Swiss Bank vs Normal Bank
Why would people in all parts of India be attracted to Swiss banks when they have so many banks operating in their own countries? This is one question that is hard to answer as local banking is always easier than banking with a bank that is located so many thousands of miles away from where you live. Despite this, Swiss banks are the preferred choice of those who earn big time. There are also talks of being able to deposit illegal, black money in Swiss banks which is not possible with local banks. Perhaps this is one point that has made Swiss banks so popular among the rich who have made money through illegal means. Let us find out differences between Swiss banks and normal banks in this article.
Swiss banks have a special status in the eyes of al those who are rich and having a Swiss bank account in one’s name is considered as a status symbol. It is not that one gets higher rates of interest or any special facilities if he operates a Swiss bank account. However, Swiss banks are well known for their efficient services that are unobtrusive and sophisticated in the eyes of foreign nationals. Another fact that makes Swiss banks popular in the eyes of rich in all parts of the world is that they are financially and economically sound and have been standing tall in the midst of all the chaos and recession that global economy has seen and led to closure of some big banks in many parts of the world.
There are more than 400 banks in Switzerland, and these include both government as well as private banks. The most famous of all banks is the UBS AG bank. While some banks provide services of deposits and portfolio management, there are many that provide a host of services to their customers. Because of the add on services such as wealth management, real estate planning and trust services, Swiss banks are considered to be superior than normal banks worldwide.
Of all the differentiating factors between Swiss banks and normal banks, perhaps it is the manner in which the privacy and confidentiality of the clients is managed by the Swiss banks that attracts most of the rich clients of these banks worldwide. It is a criminal offense if a bank employee leaks the details of a client to third party. However there are rules that allow for divulging of information like when it can be proved that the money deposited by a client has been earned illegally or through criminal means (such as terrorism, drug trafficking, or money laundering).
One other important differentiator is the facility of numbered accounts. In normal banks, one can open account after furnishing his personal details such as name, address, and contact information, but in case of Swiss banks, it is possible to open an account through a number which is all a person needs to access his account details. The name of such an account holder is known only to a privileged few in the Swiss bank in which such numbered account has been opened. Such accounts are also premium in the sense that one has to pay heavy charges for operating an account like this.
In conclusion, it can be said that it is the confidentiality and privacy accorded by Swiss banks that is the major point of difference between Swiss banks and normal banks. However, this is also a factor that has led to a lot of criticism by various governments of the world as they try desperately to get to Swiss bank accounts held by their citizens who have earned money through illegal means.