The Island's major industry

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 as of June 2010, the number of banks stands at 42, although it was as high as 79, and deposits top £116 billion. 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 an all time high of £157bn, up 31.8% in the 12 month period to 31 December 2008.

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

• domestic insurance
• international insurance - captive insurers, protected cell companies and life assurance companies who arrange contracts of insurance from within Guernsey, covering international risks.

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.

As of September 2010, the number of securities listed on the Exchange had increased to almost 4,000, with an average of 500 new listings per annum.  Despite the recession, the exchange has continued to grow, built on a transparent product which has boosted investor confidence. Additional capital raised on the exchange between January 1st 2008 and August 31 2010 amounted to £1.6 billion. Key to the success has been to be innovative in everything they do and have been building niche markets such as Property Funds. The exchange was also the first to introduce Protected Cell Companies and Incorporated Cell Companies. They also see an opportunity to to trade in open ended investment companies. In a tie - up with Euroclear, the exchange will become the first to settle OEICs electronically.

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

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.

No of banks licensed in Guernsey peaked in 1999 at 79

 Useful Links

Currency Calendar 2010  Central Bank Meeting Dates - 2010

List of Authorised Banks

The Finance Industry in Guernsey - an article by Peter Neville, March 2005  

Guernsey Chamber of Commerce:chamber.guernsey.net 

CI 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