Austria's economy flourished after 1956, when it was canceled by strict government regulation of the banking system and removed all restrictions on the circulation of foreign currency in the country.
Austria avoided by all recent global crises. And stuck in the Russian GKO 20 billion shillings (about $ 1.7 billion), the Austrians called philosophically useful cupping "overheated" economy.
In Austria, a very strong position of banks - evidenced at least by the fact that the former director of the bank Creditanstalt Franz Vronitsky in 1986 became chancellor of Austria.
The advantage of Austria have long appreciated the wealthy Russian. The head of SBS-Agro, Alexander Smolensky granted a residence permit in this country in the early years of perestroika. According to the influential Viennese newspaper "Kurier", the wife of Mr. Smolensky resides in Vienna. Husband visits her almost every weekend.
Recently, as the "Courier", President of SBS-Agro has bought a luxury mansion in the aristocratic nineteenth district of Vienna. Villa surround the park.
Now journalists are trying to "dig out" the banks in which the president of SBS-Agro opened the account to pay. Search, appear to be long. In Austria, some 800 banks and thousands of their offices.
Among the largest structures that work with individuals, Bank Austria, Creditanstalt, Raiffeisen Zentral Bank, Bank of Employment and the Economy (short for BAWAG, owner - Austrian trade unions), Erste Bank and others
The most reliable is Bank Austria, a majority-owned by the state. By the way, Bank Austria has recently initiated the procedure for absorption Creditanstalt (51% and state-owned).
Although, by and large, the difference exactly where to place the contribution, no. All Austrian banks offer a standard set of services, as well as a small percentage of deposits. The maximum dividends - 6% per annum. In this case the payment of deposits in local currency slightly higher - but not more than one item. Accounts opened in the small banks also provide you with a little more interest.
Only above the Alps
Standard of living in Austria - one of the highest in the world. Not surprisingly, therefore, that the services of local banks of the road. For example, for the international transfer of $ 1 million bank will take the client 0.27%, or $ 2.7 thousand. If you need to translate, say, $ 10,000, the fee is 0.5% or $ 50. (For comparison, the U.S. will manage the transfer of money, usually no more than $ 15, regardless of the amount.)
Deposit can be opened at any time. But if you for whatever reason will remove the contribution before the due date, the Austrian bank will not pay interest on it. Furthermore, many banks in such cases, penalize customers.
Another shortcoming of the Austrian financial institutions - a high tax on dividends on deposit. As in Germany, it is 15%. It is true that non-residents, living in Austria for less than 183 days a year, this tax is not paid.
Unlike the Germans, who in order to avoid additional levies are hiding their money overseasAustrians willingly open an account at home.
At the same time are very popular, "shparbuhi" - numbered passbooks to the bearer.
In order to become the owner of passbooks, you need only come to the bank with your passport. At the opening of "shparbuha" customer comes up with a password, for which he subsequently withdraw money, transfer them in the right direction, etc. The password can be any word.
Profile of the owner of an impersonal "shparbuha" and the password is stored in the central office of the bank. They are known for 2 - 3 senior managers of the organization.
When conducting transactions on the account you (or your agent) should show savings account. At the same time on a sheet of paper to write a key word, for example, the same samogon. After that, a bank employee has formally recognized by the account holder and you follow all instructions.
What if a book is lost? Or, God forbid, it took away extortionists, who under torture knocked out and you still cherished the word? In this case, you must immediately call the bank and ask to block the account. At the same convenience "shparbuha" is that it is possible to remove only the money in the bank (not an ATM). Do not "light up" with the extortionists (or messengers) can not.
Whereas, say, taking away your plastic card and to check the PIN-code, they can easily withdraw cash from ATMs, pay card in stores for as long as it will not be entered in the stop list.
In recent years, "shparbuhi" became a byword. The European Community accused the Austrian banks in the "laundering" of "dirty" capital. They say that international criminal authorities, including the fathers of the Russian mafia, are anonymous accounts for retribution for criminal services.
Increasingly there are calls from the EU ban "shparbuhi." However, on appeal did not get. Banks are happy to offer its customers the anonymous account. However, with non-residents do not work all. But the more the amount available to the client, the more a bank willing to cooperate.
Austrian financiers, not without reason fear that if "shparbuhi" ban, banks will lose their flavor in Austria. The Austrians joke: "Shparbuhi" protect our privacy. "Moreover, according to experts, it is due to savings book the majority of Austrians opened an account at home and regularly pay their taxes.
In general, bank secrecy in Austria is stored as the apple of our eye. According to the advisor on the economy of the Russian Embassy in Austria Basil Filippova, secret accounts opened by order of the Ministry of Finance of Austria, and not the court, as is customary in other countries.
In this position the Ministry of Finance in Austria are very strong. None of the political and especially financial issues can not be solved without the participation of the Ministry.
Account declassified only if the Austrian Ministry of Finance receives irrefutable evidence that the client's money "criminal." According to Austrian law are those of capital acquired by illicit trade in arms, drugs and prostitution.
True, said the bankers, the case where the account "reveal" in Austria are extremely rare - less than one year. And that is not on criminal grounds, but for reasons of inheritance.
In case of death of the account holder money is automatically transferred to heirs. If it is a savings bank, they need to know the password.
But the heirs can receive the money owed to them, even if the account holder did not care about their neighbors and password before death did not mention. Unlike the Swiss, Austrian banks are very cherished reputation and not delay consideration of such cases.
Heir to prove that he - this is it. That is a direct relative of the account holder. This will require a birth certificate or extract from the archive of the registrar's office, which confirms that the heir to the deceased was in a relationship.
The case of the transfer of accounts will be considered an Austrian court in the location of the bank.