Switzerland
In spite of some people’s dreams or spiteful affirmations of others,
bank secrecy still exists in Switzerland. While the Swiss are required
to know their customers, all information is kept 100% confidential.
There is no tax on foreign money.
Your protection is guaranteed by centuries of tradition and law in Switzerland.
Over the last decades the Swiss franc has held its value better than
any other currency in the world.
The Swiss franc is backed more than 100% by gold located in the reserves
of the central bank.
Inflation in Switzerland consistently remains low.
Switzerland is the only country that has never imposed exchange controls.
Switzerland has not been involved in war this century and and this prevents
destruction by remaining neutral, while having an active army.
Switzerland protects business and financial privacy.
Switzerland's national referendum ensures that its people have a vote
and the country will remain a strong, thriving democracy.
Switzerland and its financial institution are fiercely independent and
continuously resistant to outside government threats and attempts at
interference. They hold approx. 35% of the world’s private assets, or
US$2 trillion, are managed and held in Switzerland.
Switzerland has no history of exchange controls and a low terrorist
risk die to its balanced, neutral foreign policy. The nation can also
protect 98% of its population in shelters protected from nuclear, biological
and chemical attack, which also reduces the risk of terrorist threats.
The Swiss government was strong enough to resist Hitler and will continue
to confront unreasonable coercion by governments around the world –
quite a benefit to investors in times of financial or political crisis.
Switzerland is a wealthy nation with a 750-year old democratic tradition.
It is the only nation on the face of the earth where the citizens ultimately
control the government through their political rights of initiative
and referendum
Switzerland -
Excellence in Banking
Compared to its economic importance
and share of world trade, Switzerland has a uniquely large banking and
financial sector. The country, with its population of six million plus, is one
of the leaders among the world's financial centres after New York, Tokyo and
London.
Switzerland's banking system also
scores extremely well on security and efficiency. Swiss banks operate with the
highest equity ratios of all, and a value added margin that is the envy not
only of the banking community.
So it is not by chance that Swiss
banking appeals to analysts and investors alike. Major Swiss banks consistently
receive high marks for soundness from the main credit rating agencies. And a
large portion of all internationally managed private assets is entrusted to
Swiss banks.
But universal confidence cannot be
taken for granted; it must be won a new every day. In all the world's financial
centres, Swiss bankers are working to anticipate their clients' need and,
naturally enough, keep a step ahead of their rivals.
This will not change for as long as
can be foreseen. For the success of Switzerland's banks has been achieved not
by chance but as the result of five solid attainments:
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Switzerland is renowned for a
variety of things. One is that it is reliable. In itself not very
exciting, but it has its advantages. Especially when it comes to money.
For centuries the country has
known social and political stability. And the Swiss people know that
this will stay so only if each can rely on, and stand up for, the other.
Irrespective of the constant
changes in the banking sphere, the Swiss banker adheres to the same
fundamental principle.
But the Swiss conception of
reliability covers more than just the proper conduct of business. It
means that the Swiss banker sees himself not merely as a trustworthy
person to deal with, but rather as the guardian of each client's
particular financial concerns, and able to act on their behalf at all
times.
Swiss banks are obliged by law
to back their transactions with capital ratios that are the highest in
the world, in the customer's interest. That may blunt yields a little,
but makes clients sleep peacefully.
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No efficiency, no Switzerland. Apart
from its splendid scenery the country is poor in natural resources. So there is
no choice but to go carefully with the limited resources available. Perhaps
this is why the Swiss appear cautious to people from other countries. Caution
is indeed their watchword.
This strong inducement to efficiency
led long ago to products requiring few materials, and to closely costed
services. After all, efficiency means not only technical accomplishment. The
Swiss bank manager knows that success comes only to those who are first to
identify the individual needs of their clients, and satisfy them.
Equipped with the most modern means of
processing and communicating information, Swiss bankers meet this challenge
daily - for the benefit of their clients, many of whom they have known
personally for years.
Investors all over the world
appreciate the efficiency of Swiss banking - some of them daily, and many over
a lifetime.
