Offshore banks have so many advantages, and with ordinary people and corporations are starting to realize that Swiss bank accounts are not just for those planning criminal activity, the offshore banking business is booming. The fact that offshore banks exist in a mostly virtual environment greatly reduces their overheads. They have no need to compete at a retail level, and much lower staff requirements and other overheads.

This means they can return more profits to you or your business. You may want to hop on board the conga line of offshore bank accounts - but what do you need to find out from your business consultancy management professionals before you decide to begin an offshore banking investment strategy?

1. Know Your Customer regulations

In an effort to curb money laundering, the US has created some strict regulations for offshore banks to follow. However, honest businesses are now finding that they need to jump through metaphorical hoops to open an offshore bank account in Singapore, or engage in other corporate offshore banking. The Know Your Customer regulations are a part of the network.

Fortunately for legitimate businesses, while complying with the know your customer regulations for corporate offshore banking takes time, it is also relatively easy to comply with. The bank will want to know what you do, sight some valid ID, proof of business address and personal references. You will also have to tell your offshore banking services institution about the anticipated size and nature of your transactions, both in and out of the account.

If there will be something large and unusual happening with your account, you should have your investment management services advise the bank of this in advance.

2. What You Need To Open An Account

You will need your corporate documents, a valid passport photocopy signed by a notary public, and up to two utility bills. You may need banking references, however, some banks will not issue these. Your corporate offshore banking advisors will tell you that contact information for your bank, as well as permission to contact them, is usually sufficient.

3. Useful Credit Cards

It can be notoriously difficult to obtain a working credit card attached to an offshore bank account. However, your business consultancy management service can help advise you if this is part of your business operations. It is more usual to have a Visa or Mastercard branded card which allows you to make purchases anywhere that a credit card is required (online or elsewhere), but which needs a positive balance to complete transactions.

4. Different Currencies

Your offshore banking investment advisors will be able to let you know the best currencies to split your offshore bank account balance into, according to what is happening on the world financial markets at the time. You can either have an account that has a balance in a single currency, and allows for withdrawals in multiple currencies, or multiple base balances.

5. Privacy and tax Havens

If privacy is a factor in your decision of where to do your corporate offshore banking, look for accounts in smaller countries that are not recognized 'tax havens'. You may have fewer tax benefits, but the scrutiny that these locations is under is considerably less than where the traditionally unsavoury characters do their banking.