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Beside Seychelles, Belize, Cyprus, Panama - what offshore jurisdiction is good?
- Thread starter nastathin
- Start date
Belize bank don't offer SWIFT code which make a transfer to such an account unnecessary expensive compared to a bank with SWIFT. Or do you know a bank in Belize with own swift?
@fundmanager: Yes I do know several Belize banks with swift codes but more importantly I would love to hear your justification regarding a correlation between a lack of a swift code and an increase in cost in a wire transfer. :S -confused:
Banks in Belize + SWIFT/ BIC
Apparantly, some information about the banks in Belize didn´t reach the general public yet .......
Here are some updates:
Banks and Banking in Belize
Belize has five commercial banks, not including offshore banks. Three are based in Belize – Heritage Bank (formerly Alliance Bank), Belize Bank and Atlantic Bank — and two, First Caribbean Bank (formerly Barclays) and ScotiaBank, are large multinational banks with branches in Belize. The local banks are small, about the size of a small-town local bank or savings and loan in the U.S. Belize also has several credit unions and small mortgage lending institutions.
Here are the basic facts, including contact information for the main offices, about each bank in Belize:
Atlantic Bank was founded in 1971. It is majority owned by Sociedad Nacional de Inversiones, S.A., a Honduran company, along with some individual stockholders in Belize and Honduras. Atlantic Bank has 13 offices in Belize — in Corozal, the Corozal Free Zone, Belize City (three offices), International Airport, Belmopan, Ladyville, Caye Caulker, Orange Walk, San Pedro, Placencia and San Ignacio. Main office: Atlantic Building, Freetown Road; tel. 501-223-4123, fax 223-3907; Atlantic Bank Ltd.. Atlantic Bank’s international banking operation is Atlantic International Bank.
Belize Bank traces its history back to 1902 when it was founded as the Bank of British Honduras. It is owned by BB Holdings, shares of which trade on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in the United Kingdom under the symbol BBHL. Lord Michael Ashcroft, a British billionaire and Conservative party officer who holds dual citizenship in the UK and Belize, is chairman and a large stockholder in BB Holdings. Belize Bank bills itself as the largest commercial bank in Belize, with assets if around US$440 million, and around 40% share of loans and deposits in Belize. It has 12 offices around the country — in Corozal, the Corozal Free Zone, Orange Walk, International Airport, Belize City (two offices), Belmopan, San Ignacio, San Pedro, Dangriga and Punta Gorda. Main office: 60 Market Square, Belize City; tel. 501-227-7132, fax 227-2712; Belize Bank. Belize Bank also has an international banking division, Belize Caribbean International Bank.
First Caribbean International Bank (formerly Barclays) was formed in 2003 by the merger of the Caribbean operations of Barclays, the giant U.K-based financial service firm, and those of another large bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). Operations in 17 Caribbean countries including Belize were rebranded as First Caribbean International Bank. First Caribbean has assets of around US$11 billion. In Belize, First Caribbean has five offices, in Belmopan, Belize City (two), San Pedro and Dangriga. Main office in Belize: Albert Street, Belize City; tel. 501-227-7211, fax 227-8572; FirstCaribbean International Bank - Personal Banking.
Heritage Bank (formerly Alliance Bank) is the newest of the commercial banks in Belize. It has eight offices -- in Belize City, Belmopan, Caye Caulker, San Pedro, Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Independence and Pomona (near Dangriga). It formerly was associated with Glenn D. Godfrey, a well-connected Belizean businessman and attorney. In 2009, Alliance Bank reportedly was sold to a group of mostly foreign investors from Mexico and the Caribbean. Main Office: 106 Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City; tel.: 501-223-6783, fax 223-6785. Heritage International Bank
ScotiaBank, formerly Bank of Nova Scotia, is a large Canadian bank with operations in 50 countries and with worldwide assets of more than US$500 billion. In Belize, it has 13 offices -- in Corozal Town, San Pedro, Orange Walk, Belize City (two offices), Belmopan, Spanish Lookout, Placencia, Punta Gorda and Dangriga. Main Belize office: Albert Street, Belize City, tel. 501-227-7027, fax 227-7416; www.scotiabank.com.
Offshore Banks
In addition to commercial banks in Belize serving local customers, Belize has developed a small but growing community of offshore banks (or international banks as they like to be called.) These offshore banks were authorized by the Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1995, and the introduction of the Offshore Banking Act, 1996, and the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act, 1996.
These banks are regulated by the Belize Central Bank, have physical offices in Belize and offer various services including international bankcards and demand, savings and time deposit accounts. Accounts maintained with these banks are not subject to local taxes or exchange control restrictions and may be denominated in any major currency, including U.S. dollars, euros and others. International banks tout their privacy for their customers, although if the Belize courts find that funds in the banks are proceeds of crime the banks are required to release the identity of the account owner. Funds are transferred into and out of Belize in foreign currencies with no conversion to Belize dollars taking place.
These banks are prohibited from doing business with Belize citizens or legal residents. The offshore banks also comply with UN sanctions and don’t accept deposits from citizens of Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Ivory Coast and several other countries. Most customers of international banks first establish an International Business Company (IBC). Here’s information on some of the larger offshore banks in Belize:
Atlantic International Bank: Owned by Atlantic Bank, this bank offers demand deposit accounts, personal savings accounts (minimum US$1,000) paying around 2.25% at the time of this writing; savings accounts with US$25,000 or more earn 3% interest; time deposits with a minimum of US$20,000 paying between 2.25% and 6%, depending on amount and term; corporate accounts; credit cards and investment/brokerage accounts. Other services include offshore trust services and establishing International Business Companies (IBCs). Main office: Cleghorn St. & Freetown Rd., Belize City; tel. 501 223-0681, fax 223-3528; Atlantic International Bank Ltd..
British Caribbean Bank International Limited: British Caribbean Bank International Limited is a subsidiary of BCB Holdings Limited. A licensed was granted in 2006 to provide international banking services to an international clientele. British Caribbean Bank International Limited provides a full range of offshore banking services such as:
o Euro, US Dollar, Sterling & Pounds - Foreign Currency Personal & Corporate Bank Accounts
o Visa/MasterCard International Credit, Debit & Prepaid Cards
o Online Securities Brokerage Services
o Credit Facilities
o Online Banking
o Online Merchant Acquiring Services
The minimum balance required to maintain an offshore bank account is US$1,000. Offshore bank accounts enable clients to manage their finances wherever they are in the world. These accounts are tax-free and are not subject to currency controls. Accounts are available to both personal and corporate clients in US dollars, Canadian dollars, pounds and euros. British Caribbean Bank International Limited also offers certificates of deposits and a minimum of US$25,000 in the currency. For more information visit Welcome to BC Bank International or the main office at #21 Regent Street, 4th Floor, Belize City; tel: 501-227-0697/227-1548, fax: 501-227-0983
Caye International Bank: Opened in 2003, Caye Bank is located in San Pedro. Currently, the bank offers a mix of deposit and loan services to non-residents of Belize, including demand (checking) deposits (minimum US$5,000) currently paying 0.5% to 1.25%, savings deposits (minimim US$5,000) paying .75% to 3%, and CDs (minimum deposit US$25,000, rates subject to negotiation. Main office: Coconut Drive, San Pedro; tel. 501-226-2388, fax 226-2892, International Banking.
Heritage International Bank (formerly Provident Bank and Trust): This international bank is associated with the similarly named domestic bank. Demand deposits may be opened with a minimum of U$3,000, savings accounts with US$500, premium savings accounts with US$5,000 and time deposits with a minimum of US$25,000. The bank also offers on-line banking, credit cards and other services. Main office: 35 Barrack Road, Belize City; tel. 501-223-5698, fax 223-0368; Heritage International Bank
All of these offshore Banks offering international service such as wire transfers within the SWIFT-/BIC - system. Some of there correspondent Banks are located in Europe, integrated in the European IBAN-system!
Apparantly, some information about the banks in Belize didn´t reach the general public yet .......
Here are some updates:
Banks and Banking in Belize
Belize has five commercial banks, not including offshore banks. Three are based in Belize – Heritage Bank (formerly Alliance Bank), Belize Bank and Atlantic Bank — and two, First Caribbean Bank (formerly Barclays) and ScotiaBank, are large multinational banks with branches in Belize. The local banks are small, about the size of a small-town local bank or savings and loan in the U.S. Belize also has several credit unions and small mortgage lending institutions.
Here are the basic facts, including contact information for the main offices, about each bank in Belize:
Atlantic Bank was founded in 1971. It is majority owned by Sociedad Nacional de Inversiones, S.A., a Honduran company, along with some individual stockholders in Belize and Honduras. Atlantic Bank has 13 offices in Belize — in Corozal, the Corozal Free Zone, Belize City (three offices), International Airport, Belmopan, Ladyville, Caye Caulker, Orange Walk, San Pedro, Placencia and San Ignacio. Main office: Atlantic Building, Freetown Road; tel. 501-223-4123, fax 223-3907; Atlantic Bank Ltd.. Atlantic Bank’s international banking operation is Atlantic International Bank.
Belize Bank traces its history back to 1902 when it was founded as the Bank of British Honduras. It is owned by BB Holdings, shares of which trade on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange in the United Kingdom under the symbol BBHL. Lord Michael Ashcroft, a British billionaire and Conservative party officer who holds dual citizenship in the UK and Belize, is chairman and a large stockholder in BB Holdings. Belize Bank bills itself as the largest commercial bank in Belize, with assets if around US$440 million, and around 40% share of loans and deposits in Belize. It has 12 offices around the country — in Corozal, the Corozal Free Zone, Orange Walk, International Airport, Belize City (two offices), Belmopan, San Ignacio, San Pedro, Dangriga and Punta Gorda. Main office: 60 Market Square, Belize City; tel. 501-227-7132, fax 227-2712; Belize Bank. Belize Bank also has an international banking division, Belize Caribbean International Bank.
First Caribbean International Bank (formerly Barclays) was formed in 2003 by the merger of the Caribbean operations of Barclays, the giant U.K-based financial service firm, and those of another large bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC). Operations in 17 Caribbean countries including Belize were rebranded as First Caribbean International Bank. First Caribbean has assets of around US$11 billion. In Belize, First Caribbean has five offices, in Belmopan, Belize City (two), San Pedro and Dangriga. Main office in Belize: Albert Street, Belize City; tel. 501-227-7211, fax 227-8572; FirstCaribbean International Bank - Personal Banking.
Heritage Bank (formerly Alliance Bank) is the newest of the commercial banks in Belize. It has eight offices -- in Belize City, Belmopan, Caye Caulker, San Pedro, Orange Walk, San Ignacio, Independence and Pomona (near Dangriga). It formerly was associated with Glenn D. Godfrey, a well-connected Belizean businessman and attorney. In 2009, Alliance Bank reportedly was sold to a group of mostly foreign investors from Mexico and the Caribbean. Main Office: 106 Princess Margaret Drive, Belize City; tel.: 501-223-6783, fax 223-6785. Heritage International Bank
ScotiaBank, formerly Bank of Nova Scotia, is a large Canadian bank with operations in 50 countries and with worldwide assets of more than US$500 billion. In Belize, it has 13 offices -- in Corozal Town, San Pedro, Orange Walk, Belize City (two offices), Belmopan, Spanish Lookout, Placencia, Punta Gorda and Dangriga. Main Belize office: Albert Street, Belize City, tel. 501-227-7027, fax 227-7416; www.scotiabank.com.
Offshore Banks
In addition to commercial banks in Belize serving local customers, Belize has developed a small but growing community of offshore banks (or international banks as they like to be called.) These offshore banks were authorized by the Banks and Financial Institutions Act, 1995, and the introduction of the Offshore Banking Act, 1996, and the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act, 1996.
These banks are regulated by the Belize Central Bank, have physical offices in Belize and offer various services including international bankcards and demand, savings and time deposit accounts. Accounts maintained with these banks are not subject to local taxes or exchange control restrictions and may be denominated in any major currency, including U.S. dollars, euros and others. International banks tout their privacy for their customers, although if the Belize courts find that funds in the banks are proceeds of crime the banks are required to release the identity of the account owner. Funds are transferred into and out of Belize in foreign currencies with no conversion to Belize dollars taking place.
These banks are prohibited from doing business with Belize citizens or legal residents. The offshore banks also comply with UN sanctions and don’t accept deposits from citizens of Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Ivory Coast and several other countries. Most customers of international banks first establish an International Business Company (IBC). Here’s information on some of the larger offshore banks in Belize:
Atlantic International Bank: Owned by Atlantic Bank, this bank offers demand deposit accounts, personal savings accounts (minimum US$1,000) paying around 2.25% at the time of this writing; savings accounts with US$25,000 or more earn 3% interest; time deposits with a minimum of US$20,000 paying between 2.25% and 6%, depending on amount and term; corporate accounts; credit cards and investment/brokerage accounts. Other services include offshore trust services and establishing International Business Companies (IBCs). Main office: Cleghorn St. & Freetown Rd., Belize City; tel. 501 223-0681, fax 223-3528; Atlantic International Bank Ltd..
British Caribbean Bank International Limited: British Caribbean Bank International Limited is a subsidiary of BCB Holdings Limited. A licensed was granted in 2006 to provide international banking services to an international clientele. British Caribbean Bank International Limited provides a full range of offshore banking services such as:
o Euro, US Dollar, Sterling & Pounds - Foreign Currency Personal & Corporate Bank Accounts
o Visa/MasterCard International Credit, Debit & Prepaid Cards
o Online Securities Brokerage Services
o Credit Facilities
o Online Banking
o Online Merchant Acquiring Services
The minimum balance required to maintain an offshore bank account is US$1,000. Offshore bank accounts enable clients to manage their finances wherever they are in the world. These accounts are tax-free and are not subject to currency controls. Accounts are available to both personal and corporate clients in US dollars, Canadian dollars, pounds and euros. British Caribbean Bank International Limited also offers certificates of deposits and a minimum of US$25,000 in the currency. For more information visit Welcome to BC Bank International or the main office at #21 Regent Street, 4th Floor, Belize City; tel: 501-227-0697/227-1548, fax: 501-227-0983
Caye International Bank: Opened in 2003, Caye Bank is located in San Pedro. Currently, the bank offers a mix of deposit and loan services to non-residents of Belize, including demand (checking) deposits (minimum US$5,000) currently paying 0.5% to 1.25%, savings deposits (minimim US$5,000) paying .75% to 3%, and CDs (minimum deposit US$25,000, rates subject to negotiation. Main office: Coconut Drive, San Pedro; tel. 501-226-2388, fax 226-2892, International Banking.
Heritage International Bank (formerly Provident Bank and Trust): This international bank is associated with the similarly named domestic bank. Demand deposits may be opened with a minimum of U$3,000, savings accounts with US$500, premium savings accounts with US$5,000 and time deposits with a minimum of US$25,000. The bank also offers on-line banking, credit cards and other services. Main office: 35 Barrack Road, Belize City; tel. 501-223-5698, fax 223-0368; Heritage International Bank
All of these offshore Banks offering international service such as wire transfers within the SWIFT-/BIC - system. Some of there correspondent Banks are located in Europe, integrated in the European IBAN-system!
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you for naming a few of the good banks in Belize, BVI and around the different offshore jurisdictions. What I don't get, who is the BANK that offer merchant account for credit card processing in the BVI? I never hear of any nor have I seen any feed back of such a particular bank!
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