offshore-finances.com

U.S. Bancorp (USB) announced on Wednesday that its lead bank, U.S. Bank National Association is planning to sell the three Texas banks that were recently acquired from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) as part of the acquisition of the banking subsidiaries of FBOP Corp. of Oak Park, Illinois.

The three Texas banks, which the company intends to sell are Citizens National Bank of Teague, Madisonville State Bank of Madisonville and North Houston Bank of Houston. These … [visit site to read more]

There are so many varied nations to choose from when you’re planning on moving abroad – in fact, the world is your oyster as an expatriate – so where should you move to live overseas for a better lifestyle?

What is it that motivates someone to move abroad? Is it the weather, the employment conditions, better pay or an improved lifestyle? Survey results are in showing the real reasons why expatiates move abroad…

Brits with offshore accounts that are liable for tax are being urged to declare them to revenue and customs before the offshore tax amnesty ends.

Figures from the TUC suggest that the UK economy loses £4 billion a year through offshore tax havens.

Under the New Disclosure Opportunity those with undeclared taxable funds will not be penalised if they come forward before Monday November 30th. Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) states that it "will not offer preferential terms to offshore account and asset holders in the future".

It adds that those who do not come forward may be liable for 100 per cent of the tax due and could face a criminal investigation.

It is estimated that HMRC will receive details of 100,000 accounts with around 20,000 having hidden assets. So far over 300 institutions have handed over details about their customers accounts.

However the Daily Telegraph reports that ten or 20 institutions are still refusing to co operate with HMRC demands and are appealing against having to surrender their customers’ information.

Written by Jamie Musk

Expats in Cyprus are one step closer to receiving title deeds for their international property due to the introduction of new legislation.

Cyprus Property Magazine reports that in an exclusive interview with the Financial Mirror, interior minister Neoclis Sylikiotis said he was going to introduce five new draft bills to the Cypriot parliament aimed at improving the country’s property industry.

It reports that he told the newspaper in an interview: "I sincerely hope that our proposed bills will address the situation and in the process help improve Cyprus’ image abroad among foreign buyers."

The legislation will help up to 100,000 Cypriots and expats who are still waiting for the title deeds for their properties. Figures from Wow Cyprus suggest that up to 50,000 Brits are living abroad in the country.

As well as improving the property industry, the bills should also create revenue for the Cypriot government which has been struggling in the financial crisis. There will be three types of title deed; clean if there have been no issues, incomplete if there have been some violations and limited if there have been series problems. If a property receives a limited title deed it could block a sale.

Written by Andy Price

Tips about places that remind British people of life at home will no longer be confined to expat forums as the Daily Telegraph launches its Best of British awards.

The newspaper has teamed up with British Airways and is calling all expats to nominate the bars, restaurants and clubs in their new home that have a flavour of the UK. Figures from the BBC for 2006 reveal that 5.5 million British born people are living abroad.

On its website the newspaper says: "No matter how much one is enlivened by the sensation of the new and strange, we all need to surround ourselves from time to time with something that’s familiar: for comfort, for sentimentality and sometimes for sanity."

Once all the nominations are in, a shortlist of establishments will be put through to the grand final next year to determine the best locations in the world where expats go to chat and relax. The nominations are open now with categories such as the Best British Bar in Australia and the Best British Restaurant in South Africa. To enter visit the Daily Telegraph website.

Each venue which makes it onto the shortlist will receive a Daily Telegraph plaque to let British expats know where to go when they’re missing life back home.

Written by Charles Mackay.

Despite an impressive market rally that has major indexes up around 65% off the March 9 lows, there are still a number of blue-chip stocks delivering handsome dividend yields. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) can give a diversified play.

Yields upwards of 3% are being offered by some well-known names, including Kraft Foods (KFT), Clorox (CLX), Sara Lee (SLE), Sysco (SYY), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and Verizon (VZ).

Finding these names is a matter of doing a little … [visit site to read more]

With a probable end in sight to a prolonged recession, American consumers are somewhat upbeat about the upcoming holiday shopping season. However, customers remain skeptical at the same time and intend to spend less, compared to previous years before the start of the recession.

According to a study by A.C. Nielsen, approximately 42% of American consumers plan to spend less this holiday shopping season, representing a 7% year-over-year rise in those who intend to spend less.

U.S. … [visit site to read more]

Source: Chan Lowe, Slatev.com, November 25, … [visit site to read more]

One turkey turns to the other…

“Things were pretty rough there for a while…what with the recession and all. But now there’s a recovery. Business is picking up.”

“Yeah, this is great…no more hanging around this place waiting…finally, the boss says we’re all shipping out today…”

“I wonder what we’re going to be doing…”

“I don’t know…I’m going to some place called ‘Butterball Birds’…”

“Hey, sounds like it might be fun…maybe it’s some kind of theme park. I’m … [visit site to read more]