An account built around your needs
A trust or foundation needs banking that fits its governing documents and the people authorised to act. We help make that structure clear to a suitable institution, coordinate the required evidence and follow through on the accepted opening work. The account should support the way the arrangement is intended to operate.
Establish the account holder and powers
We review the opening requirements against the structure, governing law, governing documents and proposed bank mandate.
Explain the people and control
We coordinate the information needed about trustees or council members, authorised signatories and other persons relevant to the institution’s review.
Connect funding with purpose
We organise the evidence explaining how assets entered the arrangement and the intended receipts, holdings and distributions.
Coordinate the application and handover
We work through the agreed opening process with the relevant authorised people and providers, with account access and authority clearly recorded.
When this service fits
- The trust or foundation has a clear purpose, current governing documents and identifiable decision-makers.
- You need to receive or hold funds, make distributions or support the structure’s permitted activities.
- The arrangement spans countries or includes professional trustees, corporate council members or underlying entities.
Remote or in person?
Remote opening
Assess this for the actual trust or foundation, its governing law and each person or entity involved. A bank’s ordinary individual or company online route may not cover it.
In-person opening
The institution may require a trustee, council member, signatory or other person to attend. The mandate and the institution’s policy determine the required participants.
Professional-provider coordination
A trustee or administrator may already have preferred institutions and document procedures. Establish who can instruct the application, certify records and sign the mandate.
Know the complete cost
We quote after assessing the account holder and the route. The proposal separates the opening work from the institution’s requirements and other costs.
Our account-opening fee
Quoted for the structure, relevant jurisdictions, complexity and accepted implementation scope.
Institution requirements
Opening or account charges, balances and any relationship or investment requirements are confirmed for the selected route.
Trustee and legal input
Existing trustees, administrators or advisers may charge for resolutions, certifications, legal clarification or participation. Identify these separately.
Document work and travel
Translation, certification, delivery and attendance if required. Creating or restructuring the trust or foundation is a separate scope.
Our accepted-engagement assurance
After matching the profile and accepting the engagement, our aim is a suitable opened account. If we cannot obtain one, we refund the Offshore Capitalist fee. The client must accept a suitable account we obtain. This does not promise universal eligibility or approval by a named bank.
Opening process & timing
The sequence is clear; the duration depends on the selected institution, complete documents and any required appointments. We confirm the expected route-specific timetable before engagement.
01Understand the arrangementBefore engagement
Identify the governing jurisdiction, structure type, purpose, trustees or council, relevant beneficiaries or beneficiary class, and the assets and transactions involved.
02Resolve authority and bank fitBefore application
Establish who will legally hold or operate the account and what the governing documents permit. Coordinate any required input from the trustee or legal adviser.
03Prepare the structure fileDepends on records and connected persons
Collect the current deed or charter, amendments, appointments, authority records and the institution’s required identity, tax and funding evidence.
04Complete verification and reviewInstitution-dependent
Coordinate the requested interviews, certified documents and follow-up. Complex arrangements may require review beyond a standard application workflow.
05Complete the mandate and handoverAfter approval and activation conditions
Confirm signatories, access and the agreed operating arrangements. Preserve the documents supporting the mandate and identify who handles future changes.
Document checklist
Track your preparation in this browser. The selected institution confirms the final requirements for your application.
Details that make a difference
Treating the structure like an ordinary company
A trust and a foundation can have different legal ownership and authority arrangements. Establish the correct holder and mandate.
Old or incomplete governing documents
Amendments and replacement appointments matter. The evidence should describe the arrangement as it exists today.
Assuming the founder controls the account
The governing documents, relevant law and approved mandate determine authority. The application must reflect actual roles.
Incomplete funding explanations
Connect the settlement, endowment and later transfers to supporting evidence and the intended use of the funds.
Why work with Offshore Capitalist?
The banking work needs to fit the wider structure. We bring the account requirements, governance, funding history and practical transactions into the same discussion, coordinating with the people who already administer or advise on the arrangement.
Questions about this service
Will the account be in the trust’s name or the trustee’s name?
The correct legal holder and account title depend on the structure, applicable law and the institution’s process. We establish this with the relevant trustee or adviser before applying.
Do you become our trustee or foundation council?
This is an account-opening engagement. Any trustee, council or administration appointment is separate and must be expressly agreed with the appropriate provider.
Do all beneficiaries have to provide documents?
The relevant persons and evidence depend on the governing arrangement and institution. We obtain the specific checklist, including how a beneficiary class or later change is handled.
Can you open an investment account for the structure?
If investment custody or trading is the goal, discuss brokerage account opening as well. Banking and brokerage have different functions and acceptance requirements.
Let’s assess your opening options
Tell us the structure’s jurisdiction, whether it is a trust or foundation, its purpose, who administers it and the account functions needed. Do not send the deed or confidential beneficiary records through the initial form.
Start a free inquirySources & research notes1 reference
Official-source examples checked 2026-10-13. The chosen institution supplies the application-specific checklist.
These official references illustrate institution-specific requirements. They do not imply a partnership, an available Offshore Capitalist route or acceptance of a particular applicant.
Trust documents are structure-specific
HSBC Hong Kong’s charitable-organisation checklist includes additional records when trust ownership is involved. It is a narrow example of why the underlying structure matters, not an eligibility guide for all private trusts or foundations.
- HSBC Commercial Banking: Narrow example for charitable organisations and trust ownership within that checklist; not a general private-trust or foundation eligibility rule. Includes connected persons, constitutional evidence and source-of-funds requirements.