Steven James — Offshore Banking & Asset Protection Researcher
Steven James is an offshore structures researcher and consultant specialising in international banking access, asset protection trusts, and cross-border company structuring. His work focuses on the practical realities of offshore planning, including compliance friction, bank onboarding requirements, regulatory risk, and jurisdictional trade-offs.
He writes in-depth educational guides for entrepreneurs, investors, and internationally mobile individuals who want a clear, realistic understanding of offshore banking, trusts, and international structuring — without hype, shortcuts, or legal grey areas.
Steven’s work centres on analysing how offshore structures function in practice rather than theory. Much of his research focuses on the disconnect between how offshore banking and asset protection are marketed versus how they actually operate once compliance reviews, correspondent banking rules, and regulatory scrutiny are applied.
Over the years, Steven has studied and reviewed a wide range of offshore banking applications, trust structures, and international company setups across multiple jurisdictions. His writing reflects common patterns seen in real-world structuring scenarios, including enhanced due diligence requests, post-approval account reviews, account closures, and the operational constraints imposed by international AML and KYC standards.
A core theme of Steven’s work is the importance of compliance-aware structuring. Rather than promoting secrecy or avoidance, his analysis emphasises understanding regulatory expectations, banking risk appetite, and the limits of offshore planning in a post-FATCA, post-CRS environment. This includes examining how global initiatives led by organisations such as international standard-setters and national regulators affect offshore banks, trustees, and service providers.
Steven’s research spans multiple regions, with a particular focus on offshore financial centres in the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe. His articles frequently explore jurisdictional differences in banking culture, trust law frameworks, and regulatory enforcement, helping readers understand why similar structures can produce very different outcomes depending on where and how they are implemented.
Through OCBF Consulting, Steven publishes long-form educational content designed to help readers make informed decisions before engaging banks, trustees, or professional advisors. His goal is to reduce costly mistakes caused by unrealistic expectations, outdated information, or aggressive marketing claims that do not align with modern compliance realities.
Areas of Focus
Steven’s writing and research primarily covers the following topics:
Offshore banking for non-residents
Offshore companies and holding structures
Asset protection trusts and foundations
Cross-border tax residency and international living
Compliance, AML, and regulatory risk in offshore planning
Each topic is explored through detailed guides and scenario-based analysis, with an emphasis on practical outcomes rather than theoretical advantages.
Editorial Standards & Methodology
All articles published under Steven James on OCBF Consulting are written for educational and informational purposes. Content is researched using a combination of primary and secondary sources, including bank onboarding requirements, regulatory publications, legislation, policy guidance, and publicly available institutional materials.
Where relevant, articles are updated to reflect regulatory changes, shifts in banking risk appetite, and evolving international compliance standards. The focus is on accuracy, clarity, and realism, particularly for topics that can materially impact financial decisions.
My editorial policy is available at: https://ocbfconsulting.com/editorial-policy/
Disclosure
Steven James is not a licensed tax advisor, lawyer, or financial advisor. Content published on OCBF Consulting is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. Readers should seek advice from qualified professionals before acting on any information presented on this site.
Selected Articles
Swiss Bank Account Opening Minimum Balance (2026 Guide)
Swiss bank account opening minimum balances vary widely in 2026 and depend far more on client profile than advertised figures suggest. This feature explains why Swiss banks impose minimums, how thresholds differ for residents and non-residents, what private banking really requires, and why meeting the minimum alone does not guarantee approval.
Offshore Banking for Digital Agencies: What Actually Works in 2026
Offshore banking for digital agencies is possible in 2026, but it works very differently from what most agency owners expect. This feature explains how offshore banks actually assess digital agencies, why many applications are rejected, how service-based risk is evaluated, and what agencies that succeed tend to do differently when banking internationally.
Crypto Friendly Banks: What That Really Means in 2026
Crypto friendly banks do exist in 2026, but the term is widely misunderstood. This feature explains what banks actually tolerate when it comes to crypto activity, why accounts are still closed even at so-called friendly institutions, how banks assess risk behind the scenes, and what crypto users can realistically expect when banking in today’s compliance environment.
For questions about content, editorial standards, or general enquiries, please visit the OCBF Consulting contact page or review the site’s editorial and disclosure policies.