



                           WHY SWITZERLAND?


               Switzerland has long served as a magnet for the
          money of wealthy foreigners who perceive the world as
          buffeted by over-taxation, over-regulation and
          political turmoil. They are attracted, of course, by
          the confidentiality and discretion that have been a
          hallmark of Swiss bankers since the French Revolution,
          when they offered financial refuge to French
          aristocrats.
               Banking in Switzerland, a land of few natural
          resources, has been immensely lucrative. Operating in a
          country less than half the size of Maine, Swiss banks
          control more than $400 billion in assets, making the
          country the third-largest financial center in the
          world.
               For people with money to protect -- whether a
          little or a lot -- Switzerland is traditionally
          considered the world's safest repository. These days,
          the Swiss can give Americans many reasons to leave
          funds in Switzerland  But the promise of total secrecy
          in financial matters remains one of the greatest
          attraction of Swiss banks.

