Anonymous Banking

Introduction: There are a lot of myths floating around the Internet about offshore banking and
anonymous banking. We're going to try to illuminate the truth so that you can avoid scams and
enter into an anonymous banking relationship better informed.

ID-Free Banking: This is the standard concept of anonymous banking, in which the bank does
not know who you are. Some examples of past no ID accounts were the Austrian Sparbuch
accounts and numbered accounts located in various nations. With the former, the client would
have to physically be in Austria to take out money, though he or she did not have to present ID,
and there were enforced withdrawal limits. The process was similar with the numbered accounts,
except they were present in multiple countries and thus were more convenient. Neither type of
account exists today.

The destructive culprit is the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a worldwide NGO that has
christened itself as a police force and regulates banks all around the world. Unfortunately, the
banks do not protest. Of course, this is because if they resist, they face the all-powerful blacklist
in which the countries that willingly dance with the devil will lock them out of the international
wire system. This is a crippling action for any nation's economy.

This organization has introduced the "know your customer" doctrine as well as the signing of
numerous treaties that enforce said doctrine among the UN member nations. These treaties only
concern what documents that banks must have from their clients, not topics like transparency or
the exchange of information. Nevertheless, if they fail to comply they may be blacklisted. So any
legitimate bank is going to request ID and references. Though many banks require you to visit
the bank to open an account, we do not. We can open accounts in Guatemala, Costa Rica,
Ecuador, and Mexico without you visiting.

Offshore Bank Secrecy: There is a big difference between anonymous banking and bank secrecy.
In theory, bank secrecy means that the banks know who you are but do not give this information
away. Today, with the new treaties being signed by countries in the OECD this is not a good
system for real privacy, so this does not work in practice. In general, then, it's best never bank in
a country that has signed these treaties. Guatemala has not and is not in any MLAT (Mutual
Legal Assistance Treaties). It is best that the bank does not have your identification information.

No matter what, however, if you are being tried for a criminal activity (serious crimes, not tax
evasion or any white collar crime), your information will be shared, whether the bank has your
documents or just the law firm.

Anonymous Corporations and Foundations: Forming an anonymous (bearer share) corporation

provides you with extremely good protection since your name does not appear in any public
registry. The owner is whoever possess the physical stock certificates that do not have names of
persons on them. However, the privacy is diminished if the bank knows whom the beneficiary
owner of a corporation is due to the aforementioned tax treaties being signed. If this is the case,
it's best to form the corporation in a country that has not signed any TIEA (Tax Information
Exchange Agreements) or MLAT (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties) then the information will be
given in case of an inquiry since the bank does know who you are.
Offshore Trusts: The best solution for a person seeking anonymity is to form an offshore trust
with an offshore law firm. This document is in writing and delineates the terms of the
International Trust Agreement, signed between the law firm and the client. Topics include the
handling of assets, banking, etc.

The client is not anonymous to us, the law firm, and we do require ID in the form of a scanned
notarized copy of a passport and driver's license (or other government-issued ID). However, the
banks will not have your name; they cannot give out information they do not have. The recent
treaties do not deal with attorney-client privilege, only with bank secrecy. Thus, the mighty seal
of attorney-client privilege must be broken in a Guatemalan court in order for anybody else to
get your financial information and records. This is very, very difficult.

After the International Trust Agreement has been created, the law firm will form a Guatemala
corporation (empresa) and only the law firm's name will appear on the records and as the
beneficiary owner, keeping you anonymous to all other parties. The bank account will also be
opened in a stable bank with billions of dollars in assets. Since you are not the signatory on the
bank account, the law firm is, the bank has no information on you and your privacy remains
intact. The only way your information could be revealed is if attorney-client privilege was broken
in Guatemala. This can be done if there is hard evidence (never a suspicion) that you have
committed a criminal offense that is considered criminal in Guatemala. Offenses such as tax
evasion, tax avoidance, money laundering, and other white collar crimes are not criminal offenses
in Guatemala. Things that are include homicide, child pornography, terrorism, and other crimes
of similar magnitude.

To take the privacy one step further, a Guatemalan judge can seal your bank records and all
trust agreements signed with a judicial seal. Only a judge from a higher court can break this seal,
and this is highly improbable. Again, this would only be done if there was serious, incriminating
evidence against you.

Distress Clause: One of the best features of our anonymous corporations is the distress clause. This
can be contained in the ITA (International Trust Agreement) and states what you would like the law
firm to do in case of "distress." You are free to define distress as you see fit. Past examples of clauses
include actions in the face of a divorce, a lawsuit, blackmail, or any other action by a financial enemy.
If you or your business were to come under distress, you can say that you give the authorization to the
law firm to remove your control over the funds. This gives you plausible deniability if an official from
your home country were to inquire about the funds, demand that you repatriate them, or even try to
seize them. You would say that you honestly cannot do so and this would be true.

Other arrangements are possible with respect to how the funds should be managed or invested in
various situations of distress, as well as when control should be regranted. This is actually a superior
arrangement than that of the numbered accounts in many ways.

You and Your Corporation: You get a Power of Attorney over the corporation and have all of the
passwords to access the online banking. You can see a history of transactions, the balance, and can send
international wire transfers. ATM cards are available, as well as secured Visa cards. Your name will not
appear on the cards.

Funding Your Corporation: First wiring the money to the law firm's attorney-client trust account to
break the trail from the current location of the money to the corporation account is the best way to fund
the corporation. All of these transactions are private and secured by attorney-client privilege. Most of
the time they will not be able to be revealed in court. Today, this is the most anonymous it gets.
Fees: The total cost for an International Trust Agreement with distress clause, bank account with online
banking, and a Guatemalan Corporation (Empresa) is $6,000. There is an additional charge of 3% of all
incoming funds for legal fees, the ongoing expenses involved, and our own liability in vouching for the
origin of the funds.

Time Frame: 15 working days is the average time taken to complete the entire process, including the
receipt of documents, instructions, and funds.

Personal Visit: We encourage you to visit Guatemala, but this is not at all necessary. We can pick you
up at the airport, if necessary, or your hotel. We can get you corporate rates in 5 star hotels in the
capital. We do request that you give us 48 hours notice before your arrival so that we can prepare for
your visit.

http://www.guatemalalaw.org