Guernsey has many financial services industries. As a specialist finance centre, the island provides first-rate services in numerous fields such as Banking, Fund Management and Administration, Private Wealth and Insurance amongst others.
The island’s regulatory and fiscal environment is also perfectly suited to enable businesses to flourish. For more in-depth information about Guernsey’s financial services please visit Guernsey Finance – the island’s promotional body for the industries.
For more than fifty years, Guernsey has been one of the world’s best-regarded and most successful international finance centres. Across the various industries mentioned above, that strong reputation is based on five key strengths:
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Core services of a very high quality
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High regulatory standards
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A compliant and transparent tax regime
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Innovation as a hallmark of problem-solving and creating new opportunities
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Guernsey’s positive relationship with the UK
Banking
The sector provides products ranging from international wealth management, retail banking and savings through to institutional business and specialist lending. Some of the most highly respected names in international finance have chosen to locate their banking in Guernsey, establishing subsidiaries or relocating their entire operation, alongside independent, boutique providers.
The island’s banking sector has strong connections to other financial services sectors, offering a variety of services to institutions and individuals. These include credit services, frequently used as a wealth management tool when lending is required for investments; savings accounts at competitive offshore rates; treasury services used to access money market and foreign exchange services and custody services which ensures efficient and confidential asset management.
Guernsey also has its own Depositors’ Protection Scheme:
Guernsey Banking Deposit Compensation Scheme
Fund Management and Administration
Guernsey is a leading specialist centre in the servicing of alternative assets such as private equity, infrastructure and alternative debt. For nearly 50 years, Guernsey has provided an alternative but complementary domicile for fund managers to domicile their funds.
The administration of alternative assets is a specialist discipline and one can find specialist providers of legal, tax, audit and administration services in Guernsey.
Unlike their peers in other jurisdictions, service providers in Guernsey have experienced the life cycle of a private equity fund many times and will be familiar with the unique challenges faced during each stage.
Today, more than £120 billion of regulated private equity funds are domiciled in Guernsey and more than 100 Guernsey companies are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Guernsey Finance – Investment Funds Guernsey Investment Fund Association (GIFA)
Private Wealth
Guernsey has long provided private wealth management services to clients across the globe. As a leading international fiduciary centre, the island’s status is built on its expertise, experience, innovation and a well regarded regulatory regime.
Guernsey is home to one of the UK’s larger regional branches of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) with more than 600 members. This is made up of both large and many smaller independent operations. Alongside these businesses there are hundreds of licensed individuals who provide expertise as directors, co-trustees and trust protectors.
Guernsey is home to many award-winning fiduciary firms and innovative structures. The island introduced the Guernsey Foundation which has several unique features making it a more attractive option than can be found elsewhere. The Guernsey Foundation is particularly strong in asset protection, estate and succession management and private wealth planning for globally mobile individuals and families.
Guernsey was one of the first jurisdictions to introduce an effective licensing and supervision system in relation to trust administration services, company management and ancillary services. It is the businesses that manage and provide fiduciary services that are regulated, rather than the trusts themselves.
Guernsey Finance – Private Wealth STEP Guernsey
Guernsey Association of Trustees (GAT)
Insurance
In Guernsey, the Protected Cell Company (PCC) was born and it continues to be extensively used.
For a small island, Guernsey’s insurance sector has a big reputation. Guernsey is Europe’s largest captive insurance domicile and the fourth largest domicile in the world. Risk management solutions in Guernsey are characterised by high professional standards and world leading innovation.
Across a wide range of other areas, such as employers’ and public liability, motor, property damage and business interruption, employee benefits as well as life and health insurance, large amounts of business are written by insurance entities in Guernsey. Insurance policies are also featuring as components of wealth management plans and are popular with High Net Worth Individuals.
The first Guernsey captive insurance operation was started in 1922 and now there are nearly 800 international insurance entities in Guernsey.
Guernsey Finance – Insurance Guernsey International Insurance Association (GIIA)
Fintech
Fintech is the integration of finance and technology. As a sector it seeks to evolve financial models using the latest technology to transform established models and ways of working.
Regulation
In Guernsey, our regulatory regime in financial services has an inherent connection to the island’s excellent reputation in those sectors, finding a helpful balance between robust protection and recognition of new opportunities.
The Guernsey Financial Services Commission is the regulatory body for the finance sector in the Bailiwick of Guernsey and has been operating for nearly 30 years.
Guernsey Financial Services Commission