Bank accounts

Who it suits

The home banking of Cyprus companies and CySEC-licensed firms, including segregated client-funds accounts. Banks look for a Cyprus connection: an office, staff, a local director or EU clients.

What banks ask for

• Company documents and the register of beneficial owners
• A description of the business, its clients, suppliers and expected flows
• Identity, address and source-of-wealth evidence for owners and directors
• For licensed firms, the licence and the regulator's conditions on client money

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

Switzerland is a global centre of cross-border wealth management. Private banks open remotely for qualifying clients, hold accounts in many currencies and offer custody and brokerage beside the account. Purely transactional business accounts for foreign operating companies are harder to place.

What banks ask for

• Identity, residence and detailed source of wealth and funds
• For companies: the structure chart, beneficial owners and the purpose of the account
• The expected deposit and the investment profile

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

Swiss-style private banking inside the European Economic Area: Liechtenstein banks combine the franc, EEA market access and an early, clear law on blockchain businesses. Foundations and holding companies are their everyday clients.

What banks ask for

• Identity, residence and source of wealth for every beneficial owner
• Structure documents for foundations and holdings
• The investment or holding purpose and the expected size

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

The banking of Europe's fund centre: depositary, fund, escrow and holding accounts, and private banking. Banks expect Luxembourg substance or a fund or payment licence behind the account.

What banks ask for

• Fund or company documents, the structure and the regulated status
• Beneficial owners with source of wealth
• The purpose, counterparties and expected flows of the account

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

One of the deepest payments markets in Europe. High-street banks want a UK-resident director and a UK business; challenger banks and EMIs onboard UK companies with foreign owners remotely, with safeguarded rather than guaranteed funds.

What banks ask for

• Companies House records and the persons with significant control
• Identity and address for directors and owners, often with a UK footprint
• The business model, the clients and the expected turnover

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

Lithuania hosts the EU's largest community of electronic money institutions, with direct SEPA access through the central bank. For a foreign-owned company that needs euro IBANs quickly, an EMI here is often the first account; a bank follows once there is a track record.

What providers ask for

• Company documents and beneficial owners
• A clear description of the business, its clients and the geography of payments
• Identity verification by video and proof of address

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

Banking for Malta's licensed sectors: gaming operators, payment institutions and investment firms with an MFSA or MGA licence and an office in Malta. Banks are selective and expect substance.

What banks ask for

• The licence and the compliance framework
• Company documents, beneficial owners and source of funds
• Player or client fund arrangements where they apply

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

Euro banking in an English-speaking EU member. The banks favour companies trading in Ireland with resident directors; payment and e-money institutions serve the international groups that use Ireland as an EU base.

What banks ask for

• CRO records and the beneficial-ownership filing
• Identity and address for directors and owners
• The business, its customers and its expected activity in Ireland

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

A banking system known for its stability, with multi-currency accounts and private banking of the first rank. Banks want a Singapore nexus for a business account and interview the directors; private banks onboard wealth clients remotely from larger minimums.

What banks ask for

• ACRA business profile, constitution and the register of controllers
• Evidence of the Singapore nexus: contracts, invoices, staff, a resident director
• Identity and source of wealth for owners and directors

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

A gateway to China and Asia with deep multi-currency banking. Banks expect a business nexus in Hong Kong and usually meet the directors in person; virtual banks and payment platforms serve smaller trading companies.

What banks ask for

• Companies Registry and business registration documents
• Evidence of the Hong Kong nexus and the trade flows
• Identity and address for directors, shareholders and controllers

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

Banking follows the licence and the visa: a free zone or mainland company whose owner holds a UAE residence visa opens an account with the local banks, usually after an in-person meeting. Multi-currency accounts, trade finance and private banking are strong.

What banks ask for

• The trade licence, memorandum and office lease
• Owners' passports, residence visas and Emirates ID
• Business plan, counterparties and expected turnover; invoices and contracts for existing businesses

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

Mauritius requires a Global Business Company to keep its principal bank account in Mauritius, so the banks are built for exactly that: GBC accounts opened through the management company, custody and client-money accounts for FSC licensees, and multi-currency facilities for Africa and India.

What banks ask for

• The GBC licence and the management company's introduction
• Beneficial owners with source of wealth and funds
• The business plan and the expected transactions

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

Local accounts for Seychelles dealers and IBCs, mostly in US dollars. Most licensed brokers also hold accounts abroad for client funds and operations.

What banks ask for

• Company documents and the FSA licence where there is one
• Beneficial owners with source of funds
• The business description and the expected flows

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

Institutional banking for funds, special-purpose vehicles and holding companies, opened remotely through the registered office provider, with custody and investment services beside the account.

What banks ask for

• Fund or company documents and the structure chart
• Beneficial owners with source of wealth
• The purpose of the account and its expected size

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

IFEs are Puerto Rico-licensed institutions that serve non-residents in US dollars with access to US payment rails, taxed at 4% on their IFE income. They onboard international companies and individuals remotely and are used by fintech, crypto and trading businesses that need dollar accounts.

What providers ask for

• Company documents and beneficial owners
• The business model, licences and expected flows
• Identity, address and source of funds

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.

Who it suits

The dollar's home market. A Delaware or Wyoming company with an EIN can bank in the US, but most banks want a US-based signatory, a US address and a business reason; fintech platforms serve foreign-owned LLCs remotely with FDIC pass-through protection through partner banks.

What banks ask for

• Formation documents, the EIN letter and the operating agreement
• Beneficial-ownership certification and identity for owners and signatories
• The business purpose and expected activity in the United States

How opening works

We shortlist the banks whose criteria fit your company, its owners, its activity and the countries it trades with; prepare the application and the business description the bank's compliance team expects; and answer their questions with you until a decision is made.