Comment Re:dress for Lady Macbeth (Score 1) 212
"And when opening new accounts for African dictators, "intelligence" groups, mercenaries, drug-lords, and the odd nazi"
Actually in the last decade, the war on terror has destroyed the anonymity of Swiss banking. Which despite the Swiss stating they don't want people to use their banks for money laundering or tax evasion, the fact that many who have/had accounts there were doing just that. So being a signatory on an international banking treaty to prevent a terrorist wiring funds around to his pals, it has actually ended the golden age of Swiss banking. And more and more people are withdrawing their funds, leading to a massive downturn in their principle "export". Back in the eighties and before many Swiss banks had a before custom suite, that had their own ability to clear customs and inspect "but not stamp" passports. So you could enter the room, transfer a few bonds, and then be allowed to enter Europe without having your passport stamped. Which if you ever encountered this was a fairly terrifying indication that if you had enough money, you were essentially exempt from needing to declare yourself...
These days China is the place to be if you are an aspiring lord. There is a reason when you read about all the new scams, the novel Malay 419 the other day, or the house sale without owner consent from months past ended with the funds entering china. They are one of th last place that advertises that the banker is always right. And are large enough to protect that.
Actually in the last decade, the war on terror has destroyed the anonymity of Swiss banking. Which despite the Swiss stating they don't want people to use their banks for money laundering or tax evasion, the fact that many who have/had accounts there were doing just that. So being a signatory on an international banking treaty to prevent a terrorist wiring funds around to his pals, it has actually ended the golden age of Swiss banking. And more and more people are withdrawing their funds, leading to a massive downturn in their principle "export". Back in the eighties and before many Swiss banks had a before custom suite, that had their own ability to clear customs and inspect "but not stamp" passports. So you could enter the room, transfer a few bonds, and then be allowed to enter Europe without having your passport stamped. Which if you ever encountered this was a fairly terrifying indication that if you had enough money, you were essentially exempt from needing to declare yourself...
These days China is the place to be if you are an aspiring lord. There is a reason when you read about all the new scams, the novel Malay 419 the other day, or the house sale without owner consent from months past ended with the funds entering china. They are one of th last place that advertises that the banker is always right. And are large enough to protect that.