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Guernsey Finance Industry
The Island's major industry
 |  |  | The Finance Industry in Guernsey - an article by Peter Neville, March 2005 |
| Le Truchot | Regency Court | RBS Building |
The Finance Industry is now the island's major industry having grown significantly since the early 1980's. It contributes over 55% of the island's Gross Domestic Product and employs around 7,000 staff in many different sectors. Tourism now takes second place and Horticulture third. This is a vast turn around in fortunes after the disastrous oil price rises in the 1970's led to a major decline in horticulture, in particular the growing of tomatoes.
In the March 2009 Global Financial Centres index, Guernsey jumped four places to 12th position ahead of Jersey at 13th, the Isle of Man (18th), Cayman Islands (22nd) and BVI (34th). GFCI_report Mar09.pdf
Guernsey is on the OECD white list of co-operative jurisdictions that has substantially implemented internationally agreed tax standards. OECD_report_Apr09.pdf
Read the Independent Foot review of British Offshore Financial Centres published October 2009 commissioned by the UK Treasury Click here
Banking
It was in 1963 that the first Merchant Bank set up in Guernsey and in 2009, the number of banks stands at 49, although it was as high as 72, and deposits top £159billion. Banks here represent a range of countries with concentrations of banks with head offices in the UK and Switzerland. Other banks are from Bahrain, Bermuda, Canada, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, South Africa, Qatar and the USA. Significant new office buildings have been built over the past six years to house the expanding industry. Deposits with Guernsey banks reached a new all time high of £157bn, up 31.8% in the 12 month period to 31 December 2008, having risen 29% the year before.
Read The Hunt Review Nov 2009- A Strategic Review of Guernsey's Banking Industry
Collective Investment Funds
Collective investment funds is the fastest growing sector and have been established in Guernsey for over 40 years with around forty fund managers, administrators and custodians operating in the island. There has been steady growth in this sector in the number of players and the number of funds during this period and a large increase in the net asset value of funds under management.
The international market place for Guernsey open and closed-ended funds is illustrated by the fact that funds are promoted/sponsored by leading institutions in over 38 countries. Guernsey is ideally suited geographically for the provision of fund management and administrative services being within the European time zone and conveniently placed between the US and Far East time zones. The advantage has been recognised by many leading financial institutions which use the Island as a base for their fund management activities.
Fiduciary Business
Guernsey is a major centre for the provision of international trust and corporate services. The industry is large and long established, and benefits from Guernsey's sophisticated professional infrastructure.
In 2001 the island was one of the very first jurisdictions in the world to introduce a comprehensive system for the regulation and supervision of trust and corporate service providers (including company directors).Insurance
Guernsey has an outstanding reputation for innovation and professionalism in the world of international insurance and a major force in the international insurance industry and the leading European captive domicile.
The expertise that the island has built over the years and the strength and breadth of the financial services industry on the island will ensure that Guernsey maintains its position at the forefront of the insurance world.
The Guernsey insurance sector covers
Channel Islands Stock Exchange
The Channel Islands Stock Exchange ("CISX") was established in 1998 as a joint venture between Guernsey and Jersey to complement the existing range of services already available locally. The CISX is based in Guernsey and regulated by the Commission.
The CISX was established in 1998 as a joint venture between Guernsey and Jersey to complement the existing range of services already available locally.
As of December 2009, the number of securities listed on the Exchange had increased to 2,434 up 443 in the year.
It is a member of the International Federation of Stock Exchanges as a corresponding market, a member of the International Securities Market Association, the European Securities Forum and is recognised by the Australian Stock Exchange.
CISX Page
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Strong upward growth in bank deposits since 1980 |
The island's Finance industry has developed a first class reputation internationally and is in the top tier of offshore centres. This was evidenced in the UK Government's Review of Financial Regulation in the Crown Dependencies 1n 1999 which described the island as being in the "top division of offshore finance centres". More recently the Financial Stability Forum (FATF) categorised Guernsey as a Group 1 offshore centre in recognition of the island's up to date anti-money laundering legislation and practices. In November 2002, the IMF carried out a ten day review of the island's system of regulation and its report published in November 2003 concluded that Guernsey had 'a high level of compliance' for each of the international standards against which the Bailiwick was judged - the Basel Core principles for Effective Banking Supervision; the Insurance Core Principles of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS); the Objectives and Principles of Securities Regulation of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO); and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) 40+8 Recommendations. In the first quarter of 2010, the IMF will carry out a follow up visit.
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No of banks licensed in Guernsey peaked in 1999 at 79 |
Useful Links
Currency Calendar 2010 Central Bank Meeting Dates - 2010
Guernsey Chamber of Commerce: chamber.guernsey.netCI Stock Exchange: www.cisx.com
Guernsey Finance: www.guernseyfinance.com
Useful contacts
 | Guernsey Financial Services Commission Tel: +44 (0)1481 712706 E-mail: info@gfsc.gg Website: www.gfsc.gg |