international financial entities in puerto rico

International Financial Entities Licenses in Puerto Rico

An International Financial Entities licensed in Puerto Rico under Act 273 is one of the most powerful international banking and financial services structures available. As the rules continue to tighten around offshore transactions, offshore tax benefits are reduced under President Trump, and the US increases FATCA and other regulations, expect more financial services companies to move to an International Financial Entities license in Puerto Rico.

This International Financial Entities in Puerto Rico can offer all manner of international banking, brokerage, investment management, and financial services from Puerto Rico to clients outside of Puerto Rico. Below I will detail all of the services which may be provided by this structure.

In order to qualify as an IFE in Puerto Rico under Act 273, you must hire 4 employees on the island (I usually advise clients hire 5). Then you set up an office, submit a very detailed business plan to the banking regulator, and negotiate the terms of your license.

Once approved, you will be eligible for a 20 year tax holiday on all income earned by your International Financial Entity in Puerto Rico. You will pay a 4% tax rate on all corporate profits earned by the business.

That is to say, the corporate tax rate on Puerto Rico sourced income in your IFE will be 4%.

You will also get full property and municipal licenses tax exemptions and a 6% income tax rate on distributions to PR residents. Dividends to non-PR residents will be tax free. Likewise, dividends paid to residents of Puerto Rico who qualify under Act 22 are tax free to the IFE and to the receiving party.

An IFE in Puerto Rico must be capitalized with a minimum of $550,000. Of this, $300,000 is placed on deposit with a local bank as a surety. The balance of $250,000 is your minimum corporate capital. Total authorized shares of your International Financial Entities in Puerto Rico must be $5 million (but only $250,000 of this is paid-in).

The largest firms structured under Act 273 as a International Financial Entities in Puerto Rico are international banks. For an article on this topic, see: Lowest Cost Offshore Bank License is Puerto Rico

The IFE license not limited to international banks. Family offices, insurance companies, investment advisors, hedge fund operators, currency traders, and others all operate under Act 273 as an International Financial Entities in Puerto Rico. For this reason, Act 273 is the most powerful financial services license available today.

Here’s a list of the services an Act 273 International Financial Entity licensed in Puerto Rico can offer:

  1. Accept deposits, including demand deposits and interbank deposits (or otherwise borrow from banks outside of PR and other IFEs)
  1. Place deposits with banks outside of PR and other IFEs.
  1. Make, procure, place, guarantee, syndicate, or service loans.
  1. Issue, confirm, give notice, negotiate or refinance letters of credit provided both the client and the beneficiary requesting the letter of credit are not residents of Puerto Rico.
  1. Discount, rediscount, deal or otherwise trade in money orders, bills of exchange, and similar instruments, provided that neither side of the transaction is a resident of Puerto Rico.
  1. Engage in any banking transaction permitted by Act 273 in the currency of any country, or in gold or silver, and participate in foreign currency trades.
  1. Underwrite, distribute, and otherwise trade in securities, notes, debt instruments, drafts and bills of exchange issued by a firm outside of Puerto Rico and purchased by a client of the IFE who is not a PR resident.
  1. Engage in any activity of a financial nature outside of Puerto Rico which would be permissible for a bank licensed in the United States.
  1. If the International Financial Entity licensed in Puerto Rico gets an additional license, it may act as a fiduciary, executor, administrator, registrar of stocks and bonds, property custodian, assignee, trustee, attorney-in-fact, agent, or in any other fiduciary capacity.
  1. Acquire and lease personal property.
  1. Buy and sell securities outside of Puerto Rico.
  1. Provide investment advice to persons outside of Puerto Rico.
  1. Act as a clearinghouse in relation to financial contracts or instruments of persons who are not residents of Puerto Rico.
  1. Organize, manage, and provide management services to international financial entities such as investment companies and mutual funds. This is the section of the law used by hedge funds to manage master / feeder structures set up in Cayman with feeders in the US and Cayman.
  1. Dedicate itself to provide the following Services:
  • Asset management,
  • Management of activities related to the investment of private capital,
  • Management of hedge funds and high-risk funds,
  • Management of pools of capital,
  • Administration of trusts utilized for converting different types of assets into securities (such as REITs),
  • Management of Escrowed  fund for persons who are not residents of Puerto Rico.
  1. Engage in any other activities approved by the Commissioner.
  1. With the Commissioner’s prior approval, establish branches outside of Puerto Rico. This includes the United States and foreign countries.

Section 15 above is commonly used by family offices. The clause “dedicated to” means you may only engage in these activities and will thereby be subject to reduced compliance.

For more on operating an investment fund from Puerto Rico, see: How to operate an investment fund tax free from Puerto Rico

Note that an International Financial Entities in Puerto Rico is prohibited from doing business with persons or businesses in Puerto Rico. Therefore, all of the above are limited to persons outside of Puerto Rico. An Act 273 IFE can do business with Puerto Rico’s Development Bank and its Economic Development Bank.

I hope you’ve found this article on the International Financial Entities of Puerto Rico licensed under Act 273 to be helpful. For more information on setting up an IFE in Puerto Rico, please contact me at info@premieroffshore.com or call us at (619) 483-1708.

You might also find my articles Puerto Rico’s Act 20 to be helpful, as well as a comparison between offshore tax planning and Act 20.

For more on Puerto Rico’s Act 273 vs a traditional offshore banking license, see: Top 5 Offshore Bank License Jurisdictions for 2017. For my post on the offshore FinTech, see: Offshore FinTech Bank License.

For more of my articles on the offshore bank licensing and operations, see:

take your IRA offshor

Here’s how to take your IRA offshore in 6 steps

In this article I’ll list the steps necessary to take your US retirement account offshore. Whether you’re looking for asset protection, privacy, or investment diversification, here’s how to take your IRA offshore in 6 steps.

Step 1: Determine if your IRA is eligible to go offshore

Before you can move your cash, you must determine which of your retirement accounts are eligible to go offshore. Only accounts that are vested can be moved out of the United States.

A vested account is one that’s under your control. In most cases, an account vests when you leave your employer and take the IRA with you. So, a vested account is typically a retirement account from a previous employer.

It’s possible that a portion of your account with a current employer has vested. If you’ve been working at the same company for 10+ years, you might be able to move a portion of the account offshore. You should speak with HR to see if any of your IRA has vested.

You can also take certain defined benefit plans offshore. If the plan can be converted into an IRA, and in doing so becomes vested, you can move that plan offshore. Eligibility will depend on your defined benefit plan documents. You’ll need to check with your administrator.

Step 2: Move your IRA to a custodian that allows for offshore transfers

Once you know which accounts are eligible to go offshore, you’ll most likely need to move them to a different custodian. Most US firms make money selling you investments. They earn a commission managing your IRA account and don’t want you to move it out from under their control.

There are a few custodians that allow for offshore IRA LLCs. They charge a fixed annual fee of $400 to $600 rather than making money selling investments.

Note that this move must be done as a transfer and not a rollover. If you have multiple accounts, recent changes to the IRS rules make the rollover a problem. However, you can make an unlimited number of transfer of your retirement account (moving it from one custodian to another). Remember that a transfer is not a rollover.

We’ll be happy to introduce you to a custodian that supports offshore accounts.  

Step 3: Setup an offshore IRA LLC owned by the IRA

Once you have an account number at your new custodian you can form an offshore IRA LLC. The owner of this account will be your IRA… not you personally and not the custodian.

For example, if your custodian is Midland IRA, the owner of the IRA LLC might be as follows: “Midland IRA, Inc. FBO John Smith #55-5555555” with  the number representing your account at Midland. FBO = for the benefit of.

The offshore LLC must be formed in a zero tax jurisdiction, one that allows for single member limited liability companies. The single member of your IRA LLC is your IRA account.

We also focus on countries with strong asset protection laws. For this reason, I like the Cook Islands, Nevis and Belize. The final selection will depend on your banking needs and other factors.

If you’re very concerned about asset protection, you might read the following on using the Cook Islands for maximum protection: Protect Your IRA by Converting it into an Offshore Trust

Step 4: Draft a custom operating agreement establishing you as the manager of the offshore IRA LLC

Now we need to establish you (the beneficial owner of the IRA account) as the manager of the offshore IRA LLC. This is done by drafting a custom operating agreement which lists in great detail your rights and responsibilities.

The bottom line is that you must manage the money in the IRA LLC just as a professional investment advisor would. You should make decisions based on what will maximize returns to the IRA… and those decisions should not benefit you personally.

For example, you can’t borrow from the IRA LLC, can’t use it to buy a home to live in it (even if you pay fair market rent), and can’t use the funds to pay personal expenses

Likewise, you can’t guarantee any of the investments of the IRA. This means you can’t guarantee a loan made to your IRA LLC. All loans taken out by the LLC must be non-recourse secured only by IRA money without a personal guarantee from the beneficial owner.

Step 5: Open an offshore bank account for your IRA LLC

Your IRA is sitting with a custodian that allows for offshore investments, your IRA LLC is incorporated in a secure offshore jurisdiction, and you have a detailed operating agreement giving you control of that LLC. Now it’s time to open an offshore bank account.

The bank selected will depend on the size of the account. If you plan to invest in real estate, and will thus maintain a minimum balance in your offshore account, I recommend Caye Bank in Belize. This bank has high fees but low minimum balances. For more, see: http://www.cayebank.bz/

For accounts of $20,000 and up I recommend Capital Security bank in the Cook Islands (https://www.capitalsecuritybank.com).

  • Because CSB does not have branches in the U.S., they have a good handle on FATCA, focus on U.S. clients, and offer a wide range of investment options, I often suggest clients plant their first flag offshore with these banks and then open brokerage accounts or diversify from there.
  • Another benefit of Cook Islands is that you do not need to travel there to open the account. All of the recommendations below require you visit the bank in person.
  • Finally, CSB is unique in that they don’t lend against client funds. See CSB Low Risk Profile.

In Panama, I recommend Banistmo (https://www.banistmo.com/en), Uni Bank (https://www.unibank.com.pa/en/index.html), and Multibank (https://www.multibank.com.pa/en/default.html). I also suggest Banco General (which is our bank), Santander, Banesco,  if you have a local office.

For private vault storage, I recommend Best Safety Boxes in Panama. See http://bestsafetyboxes.com/

For managed accounts over $2m, I recommend Andbanc in Androa or their branch in Panama (http://www.andbanc.com/).

If you prefer a financial advisor and bank in Europe, I recommend Swiss Partners in Geneva. Their website is http://swisspartners-advisors.com. The minimum account size is about $2.5 million.

Step 6: Transfer your IRA cash from the custodian to your offshore bank account

Once you’re account is opened, the custodian will send a wire from their bank to yours. This will move some or all of your cash out of the United States and into an international account that’s under your control.

  • You can chose to move all or a portion of your IRA offshore. You can leave some cash with the custodian if you want to make US investments or are new to international banking and want take it slow.

As the manager of the LLC, and the only signatory to the offshore bank account, all investment decisions rest with you. You’re the only person who can send a wire or write a check… which is why we call this an Offshore Checkbook IRA LLC.

This also means that it’s your responsibility to follow the various rules of IRA management. Here are a few articles you might find useful:

If you have a Defined Benefit Plan that you might want to convert to an IRA, see: Maximum Asset Protection for a Defined Benefit Plan

You will also find that there are many tax benefits for sophisticated IRA investors which are only available offshore. For example, the ability to use a UBIT blocker to eliminate US tax in your IRA from leveraged investments. Also the ability to own a portion of an active business, which is operated outside of the United States, whereby the income from the business flows into your IRA tax free.

Of course the main reasons clients take their retirement accounts offshore is to diversify out of the United States, invest in higher returning opportunities, and protect their assets from civil creditors and uncertain times. These are the core principals of the offshore IRA model and goals we can assist you to achieve.

I hope this article on how to take your IRA offshore in 6 steps has been helpful. For more information, please contact us at info@premieroffshore.com or call (619) 483-1708. We’ll be happy to assist to structure your affairs abroad.

tax planning for payday lenders

International Tax Planning for Payday Lenders

The US tax costs for Payday lenders in the United States is harsh. The interest component of your income is taxed where the borrower is located. This means you get to file returns is every state and deal with a web of complex tax laws.

Then, the portion of your income which is not considered interest, is taxable where you and your business is located. This must be in the United States, so you’re paying 35% corporate tax plus up to 12% in state tax on net profits.

What if I tell you that you can operate in the United States and pay only 4% on the majority of your net profits? That you can get a banking license and operate the business through this entity while still maintaining your 4% corporate tax rate?

That’s exactly what I’m saying. You can setup a fully licensed credit union in US territory Puerto Rico and make loans throughout the United States. Then you structure an Act 20 company in Puerto Rico to service the loans, which is taxed at 4%. The credit union breaks-even or makes a small profit for its members, but the bulk of the income moves to the Act 20 company.

This structure will allow a large payday lender to exchange their 40% US tax rate on corporate profits for a 4% tax rate in Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico is the ONLY jurisdiction such a tax deal can be had. If you set up offshore, US Federal tax laws apply to your US owned business. Plus, it’s nearly impossible to make loans into the United States from abroad.

Puerto Rico is unique. It’s a US territory, so US Federal laws apply. This means that forming a payday loan company in Puerto Rico is equivalent to forming the company in any US state… with one major exception… taxes.

Section 933 of the US tax code exempts any income earned in Puerto Rico from US taxes. A business operating from Puerto Rico pays only Puerto Rican taxes, not US Federal income taxes.

For this reason, Puerto Rico can offer payday lenders a deal. Setup your company here, negotiate an Act 20 business license, hire at least 5 employees on the island, and your Puerto Rico sourced income will be taxed at 4%.

To clarify: You will still pay US income tax on the interest component. It’s the business component of your corporate profits that are taxable in Puerto Rico at 4%. To qualify for this 4% rate, the work to generate those corporate profits must be done from Puerto Rico.  

Here’s how you might allocate income between interest income / US source income and corporate income / Puerto Rico sourced income taxable at 4%:

Some tax experts take the position that the interest component of payday loans should be about the same as that of a junk bond. That’s a rate of around 6% to 10% per year.

However, payday loans often have an effective cost to the borrower of 200% to 600% per year. The average cost of a payday loan that rolls over a few times is 400%.

Thus it can be argued that US source income taxable where the borrower is located is 10% while the balance, 390% is Puerto Rico sourced income.

In very rough numbers, a payday lender might be able to move 98% of their income out of the Federal tax system and into the more favorable Puerto Rico tax regime. This will reduce your tax rate from 40% to 4% on any Puerto Rico sourced income.

Now for the kicker: if you’re willing to move to Puerto Rico, and qualify under Act 22, you can withdraw the profits of your Act 20 company tax free.

Also, any capital gains earned on personal investments you make after becoming a resident of Puerto Rico are taxed at zero. That’s right, your personal income tax rate on capital gains is 0% as a resident of Puerto Rico.

To be considered a resident of Puerto Rico, you must spend at least 183 days a year on the island and buy a home there. Basically, you must give up your home base in the United States and move your life to Puerto Rico.

I’ll conclude with a quick note on Act 273 banks.

Those who follow my blog know that I’m a big proponent of Puerto Rico’s offshore bank license, referred to as an Act 273 bank license. This is an excellent option for those looking to setup an offshore bank that doesn’t accept US clients or doesn’t make loans.

The reason Act 273 doesn’t fit the payday loan model is because such a bank would require FDIC insurance and all manner of Federal regulations would apply. Any US bank, even a 273 bank in Puerto Rico, that takes deposits, makes loans, and accepts US clients, must apply for FDIC. This is impossible for most payday lending banks.

A credit union in Puerto Rico is not obligated to apply for FDIC. This is why I recommend the credit union combined with an Act 20 management company for a payday lender looking to redomicile their business to a low tax jurisdiction.

I hope you’ve found this post on international tax planning for payday lenders to be helpful. For more information, please contact us at info@premieroffshore.com or call us at (619) 483-17083. 

You might also find this article interesting: How to operate an investment fund tax free from Puerto Rico

The above is a very general summation of complex tax issue and the related sourcing rules. Each payday loan company will have a different taxable rate. I strongly recommend you research this matter carefully and secure an opinion letter from a top firm before making any decisions.

offshore bitcoin license

Low Cost Offshore Bitcoin License

The best low cost offshore Bitcoin license is from Panama. Specifically, the Panama Financial Services License is the best offshore Bitcoin license available. Here’s why Panama is the best.

When selecting an offshore Bitcoin license, you want to be in a country with a solid banking system which doesn’t regulate Bitcoin companies. You don’t want to be classified as a brokerage or a bank because of the high costs of compliance. Very few, if any, Bitcoin startups can withstand that level of overhead and scrutiny.

There are many countries that don’t regulate Bitcoin. For example, Costa Rica, Belize, Colombia, St. Kitts and Nevis, etc. Only the United States and Mexico (since 2015) in the region have called Bitcoin a “currency” and required licensing.

So, why does Panama offer the best low cost offshore Bitcoin license? Because you can operate a licensed but unregulated offshore Bitcoin brokerage in Panama. You can get a license from the government and not need to provide audited financials, compliance, or any of the other headaches associated with being regulated.

Bitcoin operators will find the right to say they are licensed as a plus in marketing campaigns. For example, the Panama Financial Services License allows you to make the following claim on your website: Bitcoin Capital Corp is a financial institution licensed by Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias – Republic of Panamá (MICI) in Panama as a Financial Institution and a member of the SWIFT/BIC Network Code: BTCAPAP1

  • Bitcoin Capital Corp is a fictional company for illustrative purposes only.

It’s important to note that you can’t say you’re regulated by MICI. You may only claim to be licensed by this agency.

So, you can’t use the word regulated in your marketing campaign. In addition, you can’t use the terms bank, brokerage, securities, savings and loan, trust (as in trust company, fiduciary or trustee), cash transfer, or money transfer. Each of these requires a different license… and are fully regulated.

That is to say, The  Panama financial services license does not allow the Panama company to engage regulated activities such as:

  • Securities trading or broker-dealer activities including investment funds, managed trading etc.
  • Any type of banking activity
  • Credit Union (cooperativas)
  • Savings and Loan (financiera)
  • Fiduciary (trust company) services
  • Cash transmittal services or currency exchange (e.g. bureau de change)

If you have a bank license from another jurisdiction, a Panama Financial Services Company can provide services to that bank. It may not offer services to the clients of the bank, only to the bank.

Above I said that an offshore bitcoin broker in Panama is not regulated, which is true. There is no audit requirement or government oversight. Of course, your banking and brokerage partners will impose rules. Also, the laws of Panama apply to you, just as they do to all businesses operating in the country.

This means your firm will need to follow the Anti Money Laundering, Know Your Client and Suspicious Activity laws. Also, your banking partner will demand you keep records to maintain a correspondent account.  

It also means that FinTech firms without correspondent bank accounts will have reduced compliance requirements compared to traditional brokerages. For example, a Bitcoin operator sending transfers across the network, outside of the banking system, will have lower compliance costs. Those who deploy an open, neutral protocol (Interledger Protocol or ILP) to send payments across different ledgers and networks will see added efficiency operating through a licensed but unregulated entity.

Another benefit of Panama is that an offshore Bitcoin licensed Financial Services Company has no minimum capital requirements. You can form your Bitcoin brokerage with any amount of capital you choose.

Of course, your transnational partners and correspondent banks will have account minimums. It would be a challenge for a company incorporated with $5,000 in capital to get the accounts and relationships it needs. The point here is that a Panama Financial Services Company operating as an offshore Bitcoin firm is free to set its capital as it feels appropriate without interference from a government regulator.

The average cost for a licensed offshore Bitcoin firm in Panama is $35,500. This includes opening a business account, assisting you to find office space or a virtual office, and 12 months of tax and business consulting to ensure the structure operates as intended. Annual fees are about $1,500 per year thereafter.

The time to form an offshore Bitcoin company is usually 7 days to setup the corporation and 15 days to receive the license after all of the documents are received by the governments and all of their questions are answered.

I hope you’ve found this article on the best offshore Bitcoin license to be helpful. For more information, please contact me at info@premieroffshore.com or call us at (619) 483-1708. 

offshore bank license

Top 5 Offshore Bank License Jurisdictions for 2017

There have been big time changes in the offshore bank license industry over the last year. If you’re looking to form an international bank, here are the top 5 offshore bank license jurisdictions for 2017.

In this post, I’m talking about countries where you can get a license… countries that will issue a license to a startup bank.  This is not a list of the largest or most respected banking jurisdictions. It’s a list of countries where you will be approved if you have a solid business plan, an experienced board of directors, and the requisite capital.

My list of the top 5 offshore bank license jurisdictions for 2017 is focused on offshore options where you will get a license and a correspondent account from a reputable institution. Sure, you can buy a cheap license from Africa or elsewhere, but good luck using it.

1. Dominica

The best “pure” offshore bank license is from the Caribbean nation of Dominica. The Commonwealth of Dominica is a sovereign island country and part of the Windward islands in the Lesser Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea. It’s current population is about 75,000 and it’s a member of the Eastern Caribbean group of countries and the ECC banking system.

Dominica is a leader in the offshore banking and second passport industries. Many who establish a bank on the island also buy a passport from Dominica. For more on second passports, see A Second Passport from Dominica.

The reason I have Dominica at the top of my list is that this island is actively seeking new candidates, has a reasonably efficient application process, has a relatively low capital requirement, and banks from Dominica are able to find correspondent banking partners.

The capital required to secure a license on Dominica is only $1 million. That’s the lowest of any reputable offshore jurisdiction.

I should point out that, once you have your license, you will probably need more capital to get a correspondent banking account. It will be difficult to find a partner bank to take on a client with only $1 million in cash. The costs and compliance overhead on correspondent accounts make small clients unattractive.

For more on a bank license from Dominica, see: How to get an Offshore Bank License in Dominica.

2. Puerto Rico

Above, I wrote that the best “pure” offshore license is from Dominica. The best hybrid bank license, and possibly the best overall depending on your objectives, is from the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

Capital required is only $550,000. Of this, $200,000 should be paid-in capital to your corporation and $350,000 on deposit with the government.

The costs of formation, licensure and operation in Puerto Rico will be a fraction of the other options on this list. For this reason, the lowest cost offshore bank license is Puerto Rico. For example, the annual license fee in Cayman is about $85,000 compared to $8,000 in Dominica and only $5,000 in Puerto Rico.

Finally, there are no FATCA or U.S. reporting for the bank or the customers of the bank. U.S. citizens can go offshore to Puerto Rico with zero IRS reporting headaches. This is a major competitive advantage and cost savings for an international bank licensed in Puerto Rico.

I’ve listed all the positives as to why you should consider an offshore bank license from Puerto Rico.

The negatives are that your bank will be tied to U.S, government oversight, SEC and other rules, U.S. immigration considerations, and your bank must have a minimum of 5 employees in Puerto Rico.

This low license fee is balanced against your tax costs. If you have 5 employees in Puerto Rico, and qualify under Act 273, your tax rate will be 4%. If you do not meet these requirements, your tax rate will be about 35%.

Immigration can be an issue for some. All employees must be U.S. citizens and you must meet Federal immigration criteria to move to Puerto Rico. If you buy a passport from Dominica you can become a citizen in about 90 days. It’s not so easy to immigrate to the United States.

If you want to run a bank without U.S. oversight, Puerto Rico is not for you. If you want a bank with a solid reputation based on a rigorous compliance and regulatory environment, then give Puerto Rico a chance as a low cost high value hybrid license.

3. Cayman Islands

Puerto Rico is the second largest offshore banking jurisdiction after Cayman Islands. Cayman is the most reputable and highest cost “pure” offshore banking jurisdiction. There are about 70,000 companies registered in Cayman, along with 350 banks and 700 insurance companies. There’s over US $1 Trillion in assets in Cayman banks.

The cost of a banking license in Cayman Island (the fees paid to the government upon issuance) are quite high. They range from $160,000 to $600,000 for a Class A license. Add on to this about $500,000 in legal fees, not to mention auditors and other required professionals, and the startup costs add up quickly.

Also, the vetting process will take over 12 months and a Cayman banking license is notoriously difficult to negotiate. For more on the costs and process, see the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority website.

If you can make it through the gauntlet, you’ll come out the other end with a world class offshore banking license.

4. Belize

The banking law in Belize says an international license requires $1 million in capital and a full license required $3 million in capital. In practice, be prepared  to deposit $5 million for the international license. No one bothers with the full license any longer (which allows you to sell to Belizeans).

If you’d like to do some market research, annual and quarterly reports for all Belize banks are available on the Central Bank’s website. This is a great resource if you’re considering a bank license from Belize.  

The due diligence process in Belize will be a minimum of 12 months (compared to 3 to 4 months in Puerto Rico). Some offshore bank licenses have taken as long as 18 months to complete.

If you are planning to setup an investment management bank, Belize has some of the highest capital ratios in the world (20% in many cases). For this reason, Belize banks are considered safe by depositors.

5. Panama

Panama is a top tier banking jurisdiction with many billion dollar institutions and a well developed regulatory system. If I were to describe Panama in one sentence, it would be “the best offshore bank license when cost / capital is no issue.”

Like Belize, Panama has an international license and a full license. The problem is that Panama won’t issue an international license unless you already have a full license from your home country. For example, if you have a U.S. license, you can get a subsidiary bank license in Panama.

This means that a startup bank will need to open under the full license which is likely to require $24 million in capital. The law says $10 million for a general license and $3 million for an international license, but these values will increase significantly when negotiations begin with the Central Bank.

I should point out that Panama has many different financial services licenses. For example, a bank in Dominica or Belize, that wants to manage client funds in Panama, might apply for a Financial Services license. This would allow you to operate a trading desk and open a correspondent account in Panama without a local license.

Another option in Panama is to set up a Credit Union. Similar to U.S. cooperatives, Panama’s credit unions are savings and loans where each depositor is a shareholder.  Known as “Cooperativas”, Panamanian credit unions are licensed as financial co-op institutions.  They are regulated under Law 17 of 1997 which granted them non-profit tax free standing.

There are hundreds of credit unions in Panama, but most are for employees of one industry or another. For an example of a public cooperativa, see Cooptavanza.

Depending on your business model, it might be possible to set up in Panama with capital of $1 to $3 million as a credit union. The IPACOOP “Instituto Panameno Autonomo Cooperativo regulates all of Panama’s credit unions.  For more informaiton, see: www.ipacoop.gob.pa

For more how to accept deposits from clients, and alternatives to an offshore banking license, take a read through Offshore Money Management Business: How to Accept Client Funds and Deposits.

To delve deeper into offshore bank licensing and operation, please review my articles on offshore bank licensing and operation. I’ve been working in offshore banking for over a decade. My recent articles on the topic are:

If you’re considering forming an offshore bank or filing for an offshore banking license, you need to be ready for a lot of red tape, a significant vetting process, and to maintain a sizable deposit with the central bank (your corporate capital).

Countries are cautious when issuing offshore banking licenses. If any bank fails in a small country, it can result in a loss of confidence in the entire system. And, of course, no country wants to risk upsetting the mighty U.S. of A, as Belize did. This little spat shut down their banks for about 6 months.

If you want to enter the offshore banking market today, you need a solid business plan, an experienced board of directors, and an agent to quarterback your application.

I hope you’ve found this review of the top 5 offshore bank license jurisdictions to be helpful. If you’d like more information, please contact me for a consultation at info@premieroffshore.com or call (619) 483-1708

offshore bank license in dominica

How to get an Offshore Bank License in Dominica

The most active low cost offshore bank license jurisdiction is Dominica. If you’re in the process of selecting a country to incorporate and license an offshore bank, give the Caribbean Island of Dominica a look.

You’ll find that the capital required for a bank license in Dominica is a fraction of it’s competitors. You will also find that the government and regulators want you to succeed… that they’ll work with you to build your brand and your bank… the opposite of what you’ll experience in competing financial centers like Belize, Panama and Cayman.

  • This article is about Dominica, one of the Windward Islands, the southern group of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies, and a leader in the financial services industry. Please don’t confuse Dominica with the Dominican Republic.

An offshore bank license from Dominica will allow you to offer all manner of banking services. This includes deposit taking, wealth management, lending, credit cards, secured cards, debit cards, certificates of deposits, tax and business planning, currency exchange, and correspondent banking services.

The only limitation on an offshore bank licensed in Dominica is that it’s prohibited from offering services to locals. You may not sell banking services to residents or citizens of Dominica.

An offshore bank in Dominica might also offer company formation, asset protection structures, business and tax planning, tax efficient loans for corporations holding retained earnings in your bank, and wealth management. By maximizing the tax and privacy benefits of Dominica, you might leverage an offshore bank license several fold.

As an enticement to bring jobs and grow the financial sector, you (the owner of an offshore bank in Dominica) may qualify for a second passport or citizenship in the country. Shareholder can apply for immediate citizenship and a second passport. In most cases, the cost will be $130,000 to $180,000 for a single applicant.

An offshore banking license from Dominica has the lowest capital requirement of any offshore jurisdiction. While Belize and others are demanding $5 million, Dominica will allow you to license a bank with only $1 million in capital.

With $1 million in capital, you will get your bank license. You’ll then need to search out a correspondent banking partner.  It will be challenging to find such a partner for a small bank with minimal capitalization. Thus, many apply for the license with $1 million and then raise more money after the provisional license is granted.

Technically, the lowest capital requirement is the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. That bank license can be had with $550,000 in capital. While Puerto Rico is “offshore” for tax purposes, it’s “onshore” for other Federal agencies.

Dominica is also the lowest cost license to procure. In fact, the cost of Dominica is a fraction of competitors such as Cayman and Belize. Assuming you have a business plan and a board of directors in place, a bank license from Dominica should cost around $100,000, including government and legal fees.

  • This estimate does not include due diligence fees on shareholders and directors. These will vary greatly depending on your country of citizenship. The typical range is $3,000 to $10,000 per person. The average is $7,500 for the primary applicant.


This would compare to $300,000+ in the Cayman Islands. The annual license fee alone in Cayman is about $85,000 compared to only $8,000 in Dominica and $5,000 in Puerto Rico.

In Cayman and Dominica, licensed banks are exempt from tax on their net income. The tax rate in Puerto Rico is 4% if you have at least 5 employees in the territory. If you don’t qualify for the Puerto Rico tax holiday, income will be taxed at about 35%.

Your offshore bank in Dominica will require an office, registered agent, and employees on the island. Compliance (FATCA, OECD, DAC, AML, etc.), account openings, information technology and security, and some basic services should be provided in Dominica.

It will be possible to manage bank assets outside of Dominica. For example, you might form a Financial Services Company in Panama as the management agent. This will allow you to work around some of the correspondent banking issues and manage client capital in a larger jurisdiction.

The typical annual fee for a registered agent in Dominica is $10,000. They will be your liaison to the government, agent for service, and local representative of the bank on the island.

In addition to the agent, employees, and office overhead, you will need to retain an audit and accounting firm to prepare quarterly reports to the government. The average cost of these services is $20,000, though fees vary widely from provider to provider.

The final major expense will be your banking software. We recommend Mobile Earth and
Temenos T24 Retail Banking Software Systems for Dominica. I won’t estimate prices here because of the variety of configurations available. Feel free to contact them directly for a quote.

Because of our long history and relationships on Dominica, we offer a turn-key offshore bank license in this jurisdiction. Everything required to be up and running in 3 to 6 months: government negotiations, board of directors, business plan, financial projections, office space, employees, etc.

If you’re considering forming an offshore bank, I suggest you take a look at Dominica. It’s the lowest cost and most efficient jurisdiction actively issuing licenses.

I hope you’ve found this article on how to get an offshore bank license in Dominica to be helpful. Please contact me at info@premieroffshore.com or call (619) 483-1708 for a confidential consultation on incorporating an international bank.

For more information on offshore banking licenses, please review my articles below.

asset protection puerto rico

Asset Protection for a Puerto Rico Act 20 Business

Once you have your Act 20 business in Puerto Rico up and running, you need to think about protecting its retained earnings or distributed profits. Asset protection for a Puerto Act 20 business  becomes urgent because of the amount of capital held in the company tax deferred.

There are two levels of asset protection for Puerto Rico Act 20 companies. The first is retained earnings within the Puerto Rico LLC or corporation and the second is asset protection of dividends taken out under Act 22.

When you operate an Act 20 business based in Puerto Rico from your home in the United States, you get tax deferral at 4%. That is to say, if the business owner is living in the US, you can hold  Puerto Rico sourced profits in the corporation tax deferred.

You will pay 4% tax on the net profits earned from work done in Puerto Rico. This cash must stay within the Puerto Rico corporate structure to continue to be tax deferred year after year. When you distribute those profits as a dividends to the US based owner, you will pay US tax on the qualified dividend at 20% to 23.5% + your state.

If you’re operating a business in Puerto Rico under Act 20, and living in Puerto Rico while qualifying for Act 22, then you can withdraw the corporate profits from the corporation each year. This is because residents of Puerto Rico pay zero tax on dividends from an Act 20 Puerto Rican business.

When it comes to protecting the assets of your company, remember that Puerto Rico is a US jurisdiction. Any US judgement will be enforceable in Puerto Rico just as it is in any other State. As a result, you must take steps to protect your cash without changing its status as tax deferred “offshore” profits.

The best asset protection for Puerto Rico Act 20 businesses is to move your cash out of Puerto Rico and into a safe and secure bank. We have relationships with a number of banks in Switzerland, Germany and Austria that will open accounts for your Act 20 company and allow you to hold retained earnings offshore and out of reach of civil creditors.

The next level of asset protection for a Puerto Rico Act 20 company is incorporating offshore subsidiaries. This is done to put a layer of insulation between the Puerto Rico company and the assets held offshore. We can form a corporation in Panama, Cook Islands, Cayman Islands, or any other solid asset protection jurisdiction to manage your corporate capital.

In order to maintain the tax benefits of tax deferral, these offshore companies must be wholly owned subsidiaries of the Puerto Rico Act 20 company. For example, we form a Panama Corporation owned by the Puerto Rico company. This gets us access to all of the banks and asset protection benefits of Panama and allows us to maintain our tax deferral status.

For this reason, we can’t use other more advanced techniques. It would not be possible for the owner of the Act 20 business to create a Cook Island Trust and fund the trust with retained earnings. Once those profits moved from the Puerto Rico company to the Cook Island Trust, they would become taxable in the United States as a distribution.

This limitation applies only to retained earnings. Residents of Puerto Rico operating under Act 22 may use any means necessary to protect their personal after tax assets from future civil creditors. Remember that, unlike a business based offshore, once you have paid your 4% corporate tax and withdrawn the dividends tax free, this is “after tax” money. You can invest and do with it whatever you like, just as you can with money taken from a US business after paying 40% in taxes.

If you’re new to the Puerto Rico tax holiday, and would like to compare it to traditional offshore tax plans, see Puerto Rico Tax Deal vs Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Move Your Internet Business to Cayman Islands Tax Free

One of the best asset protection systems is to have capital paid directly to a Cook Island Trust. This will maximize the asset protection afforded your dividend distribution and keep it out of the reach of any civil creditor.

We can make arrangements for the dividends to pass directly to the Trust and bypassing any risk of a civil creditor reaching them. We can also setup a subsidiary of the Puerto Rico company in the Cook Islands to facilitate this transfer and the related cash management.

Another offshore asset protection strategy for Puerto Rico Act 20 business will allow you to carry forward the tax benefits of Puerto Rico once you move away from the island and no longer qualify for Act 22.

Let’s say you’ve been operating your Act 20 business for 5 years and have been living in Puerto Rico all of this time. You’ve taken out $10 million in tax free dividends, with the only tax paid being 4% to the government of Puerto Rico.

You’ve had enough of island life, your business has run its course, and are want to return to the United States. Once you make the move, all capital gains, dividends and passive income earned on that $10 million will become taxable by the IRS and your State.

One option is to invest this money into an offshore single pay premium life insurance policy. Money held in the policy will be protected from future civil creditors as well as the US taxing authorities.

This is because capital gains earned within the US compliant offshore life insurance policy are tax deferred. You only pay US tax on the gains if you close out the policy or otherwise remove the cash. Of course, you are free to borrow against the life policy with no tax cost.

If you hold the policy until your death, then the total value will transfer to your heirs tax free (or with a step-up in basis). If you put in $10 million, and it’s grown to $20 million, you’re heirs get $20 million tax free… and the only tax you ever paid on any of that cash is the 4% to Puerto Rico. Quite an amazing tax play.

I hope you’ve found this article on asset protection for a Puerto Rico Act 20 business helpful. Please contact me at info@premieroffshore.com or call (619) 483-1708 for more information on setting up your business in Puerto Rico or on protecting your retained earnings within that structure.

Puerto Rico Bank License

Lowest Cost Offshore Bank License is Puerto Rico

Want to setup an offshore bank? Looking for an international banking license? Obtaining an offshore bank license and negotiating offshore correspondent accounts have become extremely difficult in every jurisdiction except one. The lowest cost offshore bank license is Puerto Rico. Yes, the US territory of Puerto Rico is the best island in the Caribbean to negotiate an offshore bank license.

Puerto Rico is the lowest cost offshore bank license available anywhere in the world. And, it comes with the ability to get US correspondent banking relationships more efficiently than other offshore bank licensing jurisdictions.

Let me first clarify two terms.

When I write about an offshore bank license, I mean a banking license that allows you to do all types of international banking business. The only limitation is that you can’t accept clients from the issuing jurisdiction. So, an offshore bank licensed in Puerto Rico can accept clients from anywhere in the world (including the United States) except Puerto Rico. Likewise, an offshore bank licensed in Panama can accept clients from anywhere but Panama.

And, when I say Puerto Rico is the lowest cost offshore bank license jurisdiction, I mean the lowest set up, capital, and operating cost by a long shot. I mean that an offshore bank license in Puerto Rico can be had for a fraction of the cost and capital of any other jurisdiction.

To give you an idea of the cost difference, it would require 10 times the capital of Puerto Rico to set up in the country of Belize. The cost of operating in Cayman would be 17 times higher than the cost of operating in Puerto Rico.

  • The annual fee for the international banking license in PR is $5,000. This compares to $85,365.85 in Cayman. The cost of labor and all other services are dramatically higher in Cayman than Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico has been aggressive in courting financial service, hedge fund, and banking companies since 2013. Their Act 20 which any US business to move to Puerto Rico and pay only 4% in tax. They also approved Act 22 which cuts the capital gains rate to zero for any American who moves to Puerto Rico and spends at least 183 days per year on the island (becoming a legal and tax resident of Puerto Rico).

An offshore bank licensed in Puerto Rico under Act 273 receives the same  4% tax rate. This tax holiday is guaranteed for 15 years. Also, full property and municipal license tax exemptions, 6% income tax rate on distributions to PR resident shareholders and a 0% tax rate on distributions to non-PR resident shareholders, are available to offshore banks licensed in Puerto Rico.

  • This article focuses on Act 273 and not Act 20  and 22. When doing your research, note the distinction between 273 for banks and 20 / 22. For example, Act 273 guarantees you a 4% rate for 15 years where Act 20 guarantees you the same for 20 years. Act 273 requires 4 employees where the latest version of Act 20 requires 5 employees.

Here’s a summary of the offshore bank license options in Puerto Rico:

Puerto Rico Full International Banking License – Requires capital of at least $300,000 to held by the central bank or in a bond (as stated in the Act: $300,000 financial guarantees acceptable to OCFI). Authorized shares are to be at least $5 million. Of this, only $250,000 must be paid-in.

Puerto Rico Restricted International Banking License – Capital held by the central bank or in a bond of $300,000 (as stated in the Act: $300,000 financial guarantees acceptable to OCFI). The authorized capital stock or the proposed capital, as the case may be, shall not be less than $500,000, out of which at least $50,000 shall be paid in full at the time the license is issued. This can also be referred to as a captive license.

In most cases, a full international banking license is required. Of the many banks licensed in Puerto Rico, only 1 has a restricted license.

A full international license in Puerto Rico allows you to provide financial services to other international financial institutions or to persons outside of Puerto Rico.  “Financial services” are any service which is generally accepted in the banking industry of the United States and Puerto Rico including:

  1. Accept deposits and borrow money from non-residents of PR.
  2. Accept deposits and borrow money from certain government institutions
  3. Place deposits in any PR bank and foreign banks organized in PR.
  4. Make loans to non-residents of PR. Issue letters of credit to non-residents or PR.
  5. Issue letters of credit for export activities to both PR resident and non-residents.
  6. Discount money orders and bills of exchange to non-PR residents.
  7. Invest in securities and stocks as well as PR government bonds exempt from tax
  8. Carry transactions in any currency and gold or silver and foreign currency trade.
  9. Underwrite and trade notes and debt instruments issued by a non-PR residents
  10. Engage in trade financing of import  and export of raw materials and finished goods.
  11. Act as a fiduciary, executor, administrator, registrar of stocks and bonds, custodian, trustee, agent and any other fiduciary capacity with non-residents of PR after obtaining a special permit from the government.
  12. Acquire and lease personal property on behalf of non-PR residents.
  13. Buy and sell security outside of PR on behalf of non-PR residents.
  14. Act as a clearinghouse of instruments of foreign persons
  15. Organize and manage international financial entities not related to residents of PR.
  16. Lend or guarantee loans originated in some governmental institutions.
  17. Purchase sub-standards non-performing loans from a PR bank.
  18. Establish branches outside PR in the continental USA or in other foreign country.
  19. Provide the following services:
    • Asset management.
    • Management of alternative investments.
    • Management of private capital.
    • Management of hedge funds
    • Management of pools of capital
    • Administration of trusts
    • Management of escrow  funds for non-residents of PR.

An offshore bank licensed in Puerto Rico gives you access to the US market and a wide range of corresponding banks.  In addition to the usual suspects, corresponding bank options include:

  • Scotiabank *
  • FirstBank Puerto Rico
  • Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
  • Banco Popular North America (US Bank at https://www.popularcommunitybank.com/)
  • Centennial Bank (a US bank in FL https://www.my100bank.com/)

    * Scotia has a partnership deal with Bank of America that can be leveraged.

Puerto Rico is the second largest offshore banking jurisdiction in the Caribbean after Cayman Islands. The Cayman Island has decades more history, 40 of the top 50 banks in the world, and a total of 196 banks licensed as of the end of June 2015.

This compares to about 50 offshore banks operating from Puerto Rico. That’s more than all of the other Caribbean islands combined… not counting Cayman, of course.

So, next time you hear about offshore banking jurisdiction “hotbed” like Belize with 6 banks, all combined holding less capital than one bank in Puerto Rico, you will have some sense of scale.  

Here is a partial list of the active banks in PR.

  • Pfizer International Bank – Int. License
  • Santander Overseas Bank – Int Lic.
  • Bank of Nova Scotia – General
  • Chase Manhattan – Int Lic
  • Citibank – General, but operate as an international bank
  • Popular Bank – General & Int. Lic ( publicly traded, operated in PR for 120 years, 52 yrs in US)
  • Puerto Rico International – Int. Lic
  • Metro America Int – Int Lic
  • Amtrade International Bank of Georgia – General
  • Charles Schwab Bank – General
  • BNC International – Int Lic
  • FirstBank International – Int Lic
  • Santander Overseas – Int Lic
  • WesternBank – Int Lic
  • OBT International – Int Lic
  • SB Pharmco (owned by Glaxo) – Int Lic
  • Bank of Southeast Europe – Int. Lic.
  • First Bankcorp – Int Lic
  • Oriental Bank – This is one of the larger local banks
  • VS International – Int Lic
  • Face Bank – Int Lic
  • BST – Int Lic
  • BBO Private – Int Lic
  • Paramount International – Int Lic
  • Bancredito Int – Int Lic
  • Italbank – Int Lic
  • Activo – Int Lic
  • ARCA – Int Lic
  • Nodus – Int Lic
  • Andcapital – Int Lic
  • Elite International – Inc Lic

For more information, please review my articles on offshore bank licensing and operation. I’ve been working in offshore banking for over a decade, so there are a few older posts floating around the web. My recent articles on the topic are:

I hope you have found this review of offshore bank licenses in Puerto Rico helpful. If you would like to setup a licensed bank in Puerto Rico, please contact me for a confidential consultation at info@premieroffshore.com or call (619) 483-1708.

FATCA

Offshore Banks Begin Reporting Under FATCA

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act is now live and pulling in data about Americans around the globe. The FATCA international data exchange gateway opened on March 2nd and data began flowing on March 14, 2015.

The FATCA gateway connects nearly all international banks in to the IRS network. Banks will report all accounts owned and/or controlled by US persons… even large companies with one or two US shareholders are being caught up in the net.

FATCA turns offshore bankers in to unpaid IRS agents. They must now investigate all new and old accounts and, should they find an American in the mix, report all transactions to Uncle Sam. If they are uncertain, they will either report or kick you out of the bank. Fines for crossing the IRS are severe, so you can be sure you will be on the losing end of any disagreement.

Of course, this has been tough on those with American parents who’ve been living abroad for decades. These Americans by birth are being kicked out of banks, brokerages and businesses because of their heritage. For example, check out my recent post on the Mayor of London who recently got into a war of words with the IRS… he was born in the US but hasn’t been here since a he was a child.

And the same goes for Americans with bank accounts or investments abroad. We’ve had our options reduced by nearly 80%. And, when we do find a bank that will take us on, we’re hit with all kinds of fees and conditions.

How Does FATCA Affect Me?

If you’re new to the offshore game – planting your first flags abroad this year – then FATCA won’t directly affect you. It might have limited your banking options and cost you money but it does not require you to do anything…. it places no affirmative duty on you which was not there before the law was enacted.

So long as your tax person files the right forms and keeps you in compliance, FATCA is a non-issue. You were always required to report and FATCA is now there to ensure you tow the line.  FATCA requires banks to report their US account holders and transactions. It does not require you to file any new or additional forms for 2015.

Think of it as a 1099 from your brokerage account. So long as what you report on your tax return matches up with what’s reported to the IRS, you have no problems.

Here’s to hoping your offshore bank understand FATCA and reports your transactions properly. If they make a major error, (calculate interest incorrectly or add a zero or two to the value of your account) you can expect a knock on your door from the IRS.

Who Should Be Afraid of FATCA?

If you have an unreported offshore account, then you should be very afraid of FATCA. Expect your bank to begin sending information to the IRS about you any day now and get ready for the fall out.

You will need a solid plan on how to report these accounts and should contact a tax attorney or other professional experienced in international tax matters as soon as possible.

And no, the solution is not to begin filing this year and hope no one looks at prior years. Expect IRS computers to identify those with previously unreported accounts… maybe by analyzing interest payments… maybe by auditing those who didn’t file last year but who had accounts as of January of this year… or maybe there’s a prior year check built in to the system we don’t know about.

Bottom line is that you can no longer bury your head in the sand and hope for the best. If you have unreported offshore accounts, the 2014 Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program might be your ticket out of trouble. If not, now is the time to get right with our government… before the flood of reports through FATCA can be analyzed and the audits begin.

If you have any questions on the OVDI, or would like a referral to a tax attorney or enrolled agent, please contact us at info@premieroffshore.com. Inquires are confidential and I will direct you to a licensed professional who will understand your situation.

International Money Lending License

International Money Lending License

The international money lending license came into its own in 2010 when the US began pushing out payday and other lenders of last resort. A number of offshore jurisdictions welcomed them with open arms and the battle with American regulators was on.

By 2012, many of these lenders moved from offshore licenses to those issued by US Indian tribes. For example, Integrity Payday Loans got in trouble with a few US states operating as a Nevis company. They became “ a tribal lending entity wholly owned by the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, a federally recognized Indian tribe that operates and makes loans within the Tribe’s reservation. All loans are subject exclusively to the laws and jurisdiction of the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe.”

With high risk lenders fleeing for greener pastures, offshore lending, like offshore banking post FATCA, has gone mainstream. These licenses are now used by everyone from multinationals to green energy companies, such as solar loan and lease providers to fund operations and manage their worldwide tax obligations. Where payday lenders were looking to hide, the new trend is towards those looking to operate more efficiently, make use of their offshore retained earnings, bring in foreign investors, and comply with US tax reporting obligations.

Offshore Licensing Options

There are only a few ways to accomplish these goals. You can form an international bank, a captive bank, a Panama financial services company, or operate under an international money lending license.

A international money lending license is also an alternative to a fulling licensed bank. An offshore banking license is a major undertaking requiring significant capital and backend compliance. A Panama financial services company has it’s uses, but it may not offer loans. An offshore lending license is the most efficient option for a company looking to make loans within a group of companies, or to the general public (excluding residents of its issuing country), but not offer other traditional banking services (deposit taking, investments, etc.)

A money lender can be setup in a matters of weeks and at a fraction of the cost of an offshore bank. Also, corporate capital, costs of operation, and government oversight are significantly reduced.

There are several countries offering international money lending licenses. I will focus Belize below, but a proper analysis of your needs, number of investors, number and size of your loans, and your business model, should be undertaken before selecting a jurisdiction.

Belize International Money Lending License

Licenses available in Belize include:

  • International money lending license
  • Money brokering services
  • Money transmission services
  • Money exchange services
  • Mutual and hedge funds
  • International insurance services
  • Brokerage, consultancy, and advisory services
  • Foreign exchange services
  • Payment processing services
  • International safe custody services
  • International banking license
  • Captive banking license
  • General banking license

For a list of applicable legislation, see: International Financial Services Commission, Belize

A company operating under an international lending license in Belize may lend up to $5,000 per transaction and was originally written by politicians for payday lenders. Loans by an international money lender must have an initial repayment period of less than one year and shall not be secured by title to real property, a motor vehicle, tangible personal property, or any other type of collateral other than the Loan Agreement and ACH authorization agreement. Also, loans made under this license shall be made to consumers for household purposes and personal expenses only (and not for commercial purposes).

In other words, you may offer short term unsecured loans of less than $5,000 to individuals, but not businesses.

A Belize international money lending license require capital of $50,000. This amount may be increased by the IFSC depending on your business model and history. Capital reserve ratios and applicable discounts apply. The application process runs about 3 months. A complete business plan with financial projections and a proven track record in your market niche are required.

A Belize money brokering license might be a workaround to the maximum amount and term of the international money lending license.  If the money being lent is coming from shareholders / partners in the business, rather than outside investors, Belize might allow you to broker the loans from your partners to your clients.

I say “might” because there are no businesses currently operating in this manner under the money brokering license. In fact, there is only one license currently active in Belize. I suggest such an application should be from a more “traditional” business, such as solar panel loans, rather than a higher risk category like payday advances.

Another, more common use of the money brokering license is to broker loans from Belize banks to your clients, earning a commission on each.

Other Offshore Licensing Jurisdictions

Another alternative to the Belize international money lending license is the British Virgin Islands Financing and Money Services License. This allows you to conduct any size lending business with persons resident in BVI and abroad. There is no maximum loan amount in the BVI statute.

For more information, see: British Virgin Islands Financing and Money Services License

Note that any regulated lending business will need to follow strict capital reserve and ratio requirements. Audited financial statements are due annually, and some jurisdictions require quarterly reporting.

The above describes international lending licenses. I suggest that the best license for an offshore leasing company is the Panama Financial Services License, which I will cover in another post.

Raising Money for an Offshore Lending Business

If you wish to raise capital for your offshore lending business, you will need a master-feeder offshore fund or similar structure. This is because your lending license does not allow you to  take deposits from people other than partners in the business. Nor does it allow you to solicit investors.

With an offshore master-feeder fund, accredited or super accredited investors (as defined by the US SEC) may invest in your US entity and non-US persons and US tax exempt investors (IRAs, etc.) may invest in your foreign entity. Both of these feed into the master fund, which in turn invests in to your offshore lending company.

international money lending license

By linking a master-feeder fund to an international lending license, you can raise unlimited amounts of capital while minimizing compliance costs and regulatory oversight. You might find it advantageous to operate a fund in a jurisdiction separate from the lending company. For example, the fund could be in Cayman or Belize with the lender domiciled in BVI.

Raising capital through a fund allows you to earn a commission on the appreciation in the fund and from the primary lending business. Typical master-feeder funds earn 2% of the money under management and 20% of the appreciation after a hurdle rate ( LIBOR+2 or some similar published rate).

Conclusion

In 2015, the world of offshore licensed entities is as complex as it is diverse. Careful consideration of the available licenses and your business model must be undertaken before selecting a jurisdiction. Each country and license type is intended for a specific use and capital ratios and regulations vary widely.

Add to this FATCA, IRS reporting, tax compliance, SEC issues, and anti-money laundering statutes, and you will find that going offshore with a licensed lending company requires the support of a professional experienced in both US and international regulations.

I hope this article has beens helpful. For more information on an international money lending license, an international banking license, or an offshore master-feeder fund, please phone me at  (619) 483-1708 or email Christian Reeves at info@premieroffshore.com.

Offshore Banking License

Best Offshore Bank License Jurisdictions

The offshore banking license industry was knocked down by FATCA, but it’s back on its feet and carrying on. Below are my best offshore banking license jurisdictions for 2015. You might also like to read my 5 Best Offshore Bank Licenses for 2017.

Please let me start with a little history.

International Banking is Still Alive

From 2012 through 2014, the offshore banking license industry was on life support. To be honest, I pronounced it dead in mid 2012 in an article titled Offshore Bank Licenses Go the Way of the Dodo. Fortunately I was wrong and international banking making a comeback.

Beginning in 2012, the US IRS declared war on offshore banks, shutting the small ones down and extracting millions in tribute from those large enough to pay.

Fines are still being levied on those with unreported US accounts. For example, the US and UK authorities announced plans to hit HSBC Switzerland in February of 2015.

Piling on, the US Congress passed the Foreign Account and Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) that requires all international banks to report US account holders each year. Basically, this law turned offshore bankers in to unpaid IRS agents.

Well, FATCA was delayed for years and no one had any idea how it would be implemented. This uncertainty made it nearly impossible to acquire a new offshore banking license and, if one was granted, you had little chance of getting a correspondent account.

Bottom line, no one was willing to take a chance on a new bank. They were busy cleaning up (or hiding) past sins and did not want to deal with a startup.

Now, in 2015, the war is over, the smoke has cleared, and the bodies of those unable to pay the ransom have been removed from the battlefield. The IRS came out victorious and just about every bank in the world has signed on to FATCA.

With uncertainty behind us, new formations are beginning to pick up. Of course, these new banks will find it a very different world… one where they must be responsible global citizens.

Note: This article is from 2015. You might also like to read my 5 Best Offshore Bank Licenses for 2017.

Best Offshore Banking License Jurisdictions

In my experience, the best offshore banking license jurisdictions are:

  • Andorra
  • Anguilla
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Bermuda
  • Belize
  • Cayman
  • Dominica
  • Lebanon
  • Luxembourg
  • Montserrat
  • Seychelles
  • St. Kitts & Nevis
  • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
  • Vanuatu (Republic of)

Each of these countries specializes in a different form of international banking license… is focused on a specific target market. Here are a few tips on selecting the best offshore banking jurisdiction.

When I analyze a jurisdiction, and compare it with a client’s objectives, I often start with the reserve capital. Some statutes require $500,000 to $3 million for a captive bank license and $1 million to $7 million in capital is standard for a small international bank. Jurisdictions like Panama and Luxembourg may require $30 million for a general license .

To further narrow down your choices, here are a few things to consider:

  • Andorra and Luxembourg issue licenses to large private banks.
  • The Cayman Islands prefers investment advisory and captive banks.
  • Vanuatu is a common jurisdiction for captives with on European parent companies.
  • St. Kitts and Dominica licenses link the bank in to the Eastern Caribbean region, which means they operate under a regional central bank.
  • Belize might be the preferred jurisdiction for a deposit taking bank, but it’s high capital ratios need to be accounted for.
  • Many international banks are domiciled in Panama because of the lower labor costs, top tier connectivity, availability of executive visas, and the world class reputation.

Types of Offshore Banking Licenses

Captive Bank: A bank with a captive license may only do business with those named in the license. So, each client / owner of the bank must be approved by the central bank. Captive offshore banks are typically used by large family offices, groups of wealthy individuals (say 10 to 15 partners), or multinational corporations, to manage their lending and worldwide tax obligations. A captive bank may not market its services to the general public.

International Bank: The license we most commonly associated with the offshore industry is the international banking license. This allows you to conduct all types of banking business with cutomers outside of your country of issuance. For example, if you operate an international bank in Belize, you may do business with anyone except Belize citizens and residents.

General Bank: A general license allows you to conduct business with both local and international clients. Of course, central banks want to protect their citizens first, thus capital requirements and regulation of generally licensed banks are tighter than international banks.

Purchase of an Existing Offshore Banking License

From time to time, captive and international banking licenses become available. Usually licenses are sold by operators who went through the process and lost their funding somewhere along the way.

I would like to point out that each owner of a bank must be approved by the regulatory authority. That is to say, you don’t just take over a license and begin operating. The new ownership group will need to go through an extensive background check, a new business plan approved, and personal financial statements must be provided. Expect this process to take several months.

To account for this delay and potential risk, you need to run the purchase of an existing offshore banking license through an escrow agent. Condition a portion of the purchase price (usually 25% to 50%) on the approval of the central bank

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Note that the usual formation and licensing costs for an international bank are $175,000 to $650,000 depending on the jurisdiction, the quality of your business plan, whether you already have a license from another jurisdiction, and the bonafides of the partners..

To apply, a detailed business plan, KYC and anti money laundering docs, and a well qualified board of directors will be required… all of which we can assist with.

I hope you have found this post on international banking licenses helpful. If you would like assistance in identifying a jurisdiction, searching for a new license, negotiating the takeover of an operating bank, or forming a new offshore bank, please phone me at (619) 483-1708 or send an email to Christian Reeves at info@premieroffshore.com.

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