Liechtenstein – how to open a secure bank account in Liechtenstein. As a foreigner, you can open a bank account in Liechtenstein most cheaply with the state. The Principality offers Germans, Austrians and Swiss in particular a safe haven for capital, independent of the euro – right on the EU’s doorstep. Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG (LLB) of Vaduz, in which the Principality of Liechtenstein holds an inalienable 51 per cent stake, offers foreigners a bank account in Liechtenstein provided that they simultaneously invest an agreed minimum amount in securities with the bank. The exact terms are to be agreed directly with the LLB. With the smallest investment account, the “LLB Basic”, a fee of at least 30 euros becomes due per month. The accompanying LLB Online/Mobile Banking is free of charge. Anyone wishing to invest their assets independently of a bank can do so from a corresponding minimum amount, for example with the digital asset manager Estably. It is advisable to scrutinise the cost structure and transparency – for larger fortunes a «beauty contest» may be worth considering.
Andreas Wagner, Managing Director and Partner at Estably, comments: “We offer our clients an all-in fee model in which all ongoing costs are included. On top of that, there is only a profit-related fee based on the high-water-mark principle, meaning it applies only when the portfolio has been able to reach a new all-time high.”
Liechtenstein – among the most stable and secure banks worldwide
In spring 2021 the rating agency Moody’s confirmed the LLB’s Aa2 rating. This places the LLB among the most stable and secure banks in the world. By comparison: in October 2022 Deutsche Bank was rated only at a simple A1.
The fully state-owned Liechtensteinische Post AG of Schaan offers private and business customers a “PostFinance” current account for all financial matters. Residents pay a monthly fee of 3 Swiss francs (3.06 euros); from a deposit of 25,000 euros this fee no longer applies to residents. Customers domiciled abroad pay an additional fee of 25 Swiss francs (25.53 euros) per private account per month. This fee is levied irrespective of the assets held.
With the private banks the entry hurdles for a bank account in Liechtenstein are considerably higher. Foreigners who do not reside in Liechtenstein must invest a minimum deposit of 250,000 to 300,000 euros. This applies to the following banks:
- Bank Frick & Co. AG, Balzers
- BENDURA BANK AG, Gamprin-Bendern
- Kaiser Partner Privatbank AG, Vaduz
- LGT Bank AG, Vaduz
- Neue Bank AG, Vaduz
- SIGMA Bank AG, Schaan
- VP Bank AG, Vaduz
A bank account in Liechtenstein – more lucrative than in Switzerland
In the view of Markus Miller, chief analyst at Kapitalschutz vertraulich, the small country of Liechtenstein is by far the best place in Europe for financial matters of all kinds.
His main argument
“No ESM liability risk, but EEA advantages. The EEA is the European Economic Area, a free-trade zone consisting of the 28 EU member states plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. As a result, Liechtenstein enjoys advantages in the movement of persons, goods, services and capital. Among other things, this makes it easier to use the products and services of Liechtenstein’s banks, funds and insurance companies. On the other hand, the country has assumed no liability under the ESM (European Stability Mechanism, the so-called euro rescue umbrella). Liechtenstein is therefore even preferable to Switzerland, which is not an EEA member.”
The contrast with the euro zone: a bank account in Liechtenstein as a safe haven
Kaiser Partner Privatbank AG, founded in 1977 in Liechtenstein’s capital Vaduz, established and 100% family-owned by entrepreneur and investor Fritz Kaiser, currently assesses the Liechtenstein financial centre as follows: “In the current crisis the contrast with the crisis-ridden monetary union could hardly be greater. The small country in the heart of Europe epitomises political continuity and stability as well as neutrality. Because of the exceptional position of our location, we at Kaiser Partner Privatbank AG are obliged to think across borders. The Principality has always stood for innovation, liberalism and entrepreneurship.”
Banker Fritz Kaiser cites a number of facts in favour of a bank account in Liechtenstein:
Characterised by a stable economy (S&P AAA rating) and political neutrality, Liechtenstein has direct access to two economic areas: the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. Through its currency union with Switzerland (Swiss franc, CHF), the debt-free state pursues an autonomous monetary policy.
Liechtenstein – the EEA membership
EEA membership brings Liechtenstein decisive advantages: direct and free access to the EU market. In areas such as economic and monetary union, foreign and security policy and tax policy, Liechtenstein remains independent of the EU. Investors benefit from the same investor protection and deposit guarantee scheme as in the EU. But: the banks are richer than the state – which could not rescue them in an emergency.
Liechtenstein could not prop up its banking sector on its own in the event of a crisis, the dts news agency reported from Vaduz on 5 May 2023. The question of whether the Principality could rescue its banks in an emergency could be answered clearly, Liechtenstein’s head of government Daniel Risch told “Handelsblatt”: “No, we cannot do that ourselves.”
Liechtenstein – the largest banks of the Principality
The collapse of Credit Suisse and its emergency merger with UBS triggered a Europe-wide debate about banks that are too big to be rescued by the state. In Liechtenstein the situation is particularly extreme: the country’s three largest banks alone – LGT, Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) and VP Bank – together have a balance-sheet total of 60 billion francs (61.36 billion euros). That corresponds to roughly ten times the Principality’s gross domestic product. Unlike other economies, Liechtenstein moreover has no central bank that could step in with state guarantees in the event of a crisis.
The state budget has reserves of 2.23 billion francs. Risch considers the risk of a banking crisis to be low: “I am convinced that our own banks are very soundly positioned.” Yet he qualifies this: “No financial centre and no financial institution in the world is immune to crises. For this reason too, we are currently working to advance Liechtenstein’s accession to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).”
Liechtenstein is no longer a money-laundering paradise
Liechtenstein banks take part in the CRS procedure (Common Reporting Standard), under which account information is exchanged across borders. German authorities can access this information and then initiate investigations on their own.
Tax advantages for the wealthy
Roland Benn, publisher of the newsletter Jeden Tag reicher, points to the following fact: “With the new tax law of 2018, Liechtenstein has once again become more attractive for wealthy private clients.
Thus Liechtenstein has created new tax-privileged private-asset structures (so-called PVS), which in Liechtenstein are subject only to a minimum income tax of 1,800 francs p.a. (currently 1,840.94 euros per year – editor’s note). PVS must, however, act exclusively in an asset-managing capacity and may not carry out any economic activity. Investments in real estate can also be made via a PVS, but the property must then be owner-occupied; letting to third parties, as an economic activity, is not permitted. Anyone interested should obtain specific information and advice on site.”
A further option for tax-optimised asset investment in the Principality of Liechtenstein is the «Stiftung Light»: this refers to a life-insurance wrapper with a cash account and a securities portfolio. For detailed advice, numerous financial-service providers and asset managers are available, such as the digital asset manager Estably.
Securities portfolio from 50,000 euros with the independent digital asset manager Estably
As the first digital asset manager in Liechtenstein, Estably offers the possibility of investing assets from a corresponding minimum amount within the framework of professional asset management. The terms applicable in each case are to be requested directly from Estably. The focus is on performance and asset protection. With the LLB as custodian bank, investors benefit from the stable conditions of the Liechtenstein financial centre and from its expertise in asset management. A further advantage: the portfolio is opened online. Credit institutions usually expect a six- or seven-figure fortune for a management mandate. In any case, monitoring is advisable – that is, supervision or regular independent analysis of activities and results; experts then refer to this as «shadow accounting» alongside portfolio analysis.
Andreas Wagner explains: “Despite our digital business model, we work very closely with our clients and are personally available at all times for questions and uncertainties.”
Liechtenstein: no cross-border enforcement from Germany
Creditors or authorities from Germany, however, cannot seize assets. Claims by the tax authorities or by the maintenance funds of youth welfare offices cannot be pursued or enforced across the German border in Liechtenstein. In Liechtenstein you need have no fear for your assets in the face of a German enforcement order.
The Munich lawyer Dr. Johannes Fiala explains: “The four principalities of Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Andorra have concluded no enforcement agreements with Germany. Foreign judgments are not recognised. Creditors would have to bring a fresh action, for example in Liechtenstein, which makes the matter very much more expensive for the creditors.”
For foreign holders of a bank account in Liechtenstein this means that assets in an account in Liechtenstein are largely protected from creditor access and are not at risk. By comparison: in all EU countries with the exception of Denmark, cross-border enforcement is possible via the European Account Preservation Order.
The Schufa learns nothing about the bank account in Liechtenstein
On request, almost all Liechtenstein banks also offer foreign-currency accounts in euros, US dollars or other currencies. A Liechtenstein numbered account does not, however, offer genuine anonymity. Here too, when opening the account all personal details must be provided for an identity check. The client’s name remains known to a limited circle of bank staff.
In Liechtenstein only a few documents are needed to open a current account:
- Identity card or passport
- Proof of address
- Proof of income
- Depending on which identity-verification method the chosen bank uses, you must either bring the documents to the bank, upload them online or present them in a video chat. Every Monday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and from 2 to 5 p.m., the LLB offers video identification for persons from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, so that you do not have to travel to Vaduz in person.
- Short profile of the LLB
- Founded in 1861, Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG (LLB) is the oldest financial institution in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Its majority shareholder is the country of Liechtenstein. The shares are listed on SIX (symbol: LLBN). The LLB Group offers its clients comprehensive wealth-management services: as a universal bank, in private banking, asset management and fund services. With 1,116 employees (full-time equivalents) it is present in Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Austria and the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai). As at 31 December 2022 the LLB Group’s business volume stood at CHF 98.4 billion. Further information on the LLB can be found on its website.
- Summary: As a foreigner you can open a bank account in Liechtenstein most cheaply with the state. The Principality on the EU’s doorstep offers a safe haven for capital, independent of the euro.
www.business-leader.net (published on 09.05.2023)
and
www.network-Karriere.com (published in Network-Karriere, issue 01/2024, pages 12 and 13)
