With its skycrapers glinting in the intensely bright sun, the center of modern Panama City resembles a miniature Manhattan.

Panama has the most modern and successful international banking center in Latin America, with more than 85 banks from 35 countries. Panama’s new banking law (Decree No. 9) meets the standards of leading financial centers around the world for transparency and regulation.

Moreover, Panama has turned into one of the leading countries supporting the FATF and OECD movement to implement measures in international financial centers to cope with capital laundering and terrorist financial activities. Tighter controls have been put on banks to report all deposits and withdrawals of more than $10,000, identically as done in the United States.

International Standards

Bankers’ awareness that Panama has to clean up its image is also making them more thorough about checking the credentials of new customers. The “know your customer” policy includes tighter reference requirements and origin of funds. Nevertheless, banking secrecy continues in place.

In addition, Panama is one of the most secure international offshore centers in the world. The Panama Stock Exchange is one of the fastest-growing in the region.

In the financial industry, diverse investment opportunities exist in banking, investment capital financing, insurance and re-insurance.

The Republic of Panama maintains a firm commitment to fight and maintain a proactive and efficient role against money laundering and the financing of terrorism and organized crime through its different governmental bodies and in close cooperation with other jurisdictions.

Panama´s banking system has effectively achieved the following, among others factors:

  • International Standards
  • International cooperation
  • Modern legislation
  • Competitive advantages.

As a necessary complement of the above, important legislation has been passed by the Panama Legislative Assembly and sanctioned by the President and resulted in relevant Cabinet Decrees being issued by the Executive power. These regulations, listed below, are not only in effect, but has also provided assistance throughout the region and beyond.

  • Law 41 of October 2, 2000, which defines the crime of money laundering with regard to the predicate offenses: qualified fraud, illegal arms trafficking of humans, kidnapping, extortion, embezzlement, corruption of public officers, acts of terrorism, international theft, trafficking of vehicles and drug trafficking.
  • Law 42 of October 2, 2000, which establishes as "accountable persons" in the observance of due diligence for banks, trust companies, currency exchange offices, money transfer service providers, non-bank loan companies, savings and loan cooperatives, securities exchanges, securities clearing houses, securities firms, securities brokers and investment managers.
  • Law 45 of June 4, 2003, by which Chapter VII to Title XII of the Second Book of the Penal Code is added therein under the heading of Financial Crimes, fraud, illegal money transfers, concealing, deleting and counterfeiting accounting books and related documents. Disclosure of classified information, omitting or denying information, price discrimination, signing of fraudulent agreements, collecting financial means without proper authorization, among other types of crimes with their respective sanction.
  • Executive Decree No. 78 of June 5, 2003, which modifies the name of the Financial Analysis Unit (FAU) to Financial Analysis Unit for the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and extends its duties and responsibilities to assets related to the financing of terrorism.
  • Law No. 48 of June 26, 2003, which regulates the operations of money remittance companies.
  • Law No. 50 of July 2, 2003, by which Chapter VI, denominated Terrorism, is added to Title VII of Book II of the Penal Code and sets forth other provisions, This Law defines the crimes of terrorism and the financing of terrorism, turning both into autonomous crimes in our legislation.

This proven commitment by the Republic of Panama against money laundering and financing of terrorism includes both the public and private sector, guarantees that Panama shall continue in this crucial endeavor and fully understands the importance of international coordination and cooperation.

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