Panama Corporate Bank Accounts information is provided below.
Set Up Fees:
For setting up Panama
Corporate Bank Accounts with our recommended Panama banks, we
charge an introduction and documentation processing fee of US$700.
For setting up Panama
Corporate Bank Accounts with other banks in Panama, we charge
a set up fee of US$1,000. If you know of a particular Panama bank
that you would like to set up a Panama corporate bank account
at, you simply notify us and we can assist you in setting it up
.
* Time frames for
setting up accounts with Panama banks other than our recommended
Panama banks may take longer due to additional documentation that
may be required.
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About Panama Banks:
Panamanian Banks
are of the most stable banks in the world, being home to the second
largest international banking center in the world, next to Switzerland.
Panama also has the best bank secrecy laws available in the world
today.
There are approximately
100 international banks in Panama. We have relationships with
a variety of international banks in Panama through which our clients
may open corporate accounts at. However, we mainly open Panama
corporate accounts for our clients through our recommended Panama
banks, with whom we have excellent working relationships.
Most of our clients
are handled by the Private Banking Departments of our recommended
banks. A bilingual, English and Spanish speaking Private Banking
Official is assigned to each of our clients accounts, and our
client is provided with that persons contact information for direct
communication for executing Panama banking transactions.
More Info About Panama Banks
Interest
Rates:
The banks in Panama
offer very attractive interest rates*.
*Quoted rates on
checking and savings accounts may; change without notice, vary
depending on the LIBOR (London InterBank Offering Rate), be subject
to minimum deposits and/or minimum balance requirements and/or
certain terms for CD's.
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Online Banking:
Internet access
to your Panama corporate bank account is offered through our recommended
Panama banks, as well as through most of the other banks in Panama.
Panamanian banks use the most up to date online security technology
so your banking information is 100% secure and confidential. Please
note that some of our recommended Panama banks only offer online
banking for account viewing or transfers between internal accounts,
not for international wire transfers. Wire transfers must be requested
by sending instructions on a signed fax to the Panama bank.
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Credit Cards:
Our recommended
Panama banks offer secured credit cards (Visa or MasterCard).
Our firm charges a processing fee of US$100 for assisting in setting
up of secured credit cards.
Secured credit cards
require that the client place a security deposit as collateral
for the credit line in an amount equal to 125% of the credit limit
chosen for their credit card. The security deposit is frozen in
the Panama corporate bank account (savings account or CD/time
deposit) until the card is closed, although the collateralized
funds still earn interest while in the security deposit. As the
credit card is used, the Panama bank will automatically debit
the entire monthly balance of the credit card charges from the
remaining balance in the Panama corporate checking account at
the end of the monthly credit card billing cycle. Therefore, the
client must maintain enough funds in the bank account to pay for
the monthly credit card charges.
Annual fees for
credit cards start at US$50 or more according to the type of credit
card chosen. Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Airline miles credit
cards are available for earning airline flight miles for credit
card usage. American Express is also available through certain
Panama banks.
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Debit Cards:
Debit cards are offered for Panama corporate bank accounts through
some of our recommended banks in Panama. Debit cards have the
"Clave" symbol on them, and can be used at any point
of sale or ATM that accepts "Plus" or "Interlink"
cards (accepted world-wide). The Panama banks annual fees for
debit cards are from US$15. There are no per transaction fees
for local ATM cash withdrawals, although there may be fees associated
with point of sale transactions, or ATM cash withdrawals at ATMs
outside of Panama, depending on the merchant you purchase from
or what country you are in, or what bank or ATM you withdraw cash
from.
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Time Deposits
:
Most banks in Panama
offer time deposits (certificates of deposits, or "CD's"),
which are referred to as "Plazo Fijo", in Spanish. Each
Panama banks rates vary according to their banking regulations,
business practices, etc. Under Panamanian law, the minimum amount
for a time deposit at a Panamanian bank is US$10,000. Some of
our recommended Panama banks currently offer up to 8% annual interest**
on USD time deposits (Certificates of Deposit).*
*Please note that
for deposit amounts over US$200,000, we are able to negotiate
special deposit rates with the Panama bank, depending on the amount
and term. We generally charge a small one time commission (percentage
fee) for negotiating special rates for our clients.
**Quoted rates on
checking and savings accounts may; change without notice, vary
depending on the LIBOR (London InterBank Offering Rate), be subject
to minimum deposits and/or minimum balance requirements and/or
certain terms for CD's.
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Panama Corporate Savings Accounts:
Through our recommended
Panama banks, Panama Corporate Savings Accounts are available.
Interest rates vary depending on the deposited amount, but one
of our recommended Panama banks currently offers up to 3% annual
interest* on Panama corporate savings accounts with balances above
$5,000.
*Quoted rates on
checking and savings accounts may; change without notice, vary
depending on the LIBOR (London InterBank Offering Rate), be subject
to minimum deposits and/or minimum balance requirements and/or
certain terms for CD's.
BACK
Panama Corporate
Checking Accounts:
Through
our recommended Panama banks, there are two types of Panama Corporate
Checking Accounts available:
A. International
Checking: This account is useful for those who need an
offshore bank account with internationally accepted USD checking
facilities. The checks from this account are accepted around the
globe.
Minimum Initial
Deposit: US$5,000.
Interest Rate: no interest is paid on checking
Minimum Balance Requirement: US$5,000.
B. Local Checking: This account is useful for
those who wish to operate an actual business within Panama, and
need an account for making USD payments to any local person or
business in Panama. However, the checks from this account are
only valid for deposit or compensation locally within the Republic
of Panama. Our recommended Panama bank has the following terms:
Minimum Initial
Deposit: US$1,000.
Interest Rate: No interest is paid on this account.
Minimum Balance Requirement: US$500.
Monthly fee if balance falls below US$500: US$10.
Account statements may be sent by email or post mail.
Certified Local Check Fee: US$2.
Certified International Check: US$5.
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Miscellaneous Fees (In US$):
Certified Local
Check Fee: $2.00
Certified International Check Fee: $5.00 - $25 (depends on amount)
Wire Transfer In Fee: $15 (depends on amount)
Wire Transfer Out Fees: $50 - $100 (depends on amount)
*Fees are subject to change without prior notice. We do not guarantee
the accuracy of the above published banking fees as our recommended
bank may change the fees at any time without notice.
** Acceptable deposits
are USD cash, USD Checks (personal or bank certified checks),
or wire transfers. Unacceptable deposits are money orders, travelers
checks, double endorsed checks, foreign items/thrift withdrawal
orders, returned checks, and checks referring to more than one
account number.
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Documentation Requirements: (Banker-Documents)
For set
up of Panama Corporate Bank Accounts, the following documentation
is required by the Panama bank:
A. Photocopy
of passport for each signatory. The photocopy of passport
must include the photo of the person, the personal details (passport
number, etc.), the signature, and photocopies of ALL pages including
entry/exit stamped pages. The photocopy should be clear and legible
and it should be NOTARIZED.
B. Two Financial
Reference Letter. The financial reference letter can
be from any bank, brokerage firm, or credit union. The letter
should be an original on the financial institutions letterhead,
and should include the signature of an official, and the contact
information (address, telephone, fax, email, etc.). There is no
specific format that the reference letter must be written in.
Example
of Financial Reference Letter
C. One Commercial
or Professional Reference Letter. The commercial or professional
reference letter can be from any company or professional that
you have a commercial business, or professional relationship with.
The letter should be an original on the company or professionals
letterhead, and should include the signature of the representative
of the company or the professional, and the contact information
(address, telephone, fax, email, etc.). There is no specific format
that the reference letter must be written in.
Example
of Commercial or Professional Reference Letter
D. Company
Profile Letter. The company profile letter should be
on your company letterhead, signed by the signatory(s) on the
account, with complete contact information. The letter should
explain in detail the nature of the business activities, an explanation
of what products or services the company is selling, the regions
where the company is conducting business, the purpose of the account,
and a brief description of the banking activity anticipated with
the account.
Example
of Company Profile Letter
E. Proof
of Address. The Panama bank requires that you provide
a photocopy of a utility bill (such as an electric power bill,
water bill, cable tv bill, internet service bill, phone bill,
etc.) showing your personal name and physical address.
F. Signed
Account Applications. If you wish to be the signatory
on the account, then each signatory must sign the original bank
account applications. As account signatory, you will have the
power to execute all types of banking functions with your Panama
corporate account. Once the bank account introduction service
is paid, we will courier you the bank account applications indicating
where you must sign.
* Documentation
requirements are subject to change without notice.
** Banks other than our recommended banks may require other documentation.
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Account
Management Services:
For those clients
that prefer to have managed accounts, we offer nominee signatory
services through a local, licensed certified account (CPA). Please
note that for offering this service, we require that the client
provide us with a signed account management agreement and the
due diligence documentation including; photocopy of passport,
one financial reference letter, one commercial reference letter,
proof of address, and company profile letter.
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Set Up Procedures:
Below we have included
the Panama bank account set up procedures for our recommended
Panama bank (Please note that set up procedures may be different
if dealing with other banks):
A. Submit
an Online Application - Click on "Order Now",
and complete an online application, then hit "submit".
B. Submit
Payment - Payment can be made by Bank Wire Transfer,
Western Union Money Transfer, USD Check, or USD International
Money Order.
C. Receive
Documents - Once we receive payment, we will forward
you the corporate documents and account applications for your
signature (account applications are only included if you wish
to be signatory on the account). You should sign the account applications
where indicated, and forward them back to us along with the required
documentation.
D. Account
is Set Up - When we receive the signed applications,
the account applications will be completed with the corporate
information, and forwarded to the recommended bank along with
the initial deposit. The account number will generally be provided
within 7 to 10 business days from the date the documents are submitted
to the bank. Please note that new account processing times may
vary depending on the volume of accounts that the recommended
bank is processing at that time.
E. Begin
Using Account - Once the account is approved by the Panama
banks compliance department, the banker will email you the complete
account protocol for making deposits, executing wire transfers,
contact information of the bank, etc. At that point, you deal
directly with the bank for all account transactions.
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