There are many reasons why anyone with even a little bit of money should diversify and open a bank account offshore. Opening a bank account in Panama as a non-resident is an option. It’s a process I went through myself.
I spent some time on the ground in Panama in November and went to few banks. Let’s look at the pros and cons of opening a bank account in Panama as a non-resident.
I’ll then explain how you can remotely open a bank account in Panama.
The Pros
- A few banks in Panama accept non-residents, unlike most banks in most countries in the world.
- Even Americans are accepted, which is not that common due to FATCA.
- Higher interest rates on your USD deposits than in other countries.
- A fully dollarized economy.
- Easily accessible.
- Credit cards are available, even for non residents.
- Low barriers to entry; some banks let you open an account with only USD3,000.
- No capital controls.
- The compliance departments of local banks are familiar with Latin America, so channeling funds through a bank in Panama for deals in places like Colombia and Nicaragua could make sense in case your bank in Asia or Europe doesn’t want to go ahead with the deal.
- Transfers to and from Canada and the US are seamless.
- Bank accounts can be opened remotely
The cons of opening a bank account in Panama as a non-resident
- Physical presence is required in most cases, unless if you use specific agents.
- The bank account opening requirements change on a regular basis.
- The customer service levels are not fantastic, and can be quite slow. That said, online banking is improving, thus resulting in less “human” interaction.
- The stigma associated with a bank account in Panama; Panama is on various blacklists for still being perceived as a tax haven, most notably on an EU money laundering blacklist.
- In many countries, you have to declare your foreign bank accounts to the authorities, which is fine, but if you add Panama to the list you might get a higher chance of being audited.
- Some banks will completely refuse to accept money coming from a Panama bank account.
How do you open a bank account as a non-resident in Panama?
Different banks have different procedures, but generally you need the following for those that do accept non-residents:
- Your physical presence or well connected agents who can open the account remotely for you
- 2 national identification documents (passport + ID). If your country does not have IDs, then the second document can be your driving license. These documents should be from the SAME country.
- Source of income; a work contract or an income tax declaration should suffice.
- A bank reference letter from your current bank mentioning since when you’ve had an account with them, and confirming that you are in good standing.
What interest rates should you expect on your term deposits?
Here were the rates as of early November 2022 in the bank I would say was the most suitable for non-residents. The rows are for the term deposit duration, and the columns for the payout frequency.
As you can see, the rates are substantially higher than in almost all developed countries.
Should you open a bank account in Panama as a non-resident?
The credit card option is very interesting, as getting one can sometimes be a struggle for Digital Nomads, meaning activities like booking rental cars can be near impossible. If you want, say, $2,500 credit, the bank will ask you to block approximately $3,000.
In summary, opening a bank account in Panama as a non-resident is viable. There are countries that make it easier to open bank accounts, and that have better functionality and service, without stigma attached to them. That said, the country is well managed and it is not a bad Plan B or C banking option. I would not choose a Panama bank for my main offshore banking, but rather as a place to park money at some respectable interest rate, and as a back-up solution.
How to open a bank account in Panama remotely
Below is a video of Giovanna and Wi Men, they run a small family office in Panama and can help people open bank accounts remotely in Panama. In this video they explain the requirements, as well as compliance in Panama.
They charge $1,000 for the remote account opening service, and $500 if you are physically present in Panama City. Fill the form below and they will explain the process to you
Contact Giovanna to Open a Bank Account in Panama
Or send an email to giovanna@thewanderinginvestor.com and include your WhatsApp if you use it.
They can also help you open a Panama corporation to trade crypto on major exchanges. Details here.
Other services in Panama:
Articles on Panama
- The Pros and Cons of creating a crypto and stock trading Corporation in Panama
- Affordable Tax-Free Caribbean Lifestyle and Real Estate
- Catching a falling knife in Panama City Real Estate
- How to Obtain the Panama Retirement Visa
- Panama Permanent Residency in ONE trip
- What is the Panama Travel Passport and how to get it?
- The Pros and Cons of living in Panama
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Can you translate the photo of the interest rate table?
The rows are the term deposit duration, and the columns are how often you want you interest paid (monthly, quarterly, biannually, early). These interest rates are from early March. The Fed has since cut interest rates, so they must be lower now.
Thanks very much for your advice. Could you may-be recommend a bank in Panama that accepts a non-resident to open an account?
Multibank
We will be residents in Panama as of October 2022 . Is this markedly easier and more safe than being a non-resident opening a bank account?
Much easier
Good day
I need someone to check if I really have a bank account in my name in Panama. Can you help me please.
You say that you wouldnt use it as your primary country but rather as plan B or C. Which country is first for you? your plan A.
Thanks!
It depends on citizenship, residency, business activities, geography of activities, etc.
If your reside in Panama it’s fine as Plan A banking for example.