Switzerland is unique because of its historical stability, its long established Banking expertise, the reliability and expertise of its Private Bankers and its legally enshrined client confidentiality.

The Swiss Confederation can trace its origins back to 1291, and over its intervening history it has diligently maintained its independence and avoided many of the disputes that have engulfed the rest of Europe. This strategy has produced the political and economic stability that typifies Switzerland today.

Swiss Banking History can be traced back to the 1500’s when brokers, commission agents and forwarding agents - who specialised in credit and bills of exchange for traded goods - set up the first recognised banking houses. Many of the “banquiers privés” that we deal with can trace their origins back to the 18th Century. These “Private Bankers” are indeed the oldest form of Swiss Bank. The current Swiss Federal Banking Law was passed in 1934 giving clients the legal protection they continue to benefit from. The Twentieth Century saw Swiss Private Bankers gain the worldwide reputation as specialists in asset management that they enjoy today.

Swiss bankers have a legally enshrined professional duty of confidentiality under article 47 of the 1934 “Federal Law on Banks and Savings Banks.” Swiss law recognises certain offences in different ways to other jurisdictions, so for example tax related offences are regarded as misdemeanours not justifying the disclosing of customer information to third parties. Banking secrecy and confidentiality are consistently monitored by The Swiss Federal Banking Commission and is considered inviolable except in rare circumstances.

However we must make clear that no protection is afforded to criminals or to the protection of the proceeds of crime. Our client banks consistently refuse to accept money that is of dubious origins.