industry.
Banks account opening through an approved intermediary, like Atrium is still often possible without personal presence of the owner of the company in the bank, however most banks do require personal visit of the beneficial owner before the account opening – or shortly after.
Please note that the bank account introduction fee, as quoted in our fees schedule, is not a fee payable for a bank account opening. Payment of this fee does not guarantee the opening of the account. As the name suggests, the account introduction fee is payable for a professional service rendered by us during the introduction of a client to a particular bank. In particular, this service includes the provision of and the assistance with the completion of bank account application forms, preparation of the company documents for the bank, support and advice during the compiling of the client due diligence information and documents and assistance with submission of the account opening application file to the bank.
Using our service usually significantly increases the chances of a positive result, however, we cannot and we do not guarantee the success of the account opening. The success of a bank account opening for an offshore company is mostly dependent on the particulars of the client himself and his business. Properly certified identification documents according to the requirements of the bank, detailed business description with logical information and realistic cash flow forecasts as well as a detailed CV of the company owner showing experience in the area of the intended business are essential for account opening. These documents must be prepared by the client himself as this information depends and is known only to the client and we cannot create it for the client. Banks routinely reject new clients based on their internal considerations and their new client acceptance guidelines if they find the individuals involved in the company are questionable or the business model is unclear or unrealistic.
Features
(a) If extra legalization and/or corporate documents are required by the bank, additional fees apply.
(b) Bank own account opening fees and costs (if any) will be charged from the first deposit to your account.
(c) Bank fees and costs are not included into our bank introduction fees.
(d) Banks always have their final word, after due diligence processed, by accepting you or not as their customers, depending on their own evaluation; however, you are always free to open your company’s bank account by yourself, with some other bank of your selection.
Why are you getting rejected?
Considering the ever-increasing compliance costs, banks also evaluate any prospective customer in terms of its costs and risks versus benefit. The perceived bank’s risk from a locally operated, locally owned domestic business is usually low.
When you go offshore – everything changes! By definition, an “offshore” client will always be considered high-risk. From the bank’s perspective this means that the overhead cost to maintain the file of such client will be higher, and the compliance procedures for such client will need to be more frequent, thus more costly. This can only be justified for high-value clients.
Long-gone are days when the bank needed your deposit. They don’t. Most banks nowadays have access to infinite and extremely cheap financing from the central banks and the money-market, where all the large institutional money resides.
Unless you come with at least a decent six-figure number, banks generally don’t need your money. They can get more of it elsewhere, cheaper and with less trouble.
Banks are not interested to simply keep small amounts of money on current account with little or no movement. Especially, if that current account belongs to a high-risk customer such as an offshore company. It’s simply not worth the trouble and the risk. Keep in mind, bank will also suspect that You are a potential money-launderer until You prove otherwise.
While we apply all possible effort to determine in advance whether a particular client might be accepted by a bank and to prepare all the documents and information as suitable as possible for the bank, this does not in any way guarantee the success of the account opening.
Bank secrecy
According to international agreements and banking industry regulations, banks are required to provide financial account information about the companies and their beneficial owners in two cases: regarding tax matters and in cases of criminal investigation.
Regarding tax matters, the information is shared automatically to the tax authorities of the country where the beneficial owner of the company resides. Information sharing is required and regulated by FATCA regulations regarding beneficial owners of the USA and CRS regarding the beneficial owners of the countries that have committed to the CRS. Information is provided only to the tax authorities of the respective country and only for tax purposes. No other information is provided to any other government institutions and no information is provided about the residents of the countries that are not committed.
More information about FATCA and CRS can be found on the websites of the respective Authorities.
Regarding criminal matters, the confidential information on a banks’ client may only be divulged under a proper criminal investigation to the respective police authority.
Otherwise, the information is strongly protected by the banking regulations and cannot be disclosed to any persons, authorities (other than police or tax authorities according to strict procedures) or any other third parties under any circumstances. Severe financial and criminal penalties await anyone, who divulges such information.
Which services we do and do not do
What we do
Under our Services portfolio, we are EXCLUSIVELY engaged in assisting worldwide clients, either individuals or corporate entities, to set up their business overseas. In order to allow every client to properly register their business at an international jurisdiction, ATRIUM & ASSOCIATES provides all related services including company formation, assistance to locate local registered offices for their new business company, helping to open business bank account, and introducing client to local chartered accountants.
What we don’t do
ATRIUM & ASSOCIATES does not provide investment or financial advice, and any sort of financial business activity.
How can we help you?
Should you have any question, our Business Development Managers team will be ready to guide and assist you!