Planning to open an Offshore Bank Account for Yourself or your Company ?

• SFM has extensive experience with both private as well as corporate bank account opening in 18 key banking jurisdictions,with over 40 of the world’s leading top tier banks
• Provides maximum confidentiality.
• SFM is recognized as a partner by banks with the highest quality reputationand a long track record of financial excellence. A rigorous application and drafting procedure is applied before a bank has the opportunity to cater its services to SFM’s international clientele
• SFM is partnered with banks that have guaranteed low fee structures, and acustomer focused approach.

What Banking facilities are available?

Cyprus

Cyprus is the third largest and third most populous island in the Mediterranean, and a member state of the European Union. The Cypriot economy is very diversified. Its per capita GDP is at $28,381, which is above the European Union average.

Banking in Cyprus

Banks in Cyprus are well known for holding accounts for some of the most wealthy individuals worldwide. For many years, Cyprus has cultivated a high quality banking sector with favorably high rates awarded to depositors. Whats more, deposits of up to EUR 100,000 are guaranteed by the European Union.

History

The earliest known reference to Cyprus is made in Mycenaean Greek 15th-century BC. The island derives its modern name through overseas trade, in reference to the Classical Latin word for copper via the phrase aes Cyprium, on translated in English, "metal of Cyprus". This was later further shortened to “Cuprum”.

Cyprus is at an important strategic location in the Middle East, ruled by a number of diverse significant empires. Former rulers of Cyprus include Assyria, Egypt, Persia, Greece, the Ottoman Empire and the Achaemenid Empire. Alexander the Great conquered Cyprus in 333 BC, and following his death, Cyprus became part of the Hellenistic empire of Ptolemaic Egypt. 58 BC saw Cyprus acquired by the Roman Empire, and was subsequently conquered by the Byzantine Empire. In 1191, Richard of England conquered Cyprus and bestowed it upon the Knights Templar. In 1473 the Republic of Venice assumed control of the island, and in 1570 it was taken over by the Ottoman Empire, before being returned to England in 1878. Cyprus gained its independence in 1960. The Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, left a northern part of the island seized and annexed by Turkey.

The Cypriot economy is well diversified. Banking, along with tourism and shipping, buoyed economic growth. Its financial sector remains an important pillar of its economy. Cyprus is a well-known banking centre for high net worth individuals the world over. Many citizens from Eastern Europe and Russia, particularly, are using the Cypriot corporate and banking system as a safe haven for their assets. After having been hit severely by the international economic crisis, Cyprus has made a much faster rebound than the crisis economies of Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy.

Banking Institutions

There are 49 authorized banks in Cyprus. Banking in Cyprus is controlled and regulated by the Central Bank of Cyprus.

Laws and Regulations

Cyprus is a well-known and respected offshore banking jurisdiction. Central Bank of Cyprus is the main governing and regulatory body of banks registered in Cyprus. Furthermore, as Cyprus is an EU member state, the EU guarantees deposits of €100.000. This includes accrued interest up to the date of maturity of the deposit or the date on which the deposit fell due and payable but was not repaid, or the date on which the member bank was determined as unable to repay its depositors (whichever comes first). Deposits in the name of a particular person, held with different banks, are considered as being separate deposits for compensation purposes.

Bank Secrecy

Cyprus was ranked at the 41st position worldwide by the 2014 Financial Secrecy Index, as a calculation that has been based on its share of the global market for offshore financial services. Cyprus accounts for about 1.5 per cent of the global market for offshore financial services. Section 29(1) of the Banking Law, states that all employees, directors, managers, agents, etc and any persons who have access to the records of a bank are forbidden from revealing in any way any information regarding the account of any individual customer of the bank, even after their employment with the bank has been terminated.

Electronic Payments

Cyprus is a member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). In August, 2014, the migration to SEPA credit transfers and SEPA direct debits was successfully completed in Cyprus, as defined by the EU Regulation 260/2012.

Banking Facilities

SFM has a relationship with an extensive network of private and major banks in Cyprus. All of the banks we refer our customers to offer a full international banking platform, with multi-currency accounts (£, € & $) as well with online banking and debit/credit cards. Cyprus also offers prepaid credit card services for both corporate as well as private bank accounts.

Once your order has been completed, you will be assigned a dedicated account manager that will guide you through the bank account opening procedure. Then, we will carefully select with you a bank from one of our leading partners, that perfectly fits your requirements like a tailored suit.

Which documents are needed to open a bank account?

As a general rule the bank asks for a certified copy of the shareholder's and director's passport (beneficial owner), as well as recent proof of residence which, must be less than three months old. If the client goes to the bank in person to open the account, a certified copy of the passport is not required.

We will send you the additional documents necessary for opening the account by email, as an attachment, for you to sign and return to us preferably by special courier ( DHL, FedEx or Chronopost), along with the other documents mentioned above.