Switzerland remains the world’s pre-eminent private banking jurisdiction — not primarily because of banking secrecy, which has been substantially eroded by CRS and FATCA, but because of the quality, depth, and stability of the Swiss banking infrastructure. Swiss private banks offer investment management, multi-currency custody, fixed-income portfolios, structured products, and discretionary portfolio management at a level unavailable through most offshore jurisdictions.

Swiss banking for US-connected clients is now exclusively a high-net-worth proposition. Following FATCA and the Swiss-US Department of Justice settlement programme, most Swiss institutions exited the US client market entirely. The institutions that remain active for US clients — typically through FATCA-registered subsidiaries or through accounts held in the name of compliant offshore structures — require a minimum relationship size of CHF 500,000 to CHF 1,000,000, thorough KYC documentation, and a clear connection between the client’s structure and a legitimate wealth planning purpose.

The most viable route for US-connected clients to maintain a Swiss banking relationship is through an offshore trust or company. A Cook Islands Trust or a BVI holding company can hold a Swiss account in its own name. The bank maintains a relationship with the entity — which must be properly documented, compliant with Swiss AML requirements, and connected to a credible wealth management purpose. The underlying US beneficial owner is disclosed to the bank and reported under FATCA, but the structural layer provides both asset protection and a more bankable relationship profile than an individual account.

Swiss banks that remain accessible for properly structured clients include private banks in Geneva, Zurich, and Lugano with established track records of working with offshore structures. Offshore Broker has direct relationships with relationship managers at institutions that are actively onboarding qualifying clients. We pre-qualify every introduction to ensure the client’s profile, structure, and minimum asset size meet the institution’s current requirements before any approach is made.

Private banking is a relationship-based banking model in which a dedicated relationship manager handles all aspects of a client’s banking — account management, investment advisory, credit facilities, foreign exchange, and trust and estate services. Unlike retail offshore banking, where accounts are managed through an app or call centre, private banking involves a named individual at the institution who knows your structure, your investment mandate, and your goals.

Private banking relationships are available in Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Channel Islands, the Cayman Islands, and — for Cook Islands-connected clients — through institutions with direct Cook Islands relationships. The minimum relationship size varies significantly by institution and jurisdiction: Swiss private banking typically starts at CHF 500,000–1,000,000; Caribbean and Pacific private banking can be accessible from USD 250,000–500,000 for clients with the right structure type.

A private banking relationship established through an offshore trust or company provides more than just a bank account — it provides a long-term financial home for the structure. The relationship manager understands the trust or company structure, facilitates account signatories and changes of authorised persons, manages investment portfolios held within the structure, and can coordinate between the banking relationship and the trust administrator.

For clients with a Cook Islands Trust, we work with institutions that have established Cook Islands trustee relationships — meaning the bank is already familiar with how Cook Islands Trust accounts work, what documentation is required for trustee-directed transactions, and how to handle the administrative requirements that come with a discretionary trust account. This dramatically simplifies account management compared to introducing a Cook Islands Trust to an institution that has never seen one before.

A multi-currency account holds balances in multiple currencies within a single account structure. Rather than maintaining separate accounts in USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, and AUD, a multi-currency account consolidates these into a single relationship at one institution, with the ability to hold, convert, and send in each currency independently.

Multi-currency accounts are available through most offshore private banks and through a growing number of EMI (Electronic Money Institution) platforms licensed in jurisdictions including the UK, EU, and Switzerland. For international businesses invoicing in multiple currencies, for investors holding diversified multi-currency portfolios, and for individuals receiving income from multiple countries, a multi-currency account significantly simplifies currency management and reduces the cost and friction of international transfers.

Named IBAN accounts give the offshore company or trust its own dedicated International Bank Account Number in its own entity name — rather than a pooled or sub-account arrangement. A named IBAN in the entity’s name can send and receive SWIFT and SEPA transfers directly, is recognised by counterparties as a legitimate bank account in the entity’s name, and is required for many payment platforms and business relationships.

The distinction between a named IBAN and a pooled IBAN matters significantly in practice. Many offshore banking providers — particularly EMI platforms — issue pooled IBANs where the underlying account is held in the platform’s name, not the client’s name. Counterparties and receiving banks increasingly reject pooled IBAN payments, and many payment platforms flag them as high-risk. A named IBAN in the entity’s own name avoids these problems entirely.

For offshore companies that need to receive payments from clients, invoice in EUR or GBP, maintain business banking infrastructure, or hold funds in multiple currencies, a multi-currency named IBAN account with SWIFT capability is the core banking requirement. Offshore Broker matches client companies to institutions offering named IBANs in the company’s jurisdiction, in the currencies required, with the payment rails needed for the business’s actual activity.

The right combination of account type and institution depends on what the account is for — a passive investment holding account has different requirements from an active trading company receiving client payments. We advise on both and match accordingly.

Most traditional offshore banks — including Swiss private banks — have become significantly more restrictive about cryptocurrency. Many will not onboard clients whose funds originated from cryptocurrency exchanges, will not accept transfers from crypto platforms, and will not allow account holders to purchase cryptocurrency using bank funds. For clients with meaningful cryptocurrency holdings, this creates a friction point that requires careful institution selection.

Crypto-friendly offshore banking institutions are those that have specifically built compliance frameworks for cryptocurrency-related clients — they understand exchange-sourced funds, can verify blockchain provenance through transaction tracing tools, accept documentation from regulated exchanges (Coinbase, Kraken, Binance, Gemini), and will process transfers to and from cryptocurrency platforms. A small but growing number of offshore banks and EMI institutions actively welcome cryptocurrency clients, provided the source of funds is well-documented and the underlying exchange relationship is with a regulated platform.

The Cook Islands and Nevis have no specific cryptocurrency restrictions at the jurisdictional level. A Cook Islands Trust or LLC can hold cryptocurrency assets, open accounts at crypto-friendly institutions, and transact in digital assets without any jurisdictional prohibition — provided the US client’s tax reporting obligations (Form 8949, Schedule D, FBAR for offshore crypto accounts at qualifying institutions) are met.

For clients holding significant cryptocurrency, the structural question is as important as the banking question. Cryptocurrency held personally — in an individual wallet or personal exchange account — is directly reachable by a US creditor. Cryptocurrency held in the name of a Cook Islands Trust or LLC, at an institution in a non-reciprocating jurisdiction, is far more difficult to reach.

We work with institutions that can hold cryptocurrency directly in custody, institutions that accept crypto-to-fiat conversion and retain the resulting fiat in an offshore account, and institutions that can provide banking infrastructure for businesses operating in the digital asset space.

The range of options has evolved rapidly and continues to change. Offshore Broker maintains current relationships across both traditional offshore banks that have expanded their crypto acceptance and specialist crypto-friendly EMI platforms, and advises clients on the most appropriate combination for their specific asset profile and business activity. A consultation call is the fastest way to identify what’s currently available for your particular situation.

Offshore investment management refers to the management of an investment portfolio held in the name of an offshore trust, company, or foundation at an offshore custodian or private bank. Rather than managing investments through a domestic brokerage account — which is directly reachable by domestic creditors and forms part of the client’s personal estate — the portfolio is managed within the offshore structure, with the custodian and investment manager based in the offshore jurisdiction.

Swiss private banks have historically been the dominant provider of offshore investment management for high-net-worth international clients, offering discretionary portfolio management (where the bank manages the portfolio according to an agreed mandate without seeking approval for individual trades), advisory services (where the client makes decisions with the bank’s input), and custody-only arrangements (where the client directs all investment decisions independently).

For Cook Islands Trust clients, the trust can hold an investment account at a private bank or custodian in the Cook Islands, Switzerland, or another jurisdiction. The trustee is the authorised signatory on the account, and investment management is carried out according to the trust deed’s provisions and the client’s wishes, expressed through a letter of wishes.

The investment mandate within an offshore structure must be carefully aligned with the client’s home-country tax reporting obligations. For US clients, foreign investment accounts held through a trust or company carry reporting requirements (Form 8938, FBAR, potentially Form 3520 for trust accounts), and certain investment products available offshore — particularly offshore insurance wrappers and certain structured products — may have specific US tax treatment that needs to be understood before investing.

Offshore Broker works with private banking partners that have experience managing investment accounts for US-connected offshore structures. They understand the reporting requirements that apply to their US beneficial owner clients, avoid products that would create adverse US tax consequences, and can provide reporting-ready account statements.

For clients who want to hold investment portfolios — equities, fixed income, alternative assets — within their offshore structure rather than at a domestic brokerage, we can match the structure to an appropriate custodian and introduce a relationship manager who specialises in offshore trust and company investment accounts.

The standard offshore structure pairs an offshore trust with an offshore LLC. The trust sits at the top and owns 100% of the LLC. The LLC holds the bank accounts and investment accounts. The owner serves as LLC manager — with full day-to-day operational control over the accounts and investments — while the trustee holds the LLC membership interests through the trust.

In this arrangement, the bank account is held in the name of the LLC. The LLC is the account holder. The owner accesses and directs the account as the LLC’s manager, with the authority granted to them by the LLC operating agreement. From the bank’s perspective, the relationship is with the LLC — a foreign company with a licensed registered agent and a documented ownership structure — not with the individual US owner.

For a Cook Islands Trust + Cook Islands LLC structure, the bank account might be held at a Cook Islands-licensed institution, at a Swiss private bank familiar with Cook Islands entities, or at a Caribbean institution with experience in Cook Islands trust and company accounts. Offshore Broker matches the structure’s jurisdiction to banking partners familiar with that jurisdiction’s entity types and documentation requirements.

For clients with a standalone offshore company — without a trust — the company is still the account holder, but the asset protection position is weaker. A creditor who obtains a domestic judgment can pursue the membership interests of an offshore LLC through charging order proceedings. The LLC’s assets — including the bank account — are potentially reachable through a sustained domestic legal effort, because the LLC’s membership interests are owned by the individual rather than by an offshore trustee.

A trust-owned LLC is more resistant because the trustee — not the individual — holds the membership interests. Reaching those interests requires fresh proceedings in the offshore jurisdiction against the trustee, under the offshore jurisdiction’s laws, within a short statute of limitations. This is the structural distinction that makes the trust-and-company combination the standard recommendation for clients seeking genuine asset protection rather than just international banking access.

For banking purposes alone — international payment infrastructure, multi-currency accounts, access to offshore financial markets — a standalone offshore company may be sufficient. For clients who also want asset protection, the full trust-and-company structure is the appropriate approach, and the banking service is embedded within it.

Current / transactional accounts. Standard accounts for receiving and sending payments — SWIFT, SEPA, ACH. These are the core banking accounts for offshore companies conducting international business: receiving client payments, paying suppliers, holding operating funds. Most offshore institutions offer USD, EUR, and GBP as standard currencies, with GBP and CHF available at an additional cost. A transactional account at an offshore institution is the functional foundation of any active offshore company structure.

Savings and deposit accounts. Fixed-term deposits and call accounts for holding surplus funds in a higher-yielding instrument than a current account. Available at most offshore banks in the major currencies. Interest rates vary by currency and term. These accounts are typically used within trust and company structures for holding cash reserves not required for immediate operational needs.

Investment and custody accounts. Brokerage and custody accounts for holding equities, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, structured products, and alternative investments. Available through Swiss private banks, Cook Islands-licensed investment managers, and offshore institutional custodians. Suitable for trust and company structures holding diversified investment portfolios.

Multi-currency and named IBAN accounts. Accounts that hold multiple currency balances under a single account structure, with the entity’s own named IBAN for receiving payments. Essential for international trading companies receiving payments in multiple currencies, and for structures requiring payment rails into European banking systems.

EMI / digital banking accounts. Electronic Money Institution accounts licensed in the UK, EU, or other jurisdictions. These accounts offer faster onboarding than traditional banks, lower minimum balances, and increasingly sophisticated digital payment infrastructure. The trade-off is that EMIs are not banks — they do not hold deposits in the same regulatory sense as a licensed bank, and they carry different risk profiles. Offshore Broker advises on which client profiles are suited to EMI accounts vs traditional offshore bank accounts.

Cryptocurrency custody accounts. Specialist custody accounts for holding digital assets — Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins — at an offshore institution with regulated cryptocurrency custody infrastructure. Available through a small number of specialist offshore institutions and crypto-native custodians with offshore licensing. Asset insurance and cold storage custody are available at the top tier of the market for qualifying clients.

1. Structure review and institution matching. The first step is understanding your existing or planned offshore structure — trust, company, foundation, or none — and matching it to appropriate banking partners. Institution selection depends on your structure type and jurisdiction, the currencies and payment rails you need, the purpose of the account (transactional, investment, savings), whether US beneficial ownership is involved, and your minimum relationship size. We conduct this assessment before any approach is made to a banking partner.

2. KYC documentation preparation. Every offshore bank requires a thorough KYC package for the entity and its beneficial owners. For a company, this typically includes certified company documents (certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, register of directors and shareholders), certified passport copies for all beneficial owners and authorised signatories, proof of address, and a source of funds statement. For a trust, the trustee’s institutional documents, the trust deed summary, and beneficial owner KYC. We prepare a complete, bank-ready KYC pack before submission.

3. Introduction and application submission. We make a direct introduction to the relationship manager at the selected institution. The introduction includes a briefing on the client’s structure, purpose, and profile — this is not a cold application. It is a relationship introduction, where the bank already knows what is coming before the application arrives.

4. Bank review and compliance approval. The institution’s compliance team reviews the application and KYC documentation. This process varies significantly by institution — from two weeks at a streamlined EMI platform to three months at a Swiss private bank. We manage the process throughout: chasing the bank for updates, responding to additional information requests, and keeping the application progressing. Most delays in offshore account opening are caused by incomplete information or unresponsive intermediaries — not by the bank. We remove both problems.

5. Account opening and activation. Once compliance approval is granted, account documentation is issued and the account is activated. For company accounts, this includes the account agreement, account number and IBAN, online banking credentials, and — where applicable — debit card. For trust accounts, signatory instructions are coordinated with the trustee. Initial funding is arranged according to the institution’s minimum balance requirements and the client’s source of funds documentation.

6. Ongoing account management. A bank account is not a set-and-forget arrangement. Annual KYC refresh, changes to authorised signatories, FATCA recertification, and periodic source of wealth reviews are all part of maintaining an offshore banking relationship in good standing. Offshore Broker provides ongoing support for clients who need assistance managing their banking relationships after the initial account opening.