Is a Seychelles IBC required to open a bank account in Seychelles?
No. A Seychelles IBC may open the bank account, or even several accounts, wherever the owner wishes. There is absolutely no requirement for a Seychelles company to operate a bank account in Seychelles. However, having a local bank account in the country of registration may positively influence the credibility and “good looks” of the offshore company. The location of the account AND the company itself in one and the same country would appear as the most “regular” setup. This would lead to a perception that the particular company is indeed a regular, local business – as opposed to an “offshore” company. The opposite is also true – a Seychelles company with an account in, say, Channel Islands, would not seem entirely “normal” to a casual observer. Such setup would largely stand out as “offshore” and, therefore, possibly suspect.
