Euromoney’s research during the Awards for Excellence process always throws up the opportunity to find new banks doing innovative and different things.
But we think we have found one bank with a unique offering that we suspect the likes of Credit Suisse and HSBC, two of our big winners this year, are unlikely to copy.
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Reincarnation Bank is a Gibraltar-registered institution that enables people who believe there is life on Earth after death to plan for their future in a rather novel way. "Reincarnation Bank offers a safe-keeping for any asset you wish to deposit through your transition into the next life," its website trumpets. "If you leave nothing purposely behind when you die, then what is there here for you when you return?"
The bank kindly offers to look after deeds, bonds and tangible assets such as fine art, jewellery and real estate. In the next life, all claims "may be subject to verification through regression", which means you will have to prove under hypnosis that you are who you say you are.
"Not much good if you come back as a hamster," was the remark of one very senior private banker when told of this new business line by Euromoney.
But write off Reincarnation Bank at your peril. Although regulators in Gibraltar say they shut the bank down, it subsequently re-emerged six months later. Maybe there is life after death, especially in banking. Ask RBS.
“Reincarnation Bank, that’s us”
- Vikram Pandit, Citigroup
Financial Times July 10 2010