• Multicurrency facilities;
• Fully-featured internet banking;
• Maestro or VISA electron debit card;
• Cirrus ATM card;
• MasterCard and VISA credit cards;
• Deposit funds via wire transfer, cheque or cash;
• Customer Service in English, German, Latvian or Russian languages;
• All information held by the bank is strongly protected by Latvian law.

• Find the bank that best suits your needs and mail or visit them directly (If you are going to visit the bank personally, better make a call or write a mail to arrange your visit and to let the bank employee to be prepared);
• Also there is a list of agents that works with many banks. This way is a little bit more expensive (agents usually charge USD 100 - USD 200 for their service), but you will have the real advisor which will help to find bank that better suits your needs. Also if you are going to visit Latvia, most of agents will help you to arrange hotel, visit to the bank and other things to feel comfortable. Most of such agents also have good prices on offshore incorporation services (starting from USD 550). If you are going to open an account for the offshore company, the company incorporated by such agent will satisfy the particular bank needs and will go smoothly without any additional paperwork.

• 'Client-bank' software allows you communicate with the bank via secure modem connection once the software is installed on your computer. Depending on the bank, you need to have an Internet connection on such computer or just phone line;
• Via Internet. You will be given a user ID and password that will allow you to access your account on the bank's web server;
• By fax. You will be given code tables that will allow you to use different password every time you fax your instructions to the bank;
• You will be offered the list of creditcards, debit cards and ATM cards.

• Fill out an application form. Send the copy of your ID and company documents. For the faster service some banks and agents could offer you to scan the documents and send them to e-mail or copy and fax. After receiving your documents and your payment, an account will be reserved for you at the bank and your account agreement and other bank forms pertaining to your account will be sent to the address you provided on the application form. Your account will be open to receive incoming wired credits immediately after the account number is reserved;
• When you receive the package with the documents, you should read and sign account operating agreement and Signature Sample Card. Signature Sample Card, company document copies, and the copy of your ID need to be certified by a notary public in your locale. All these documents should be sent back to the bank. One of the Latvian banks allows the customer to make notarization of Electronic Signature Card instead of Signature Sample Card;
• As soon as the bank receives your signed documents -- you can make withdrawals from your account, which is now fully operational.

• Notarized copy of currently valid passport or driver's license;
• Signature on the Specimen Signature Card (for one of the Latvian bank they need not your signature);
• A street address where account opening package will be delivered by courier.

When opening corporate account, it is also necessary the originals or notarized copies of:

• Certificate of Registration;
• Statutes (Memorandum, Articles, by-laws)
• Power of Attorney (if not nominated in Statutes)

Most of the Latvian banks will also ask the Power of Attorney and Certificate of Registration to bear apostille.

In different banks there are different regulations. In some banks the passport copy does not have to be certified but the signature card must be. Certification is by notary, Latvian embassy, bank, solicitor or government official.

There is very high standards of banking secrecy adopted in Latvia.

The Law "On Credit Institutions" passed in Latvia on October 5, 1995 states the following regarding the confidentiality:

• Article 62

  (1) Information on accounts and transactions of natural persons shall be disclosed to the natural persons themselves and their duly authorized representatives;

• Article 64

  (1) Criminal proceedings in due course of law shall be instigated against any person who has deliberately or inadvertently disclosed, to the public or to unauthorized persons, information on the accounts of and financial services rendered to customers which has been entrusted or has become known to such a person as a result of his/her holding shares or stocks of a credit institution, being a chairperson or member of the board, executive board, or audit commission or in the capacity of their proxy, an employee of a credit institution, the Bank of Latvia or some other state institution, or a representative of external auditors.