How to Transfer Money from a Business Account to a Personal: Bank of America
Learn how to transfer money from your Bank of America business account to your personal account. Follow our step-by-step guide for secure transactions
Singapore is welcoming more and more international businesses to the republic. As a result, banks in Singapore are also becoming easier to work with.
The US has a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Singapore since 2004 which supports a close and cooperative trade relationship.⁴ Sales of services in Singapore by majority US-owned affiliates already reached $88.1 billion in 2018.⁵
Opening a corporate bank account in Singapore as a US citizen is a straightforward process once you know the requirements.
Read on for information about what business types are welcome, the process for opening an account, and a rundown of which banks to consider.
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Yes, you can open a business bank account from overseas. While many banks will require your presence, some will not. Companies incorporated in Tax Haven Countries will need to provide a Certificate of Incumbency that is less than one year old.
Companies incorporated in other jurisdictions, such as the USA, UK, or Indonesia, will need to submit an official document from the Government and/or the Registrar of Companies.
If you’re opening an account from the US, or outside of Singapore, all documents must be signed in the presence of the bank’s staff at an international branch, a notary public, or the High Commissioner of Singapore.
Additionally, all documents must be submitted in English. It’s the company’s responsibility to ensure that translation is correct. The company will also need to produce the original passport of all authorised signers, Directors, and Ultimate Beneficial Owners for the bank staff to verify.
A stress-free solution to getting Singapore business account details is to open a Wise Business account. With Wise Business you can get a Singapore account number. This means your customers can start paying you like a local straight away. |
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Yes. Some banks, including DBS, will allow you to complete the process of opening a business bank account entirely online, however these account types will often be somewhat limited.
Many of the banks that don’t require your physical presence will still require either a phone interview or your presence at an international branch.
The process for opening a business account in Singapore is fairly easy, even as a US citizen. Most banks will require the account signatories and the company’s majority directors to be physically present in Singapore to sign paperwork at the time of opening.
However, some of the larger international banks, like HSBC and Citibank, will allow you to sign the necessary documents at one of their overseas branches, or in the presence of a notary.
While the exact required paperwork varies from bank to bank, typically you’ll need the following:
If you’re physically present in Singapore, the bank will typically be happy to make copies for you if you bring originals.
Singapore is home to many of the world’s major banks, and in general they will be happy to open a corporate account for any any entity, whether Singapore or offshore, as long as the correct paperwork has been submitted and is satisfactory.
Many types of businesses are based in Singapore, including Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), sole proprietorships, and partnerships.
Foreign companies looking to establish a formal presence in the republic have two options:
A subsidiary company is a private, limited company that is incorporated in Singapore, whose parent company is a shareholder. This option makes the most sense for small and mid-sized companies.
A parent company can open a branch office registered in Singapore instead of creating a separate entity as in the option above. However, in this option, the liabilities of the branch office are extended to the parent company.
While there are many banks to choose from in Singapore, some of the most reputable for business bank accounts include local banks such as:
DBS requires a minimum average daily balance, which is determined based on aggregated balances across all wallets in one account for Multi-Currency Accounts.¹ An account with DBS comes with a debit card, credit card, checkbook, and access to online banking.
OCBC typically requires the executive director, as well as an authorized signatory, to be present to open an account. However, an account at OCBC does not carry a setup fee. There is a monthly account fee of S$38, which is waived for the first three months. There is also a service fee of S$35 if the monthly average balance falls below S$5000 per month.²
Some international banks that are trusted for corporate banking include:
Opening any traditional bank account comes with a wide range of standard fees. Business accounts in Singapore often have minimum balances, which rage from S$5000 to S$10000 depending on which bank you choose, with “fall-below” fees that can be up to S$50. You’re likely to also face annual account fees or even monthly account fees.
For US citizens doing business in Singapore, it’s often important to keep an eye on foreign transfer fees. DBS, for example, can charge a handling commission between S$5-35 on foreign transfers.³
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Sources:
All sources checked September 28, 2022.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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