Welcome to Liechtenstein, the biggest offshore banking hub you’ve never heard of.
Liechtenstein is a tiny principality, sandwiched between Austria and Switzerland. It has a similar onboarding process to Swiss bank account opening and offers excellent private banking services… to the right clients.
It’s small. You can walk across it in two hours.
And only 36,000 people live here. On National Day, the prince invites the entire country to his castle for a cocktail reception.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Non-residents and foreign companies come to Liechtenstein for private bank accounts and wealth management services
- The banking system here is safe and conservative compared to many other offshore banking hubs
- Service providers are after your money and are not there to help you open a bank account
- Some banks will require you to invest a certain amount of money into the bank’s investment products
Liechtenstein used to be a tax haven. But, it got rid of its bank secrecy laws in 2009, signed a bunch of exchange agreements, and rebranded itself as a private banking hub.
And it worked.
Today, Liechtenstein is one of the largest offshore wealth hubs in the world.
It uses the Swiss Franc (CHF) and has close ties to Switzerland. Together they form their own economic and monetary union, outside of the EU.
Do You Want to Explore All Your Offshore Banking Options?
Feel free to use the table of contents to jump ahead to the sections most relevant to you.
Table of Contents
- Can a Non-Resident Open an Offshore Account in Liechtenstein?
- Why Should You Open an Offshore Bank Account in Liechtenstein?
- Why Is a Bank Account in Liechtenstein So Attractive?
- Caution: Service Providers Lie About Bank Account Requirements
- Can a Foreign Company Open a Bank Account in Liechtenstein?
- How to Choose the Best Banks in Liechtenstein
- Frequently Asked Liechtenstein Banking Questions
- Ready to Open an Offshore Bank Account?
Can a Non-Resident Open an Offshore Account in Liechtenstein?
Yes, a non-resident can open an offshore account in Liechtenstein as long as they choose the right bank, meet the onboarding requirements, including the deposit amount, and have a suitable client profile. Not all banks in Liechtenstein accept foreign non-residents, so bank selection is an important factor to consider when choosing where to open an account.
Many banks will also expect you to invest a certain amount of money in the bank’s investment products. The amount required can vary, depending on the amount initially deposited and which other bank services you use.
Before applying for bank accounts in Liechtenstein, think carefully about which bank is best for you. Not all of them provide services to non-residents. And, minimum deposit requirements, fees, and perks can vary drastically.
If you’re already a GlobalBanks Insider, you can use the GlobalBanks Database to review banks in Liechtenstein and gain access to valuable insights into bank account opening strategies, requirements, and services.
The GlobalBanks Database can also be used to review operating banks in Austria and how to approach opening bank accounts in Austria as a foreign non-resident. But it doesn’t stop there. The GlobalBanks Database includes easy-to-digest bank profiles, analyst insights, account opening contacts, and unique opportunities at over 250 banks in 50+ countries.
Why Should You Open an Offshore Bank Account in Liechtenstein?
You don’t go to Liechtenstein for a personal account or transactional banking (aka to get a bank account for paying day-to-day expenses).
Non-residents and foreign companies come here for wealth management and private banking. If a Liechtenstein-based entity is set up, it’s almost always for wealth structuring or tax purposes.
Banks here are super familiar with all types of international structures. And yes, foreign companies can open accounts here too.
So it makes sense to consider Liechtenstein if you’re after wealth management, asset protection, or multi-generational wealth planning. It’s great for all these and many other private banking activities.
Alternatively, if you’re looking for wealth management services at a lower deposit with the option to open accounts remotely, you might consider opening private bank accounts with Andorra banks instead.
But besides dealing with banks and bankers who understand your needs, what else makes Liechtenstein an attractive banking destination?
Let’s take a look…
Why Is a Bank Account in Liechtenstein So Attractive?
Like many other small principalities, the government of Liechtenstein is fiscally responsible. Banks are safe and super conservative. In fact, during the financial crisis, Liechtenstein’s banks did just fine.
And one of the big reasons for that is the way that they make money. Banks in Liechtenstein generate revenue by charging fees, not by making risky investments.
Fees here are on par with other private and wealth management hubs. But, paying 1% of your total deposit is not uncommon. You cancel this out by investing in something that fetches a higher return anyway.
They service royal families, large holding companies, and the creme de la creme of the world, so the staff here is of exquisite quality. In short, bankers here are a different breed.
A little inside secret: Liechtenstein poaches the best of the best from Switzerland.
This, of course, drives up costs. Salaries can be twice as high and banks are more expensive to run. But, the quality and service are unmatched.
This also means that the minimums at Liechtenstein banks are higher than in other places. The reason for this is simple: it’s not profitable for banks here to take a client that deposits less than 100,000 CHF. Of course, there are exceptions and ways around this. We explain these strategies and more in GlobalBanks Insider when discussing private bank account options in Europe.
Caution: Service Providers Lie About Bank Account Requirements
If you’re reading this, you’ve probably done some initial research about opening a bank account in Liechtenstein. And if you did, you probably noticed that there are loads of service providers claiming they can help you.
Some of them even say that they can help you open a bank account in Liechtenstein for under 10,000 CHF. What’s the catch? You just have to pay them €1000 first!
But here’s the thing: They’re lying. Or should we say intentionally omitting really damn important information?
Here’s the big dirty secret that the introducer world doesn’t want you to know: if you don’t deposit the required amount within a certain number of months (varies by bank), the bank will just close your bank account.
And, POOF. Just like that, your Liechtenstein bank account is gone. And, so are the €1000 you paid to that service provider, the money you spent on flights to Liechtenstein to open the bank account, and the fees you already paid to the bank. All gone.
So, beware of introducers promising banking options that sound too good to be true, because they are.
Service providers and bank introducers do not have your interests at heart. Their #1 goal is to convince you to pay them a €1000+ fee for a one-time service. They don’t care if the bank account is opened or stays open. By the time you figure out the game, they’re already off selling snake oil to the next guy.
Can a Foreign Company Open a Bank Account in Liechtenstein?
Business banking is possible in Liechtenstein. If you can meet the minimum.
If you’re looking for a transactional business bank account for an online business making $50,000 per year selling ebooks, we have a lot of other options that you can consider–Liechtenstein isn’t one of them.
However, foreign companies with a few hundred thousand can open accounts, as long as they don’t plan on having a lot of transactions. But you’re more likely to grab a bank’s attention if you’re able to deposit US $1 million or more.
Now, some readers might be wondering why a foreign company would want a corporate bank account in Liechtenstein.
Well, if you’re operating a business in a high-risk or unusual industry, you’re probably struggling to open a bank account elsewhere. Most first-world banks probably already rejected you – either because of your business type or your corporate structure was foreign or too complex.
Liechtenstein banks, by contrast, understand offshore business and international companies. Banks here have a long banking history with foreigners, non-residents, and international structures. They’re smart and they don’t scare easily.
Is Liechtenstein a business banking center? No. But, banks here are willing to listen – if you have a legitimate business and enough money to deposit.
In fact, there’s a loophole for high-risk businesses here. No restrictions on withdrawals if your company is formed in the right jurisdiction. But you need at least US $1 million in order for this to be an option. We’ll be sharing this with GlobalBanks Insiders in an upcoming report.
How Do I Choose the Best Banks in Liechtenstein?
It depends. What are you looking to do and how much money do you have?
If you’re a non-resident with $100,000 to deposit, you’re going to target banks in Liechtenstein that have a history of accepting clients with lower deposits.
As the amount you can deposit and invest with the bank goes up, so does their willingness to accept you. For instance, if you’re able to $1m+, you’ll have a wider range of options than $100,000.
Likewise, if you want to open an offshore bank account here for a foreign company such as a Panama foundation, a BVI company, or another type of foreign entity – then you’ll need to target banks that have a history of accepting your preferred structure, match your deposit range, and services you need.
If you want to open a bank account for a foreign company, then the “best” bank will depend on a few other factors. These include:
- Deposit: How much can you deposit?
- Investments: How much do you plan to invest with the bank?
- Transactions: How many monthly transactions will you have?
- Industry: Is the business or industry you operate in considered high-risk?
After you answer these questions, you can determine which banks are best, which will realistically accept you, and what the fees will look like.
GlobalBanks Insiders can use the tools inside the premium members area to start finding banks that match their needs or message our team to discuss what banking options are available to you.
Frequently Asked Liechtenstein Banking Questions
Below are three of the most common questions we receive from people exploring how to open a non-resident bank account in Liechtenstein. If you have further questions you would like answered, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us directly.
Can a Foreigner Open a Bank Account in Liechtenstein?
Yes, a foreigner can open a bank account in Liechtenstein as long as they meet the bank’s account opening requirements and have a suitable client profile. That said, not all banks in Liechtenstein accept foreigners. So, bank selection will be an important factor to consider when choosing where to open bank accounts in Liechtenstein as a foreigner.
Can I Open a Bank Account In Another Country Without Living There?
Yes, you can open a bank account in another country without living there as long as the bank you choose to open an account with offers remote account opening. The country suitable for you will depend on your banking needs, banking objectives, and client profile.
Can a Foreigner Open a Bank Account?
Yes, a foreigner can open a bank account as long as they choose the right bank, branch, and banker. That said, the banks available to foreigners will depend on their citizenship, residency, banking needs, deposit level, and much more.
Ready to Open an Offshore Bank Account?
If so, you can access GlobalBanks Insider and start the process of applying for an offshore account in a few clicks.
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