Banks and Merchant Banks

Some important features to note about banking licences in the Cook Islands:

• Banking business in the Cook Islands may only be carried on under a licence issued by the Financial Supervisory Commission under the Banking Act 2003.
   
• The Banking Act requires that all licensed banks have a physical presence in the Cook Islands. The Financial Supervisory Commission considers that "physical presence" means that the mind and management of the bank must be based in the Cook Islands, that the bank have an office in the Cook Islands which is open to the public during normal business hours, that all records of the bank must be kept within the Cook Islands and that all transactions of the bank must be approved by the management of the bank in the Cook Islands.

Please follow the links below for more information on Cook Islands companies:

Cook Islands International Trusts

Cook Islands Limited Liability Companies

Cook Islands International Companies

Transfer of Corporate Domicile

Stock Exchange Listing

Share Capital

Partnerships