Client Asset Protection Map: Deposits, Safeguarding and Investor Compensation
Deposit guarantee schemes, EMI safeguarding and investor compensation compared: 26 schemes, limits, eligible depositors, payout periods and a US$2m allocation example.
Banks
Crypto Banks and Custodians: Where a Private Holder Keeps Coins and Receives Fiat
Eighteen crypto banks and qualified custodians compared on licence, bankruptcy treatment of client coins, entry thresholds, fiat rails and published fees.
Bank Reliability: G-SIBs, TLAC and the Lessons of 2023
How to judge a bank beyond deposit insurance: the 29 G-SIBs by bucket, TLAC and the bail-in order, and what the failures of 2023 showed depositors.
Swiss Private Banks: EFG, J. Safra Sarasin and Vontobel
EFG, J. Safra Sarasin and Vontobel: service models, banking entities, capital thresholds, fees and asset protection.
US Bank Charter Applications: Tracks, Statuses and Grounds for Denial
Who has filed for a US bank charter and where each stands: Utah and Nevada ILCs, the federal de novo, the OCC trust charter. Capital, leverage and the Wise and bunq denials.
Priority Banking in Singapore: DBS Treasures, Citigold, HSBC Premier and Their Peers
DBS Treasures, Citigold, HSBC Premier, OCBC Premier, UOB Privilege and Standard Chartered Priority compared: entry amounts and what keeps the tier.
Kazakhstan Banks for Non-Residents: Which One to Choose
Comparing Kaspi, Halyk, Forte, BCC, Alatau City Bank and Freedom for non-residents: entry rules, the 12-month card cap under ARDFM Resolution No. 96, currencies and premium thresholds.
UAE Banks: FAB, Emirates NBD, ADCB and Mashreq
The four classic UAE banks on one set of axes: published entry thresholds, scale and ownership, depositor protection under Decree-Law 6 of 2025, and product differences.
Dominica Offshore Banks: Licences, Accounts and Services
EQIBank, The Kingdom Bank and Nodabank: one statute, the Offshore Banking Act 1996, a separate virtual asset regime, fees and no deposit insurance.
Hong Kong vs Singapore: Banking Access for Non-Resident Owners
Hong Kong or Singapore for a company account: deposit protection of HK$800,000 vs S$100,000, bank licence types, and what HKMA and MAS require at onboarding.
Hong Kong vs Singapore for Private Banking: Thresholds, Investor Status and Onboarding
Private banking in Hong Kong vs Singapore: Professional Investor and Accredited Investor regimes, bank entry thresholds, onboarding, source of wealth and the sanctions frame for Russian clients.
Fintech: licences, banking infrastructure, payments and stablecoins
Fintech regulation and operating infrastructure: licence selection, banking and safeguarding, acquiring, sanctions controls, stablecoins, crypto custody and regional regulatory regimes.
Banking for a Licensed Operator: How MSBs, MSOs, EMIs and PSPs Open and Keep Accounts
The operator account stack, why banks refuse, the 2026 provider map, CASS 15 from 7 May 2026 and a 90-day notice right from 28 April 2026.
US Financial and Crypto Licenses: Three Axes of Choice
Three axes decide a US regime: federal or state, deposit status, and Fed settlement access. Charters, ILCs, SPDIs, MTLs and the GENIUS Act from 18 Jan 2027.
EU Banking Licence Through the ECB: Requirements, Capital and Timing
€5m on paper versus €20–50m in practice, 12–24 months, the choice of entry country and the buy-a-bank alternative: the credit institution route under the SSM.
iFAST Global Bank: UK Bank for International Clients
iFAST Global Bank is a PRA/FCA-authorised UK bank. Multi-currency accounts and deposits, remote onboarding for international clients, cards, transfers, FSCS protection and limitations.
Hash Bank: Georgia Digital Bank and Non-Resident Onboarding
Hash Bank is a licensed digital bank in Georgia. Multi-currency accounts, cards, transfers, deposits, lending, crypto via a VASP partner, deposit insurance, pricing and non-resident onboarding.
Industrial Loan Companies: Banking Charters for Non-Financial Groups
Industrial loan companies are state banking charters that may be owned by non-financial groups. Legal basis, FDIC conditions, approvals for Ford, GM, Edward Jones and Stellantis, and alternatives.
Avit: Tokenised Bank Deposit from Custodia and Vantage
Avit is a tokenised bank-deposit structure from Custodia Bank and Vantage Bank Texas. SPDI and FDIC roles, issuance and redemption, US–Mexico settlement, Hazel Network and master-account litigation.
OakNorth: UK Commercial Bank and US Bank Acquisition
OakNorth is a UK commercial bank focused on growing businesses. Lending, deposits, FSCS, the ONCI platform and the acquisition of Community Unity Bank in the US, with onboarding and regulatory terms.
Allica Bank: UK Bank for Established SMEs
Allica Bank is a licensed UK bank for established SMEs. Business accounts, deposits, overdrafts, commercial mortgages, asset finance, FSCS protection and client requirements.
Alatau City Bank: Kazakhstan Bank and Crypto Payments in Alatau City
Alatau City Bank, formerly Jusan Bank: Kazakhstan banking licence, Binance Pay pilot, products, deposit protection and limitations for non-residents.
Switzerland and Singapore for Private Banking: Comparison
Entry thresholds, onboarding times, bank secrecy, deposit insurance, transaction taxes, fees and retrocessions: two private banking centres compared.
Bank Account Closure: De-Risking, Notice Periods and Exit Process
Notice periods in the UK, EU, Switzerland and Singapore, ombudsman limits, in-specie transfers and abandoned balances. BGer 03.03.2026 and CJEU C-81/24.
Booking Centre: Account Jurisdiction and Applicable Rules
A booking centre sets the governing law, regulator, insolvency ranking, transaction taxes and CRS reporting. Why the location is a separate decision from the bank.
Dukascopy Bank: Swiss Bank, Investments and Cryptoassets
Dukascopy Bank SA: Swiss FINMA-licensed bank with remote onboarding, multi-currency accounts, cards and regulated crypto. Fees, limits, who it suits.
Xapo Bank: The Gibraltar Bank for Bitcoin and USD
Xapo Bank: GFSC-licensed Gibraltar bank for BTC and USD. $1,000/year membership, up to 4% APY paid in Bitcoin, deposit guarantee. US persons not accepted.
Zenus Bank: US Digital Bank for Non-Residents with an IFE License
Zenus Bank (Puerto Rico, IFE-061, OCIF): USD accounts for non-US residents, remote onboarding, Visa Infinite debit card. Fees, limits, who it suits.
Augustus Bank: The AI-Era Clearing Bank for Global Fintechs
Augustus (ex-Ivy): OCC conditional approval for a US clearing bank built around stablecoins. B2B-only, API-first, EUR clearing live, USD pending licence.
Private and Priority Banking in the UAE: Thresholds and Escalation
Three circuits of UAE private banking: local tiers from AED 200,000, DIFC Professional Client classification, 9% corporate tax, CRS and sanctions exposure.