Banking | Finance Isle of Man

Key Benefits:
  • 11 Banking Groups on-Island
  • Deposits in excess of £35 billion
  • Alternative Banking Regime

The Isle of Man has a strong and diverse banking sector that offers a highly developed infrastructure to support individuals and corporations in their global activities. We actively help both small private banks and large retail groups set up and flourish in the Island through our tailored support and established banking opportunities.

Building on its reputation and expertise, the Island's banking sector offers all the services that private, corporate and institutional clients may need.

A REPUTATION OF EXCELLENCE

The Isle of Man has a reputation as a centre of excellence for expatriate banking and provides a secure location for investments. With 11 banking groups and deposits of £35 billion, the Island specialises in providing banking services to expatriates and international corporates including commercial lending to UK companies and on UK property.

The Isle of Man offers a broad range of practical advantages for banking businesses that operate internationally. We actively help both small private banks and large retail groups set up and flourish in the Island through our tailored support and established banking opportunities.

Through decades of experience, we have built an enviable reputation, with a lower cost base than many jurisdictions and favourable tax treatment. You can be assured of integrity with our independent supervisory body, the Financial Services Authority, which regulates banking to recognised international standards for banking supervision and AML/CFT. The Island also offers an affordable depositor compensation scheme for retail depositors.

The Isle of Man has been awarded multiple recognitions for its continued excellence. The Island has been named ‘International Finance Centre of the Year’ at the International Product and Service Awards as well as ‘Best International Finance Centre’ at the International Investment Awards. The Isle of Man is honoured to be recognised by such esteemed organisations and continually works to maintain the titles.

AN ALTERNATIVE BANKING REGIME

In 2016 the Isle of Man introduced the Alternative Banking Regime (ABR) framework, legislative changes following consultation and industry collaboration, to provide new banking opportunities for businesses on the Isle of Man. The ABR is designed to attract banking operations to the Island, in particular Private Banks, Foreign Bank branches, and Representative Offices.

The ABR expands the existing Class 1 (deposit taking) banking licence to include:

  • Class 1 (1) – for the typical existing bank and any taking retail deposits.
  • Class 1 (2) – for non-retail deposit takers - those that provide services to a very limited class of individuals, and corporates.
  • Class 1 (3) – for Representative Offices of Foreign banks, not able to take deposits in the Island.

*Please note, banks operating under the Class 1(2) and Class 1(3) would not have the protection offered by the DCS in the event of their failure; individuals banking with them are expected to be able to shoulder such losses. Disclosure and transparency rules are included within the full ABR framework. Corporation tax on profits for retail deposit based businesses is set at 10%. All other banking activities are rated at 0%.

The first Representative Banking License has been granted for over 25 years and represents a major step forward in growth returning to this sector.

DEPOSITOR PROTECTION

The Isle of Man has a Depositors' Compensation Scheme (DCS) which may offer protection if the covered bank in the Isle of Man goes into liquidation. An individual depositor may be covered up to £50,000 (£20,000 for other types of depositor). The DCS is established under the Financial Services Act of 2008 with the current version going into effect in 2010.

INTERNATIONAL BANKING CENTRE

The Isle of Man is a well-established international finance centre. The quality of its reputation and success to date has been securely established on the foundations of political stability, low taxation and the strength of its fiscal, legislative and regulatory controls. This has contributed to over 30 years of sustained growth and a AA1 rating from Moody’s.

The Isle of Man has an environment in which banking businesses of various types can establish, prosper and sustain growth. Investment and taxation vehicles, zero tax strategy, world class telecoms, eBusiness and support services infrastructure, high quality commercial and residential accommodation and a network of business professionals with the expertise and experience of developing business on a local, national and international scale are already firmly in place.

SUMMARY OF SERVICES

Banks in the Isle of Man provide the following services - for more information visit the Isle of Man Bankers Association website.

  • Retail Banking
  • Commercial Banking
  • Private Banking
  • Expat Banking
  • International Banking
  • Deposits
  • Treasury Services
  • Foreign Exchange
  • Trust & Corporate Services
  • Residential Mortgages
  • Investment Property Finance
  • Commercial Finance
  • Corporate Finance

LINKS

Isle of Man Financial Services Authority
Isle of Man Bankers Association



your contact

Paul Blake

Head of Banking and Fiduciaries

FINANCE ISLE OF MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHARED VISION AND STRATEGY FOR THE ISLAND’S FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRIES AND THE ISLE OF MAN AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE.

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