Today's investors are taking a global approach to their holdings, in terms of both diversification of investments and placements of assets with onshore and offshore intermediaries.

The selection of a suitable financial institution tends to be easier onshore as the investor is knowledgeable about financial institutions in his own jurisdiction. Choosing a suitable offshore location is inherently more difficult, however, as he must consider both the jurisdiction and institution.

The considerations usually taken into account in relation to an offshore jurisdiction are tax legislation, political stability, foreign exchange laws, non-disclosure laws, infrastructure and regulations. With respect to the more important selection of the firm itself, the considerations to be covered are trust, privacy and discretion, professionalism, personalised service, efficiency and stability.

Most global investors desire privacy with respect to their offshore accounts and holdings. Typical investors seek confidentiality to prevent aggressive business solicitation, to avoid appearing on a "Fortune 500" list or for personal security reasons. With this in mind, the representative offices of large onshore banks are often discounted in an offshore context. Furthermore, brokers or asset managers are also often by-passed for security reasons due to their less stringent regulatory supervision.

Consequently, investors are left to their own devices and research to select a smaller bank, which will be able to handle their investment needs professionally, expeditiously and confidentially. Our bank is able to provide such service and takes great pleasure in introducing the Turks & Caicos Islands to investors