Services · Business accounts

Offshore bank account

Updated 13 November 2026

A business bank account abroad for a trading or holding company, and personal accounts for families: the banking centres clients choose most often and what banks check. Murblz experts check the chances before the application and stay with the client until the bank decides.

An offshore bank account is an account in a country other than the one where its owner lives or where the company is registered. For a business it is the main working account: a company in the British Virgin Islands or Seychelles banks in Switzerland, Singapore or the United Arab Emirates. Families use it to hold a second currency in a second banking system.

Banks accept foreign clients whose file is complete from the first day. Murblz experts choose a bank that accepts the client's profile and prepare the source-of-funds file in the form that bank expects.

Offshore business bank account

An overseas business bank account is opened for the company, but the bank studies the people behind it. It wants to see who owns and runs the company, what it sells, to whom and through which contracts, where the money comes from and why the company needs an account in that country.

Banks open accounts readily for offshore companies with a clear business story. Murblz experts look at the bank and the company together, and in some cases propose a different jurisdiction for the company. Our experts cover the choice on the offshore company formation page.

Who opens an offshore bank account

• International companies, including offshore holding and trading companies whose home jurisdiction has few banks of its own.
• Entrepreneurs and freelancers paid by clients abroad in dollars, euros or other currencies.
• Investors who hold securities, funds or deposits outside their home country.
• Families moving abroad who need an account before residence in the new country is ready.
• Owners who diversify savings between currencies and banking systems.

Is an offshore bank account legal

Holding an account abroad is legal in almost every country. What the law requires is transparency. Under the common reporting standard, banks in more than 100 jurisdictions send data on the accounts of foreign tax residents to their home tax authorities every year. United States citizens and residents also report foreign accounts once their combined balance exceeds $10,000 at any time during the year.

Murblz works only with declared funds and lawful structures.

Best countries for an offshore bank account

Murblz clients choose these banking centres most often.

• Switzerland (business, personal): private banking, wealth management and the strongest reputation, with high expectations of the client.
• Singapore (business, personal): Asia's banking centre for trading companies and investors, with careful checks on substance.
• Hong Kong (business, personal): accounts for companies trading with China and the rest of Asia.
• United Arab Emirates (business, personal): accounts in dirhams and dollars, combined with a company and residence in the country.
• Cayman Islands (business, personal): banking for funds and wealthy families, with the local dollar fixed at $1.20.
• Jersey (business, personal) and Liechtenstein (business, personal): traditional centres for wealth held through trusts and foundations.
• Luxembourg (business, personal) and Cyprus (business, personal): accounts inside the European Union with euro payments.
• Mauritius (business, personal): a bridge for business with Africa and India.
• Georgia (business, personal): accessible accounts for individuals without residence, with deposits insured up to $19,310.

All banking jurisdictions are in our catalogues of business accounts and personal accounts.

How Murblz opens the account

1. Chances check. An expert studies the owner, the company and the source of funds and names the banks that accept this profile.
2. File for the bank's review. We prepare the documents and the explanation of the business in the form the bank's compliance team expects.
3. Talks until the bank decides. We answer the bank's questions, arrange the interview and stay with the client until the account is open.

Many banks open accounts remotely; some ask for one visit. We tell you which in advance.

What helps the bank say yes

• The source of funds is backed by documents: contracts, statements and tax returns.
• The company has a website, contracts and a clear description of what it sells and to whom.
• The bank works with the client's country of residence and industry.
• The structure uses jurisdictions with a good international standing.
• The application goes to one bank at a time, with a file prepared for that bank.

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