The Cayman Islands is one of the first countries that comes to mind when considering offshore banking. It has been a tax haven for many high-networth individuals since the 1960s when the first international bank set up shop on Grand Cayman.
Although it’s a small country tucked between Jamaica and Cuba, the Cayman Islands has grown to become the world’s 5th largest financial centre with over 160 banks registered, 100 of them catering purely to offshore clients, private and corporate.
Just to paint a picture of the banking industry’s size in the Cayman Islands, they hold about $7 billion in deposits and 75% of the world’s hedge funds.
The growth of the banking industry there is one of the reasons opening an account has become harder in recent years. For starters, they are the crème de la crème of offshore banking and can afford to enforce strict compliance laws to ensure all the money coming in is clean and only from the best customers.
If you’re considering opening a bank account in the Cayman Islands, this guide should help you do just that.
Benefits of Banking in the Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands has a highly developed and sophisticated financial sector that offers the best financial and legal investment and asset management with numerous added benefits, including;
Adjustable and stable banking
The banking sector in the Cayman Islands is designed to help keep the jurisdiction as the leading global financial hub. They have adapted to international regulations, making them an attractive option for offshore banking. The banking sector is innovative and constantly finding new ways to provide efficient and quality financial services, asset protection and wealth management. They’ve also maximised privacy and built a stable legal framework to protect clients and their assets.
Political and economic stability
The Cayman Islands is an independent British Overseas Territory and enjoys the protection of the UK Jurisprudence. It enjoys political and economic stability because it is self-governing and continues offering tax neutrality and an independent financial sector. Its position as a British protectorate helps it maintain strong economic links to the UK and its economic allies.
The Cayman Islands is one of the world’s safest and most stable offshore banking jurisdictions because of its macroeconomic model that fences off its financial sector.
Tax neutrality
The main reason why most people consider opening an offshore account in the Caymans Islands is because of tax neutrality. There are no taxes on both global and domestic income.
Account holders don’t have to worry about capital, wealth, inheritance, withholding or any other type of taxes being levied on their accounts, both residents and non-residents.
The only requirement is that global income for non-residents and citizens of other countries must be declared to the governments of those countries because of global reporting regulations.
Income and capital may be subject to taxation by the beneficiaries’ country of residence or nationality. That’s to say, the Cayman Islands is not the tax evasion haven that people take it for, but it is definitely a great destination when looking to preserve your net worth from taxation.
Superior asset management and investment services
Given the amount of capital and wealth the Cayman Islands holds, it’s not a surprise that they are home to some of the world’s best asset management services and options. They have excellent wealth and estate management services, trust fund, foundation administration, and tax planning.
You can also get a wealth of financial and legal expertise to ensure you maintain compliance while protecting your wealth and financial privacy.
Who Should Open a Bank Account in the Cayman Islands?
Being the best financial services provider in the world means you attract the attention of everyone, including those looking to launder money. To preserve the banking sector, the Cayman Islands have strict regulations on who can open an account in the country.
If you’re a non-resident with no ties to the Cayman Islands, opening an account is the hardest thing to achieve, even for a personal account.
If you can prove ties to the Islands, there’s a chance you can open the account as a non-resident even without being present, but you should still expect a certain degree of difficulty. You will be subjected to high scrutiny; you will require more documentation, paperwork, and tracking of funds.
You don’t have to live there to prove that you have ties there, but you must have a resident permit, family ties or a business.
Non-residents planning to create clear ties with the Cayman Islands might have an easier time opening a bank account in the country. People looking to establish residency or looking to become involved in a business there might get a second look.
Having a lot of money to invest or having a relationship with a bank with a branch in the Caymans can get you through the door for banking in the Cayman Islands.
How to Open a Bank Account in the Cayman Islands
You can open a bank account in the Caymans in your preferred jurisdiction or online. You can do this through several methods;
Choose an experienced business setup consultant
Opening an offshore account is not the easiest process, especially when the account is being opened in the Caymans. You need someone to assist you through the process and navigate the challenging legal framework of the region.
A business setup consultant is one of the easiest methods you can use to get an account in the Caymans. The professional you choose to work with will do most of the heavy lifting for you. You don’t have to worry about learning the bank system, but you must meet requirements for the account to be approved.
Choose the best banks
There’s no shortage of amazing banks in the Caymans, but that’s not to say some aren’t better than others. You should research and compare the different banks to determine which will meet your needs and requirements. Some of the well-established banks you can consider when opening a bank account in the Caymans include;
- Butterfield bank
- Cayman National Bank
- Proven Bank (Cayman) Limited
- Scotiabank Cayman
Determine the type of account you need
After choosing the bank you want to work with, the next step is to decide the type of bank account you want. It can be a personal or business account. You should also decide whether this will be a checking, savings or investment account.
If the account is managed for you, it may offer you a range of investment options like stocks, bonds and mutual funds, but these are usually associated with higher professional fees. But when administered well, such options can provide a significantly greater return.
Gather the required documentation
Because the government may already have your documentation, the documents you need to provide may be fewer than expected.
You must have ties in the islands for both accounts if you’re a non-resident. These can be personal, business or residential connections. You don’t have to be present but may be subject to greater scrutiny when claiming a connection without being there. You might also be required to provide more documentation, operation tracking, and higher fees if the account is approved.
The common requirements for opening an offshore bank account in the Cayman Islands for non-residents are the following;
- A passport or other government-issued photo identification for proof of identity
- A utility bill (less than three months old) or other documents to verify your residential address.
- Documents from your existing bank or financial institutions with your bank history as a bank reference
- Information about the source of the funds you plan to deposit in the account
- The minimum initial deposit required by the bank with which you intend to open the bank account.
Typically, foreigners are required to comply with additional regulations, such as those related to anti-money laundering and know-your-customer standards.
Open the account remotely or in person
Some banks will allow you to open the account remotely, while others require you to visit the bank in person. You may need to make travel arrangements to the jurisdiction to open the account. To be safe, you can contact the bank to confirm their account opening procedures currently.
Fund the account
After the account is opened, you must make an initial deposit to fund the account. The initial deposit will vary depending on the bank. Some banks have a few thousand as the minimum deposit, and others run into the hundreds of thousands.
After you have completed the required information and funded the account, the bank will complete the account activation process, and you can start using the account.
Conclusion
Regarding banking services, the Cayman Islands is a beneficial jurisdiction for business and personal accounts onshore and offshore. You can benefit in many ways, mainly because of the tax advantages, reputable financial infrastructure, confidentiality, diversification, and stable political environment.
However, getting that account is not easy and almost always requires hand-holding to manoeuvre the legal framework and requirements required to open an account in the Cayman Islands.
