Banks in Switzerland are almost as well known as chocolates, hospitality, watches and the scenic beauty of this country, nestled in the Alps in Europe. You know that your valuables are in the very best of hands when you decide to open a Swiss bank account and entrust them to the authorities there. All the banks in Switzerland are regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority. This establishment gets its authority from a series of federal statues.
Banking In Switzerland
In fact, banks is Switzerland have a rich and varied history! Banking in Switzerland began in the middle Ages and since then, they have been known for their secrecy and their discretion, not to mention their efficiency. The bank secrecy which the country is so well known for was first made into a law in 1934!
Pretty much anyone can open a bank account in Switzerland in theory. But, the exclusive Swiss banks do have a right to exercise their discretion while choosing their customers. For instance, a bank might refuse to accept a customer who is "politically exposed". This is for the simple reason that Swiss banks value their reputation. If they were to serve people of dubious backgrounds, they would be threatening their reputations, which is definitely not acceptable.
Another reason why someone might not be allowed to open a Swiss bank account is if the bank authorities start to doubt the origin of the funds. Swiss banks are the best in the world, and opening a bank account in Switzerland from your country is not easy. Of course, it helps if the bank has an outlet in your country. Opening a bank account directly, through the internet is not possible with banks in Switzerland.
Secrecy
Swiss banks have been known for the discretion they provide for quite some time now. They value their customers' privacy and this obviously includes their financial privacy as well. A very high level of confidentiality is offered by Swiss banks to all its customers - whether national or international. However, if you are a criminal, then all signs of Swiss discretion vanish. If an investigation is being undertaken in your name, then all rights to privacy vanish!
The good thing about these amazing banks is that there is no minimum deposit required for an ordinary savings account. Nor does the amount have to be opened in Swiss francs; you can use a variety of currencies. Banks in Switzerland are really something else, so do hurry to experience their legendary banking services!
|
