Caye International Bank and its Senior Vice President and Head of Private Banking, Luigi Wewege, were recently named the Best Offshore Bank – CARICOM 2021 and Private Banker of the year for CARICOM 2021, respectively, by the International Investor Magazine based out of London. Belize is a front-runner for those seeking offshore banking and investing opportunities. The pandemic has created unique challenges for financial institutions, and we talked with award-winner Wewege of Caye to get his take on these challenges and more. Can you tell us a little about yourself? I am a member of the Caye International Bank’s Executive Management Team, serving as Senior Vice President and Head of Private Banking. Outside of my banking responsibilities, I serve as an Instructor at the FinTech School in California. The school delivers online training on the latest technology and innovation development in the Financial Services industry. I am also the published author of The Digital Banking Revolution, now in its third edition, and available on Kindle and in audio and paperback formats on all major international online bookstores. Previously, I helped complete a pilot study for the Federal Trade Commission during one of the most severe financial times for the American economy. The primary focus of the study was to examine and determine the accuracy of credit bureau information. How did Caye International Bank get its start? Caye’s began as a Belizean mortgage company in 1996. After a continued success over several years, the decision was taken to become an international bank. Caye was granted an unrestricted Class A International Banking License on September 29, 2003, from Central Bank of Belize. The Central Bank of Belize is responsible for regulating Caye International Bank and setting the standards for its liquidity and capital adequacy ratios. Caye International Bank has won many awards and is a consistent regional and international contender. What do you think are the primary reasons for this? Caye is the only fully focused international bank in the country. Our bank license permits us to conduct financial services with individuals and corporations outside Belize. The bank offers a full range of traditional and non-traditional banking services and accounts in multiple currencies, helping people with asset protection and asset diversification. Belize also has a compelling tax structure. There is a zero-tax rate on deposits in many personal and business accounts. That one factor separates Belize from many other offshore locations. How has the bank and business managed to thrive through a pandemic? Caye International Bank clients all face similar concerns, regardless of their location. The main differentiator in their response during COVID-19 has been the size of their portfolio.

1. Caye one of the foremost
banks in Belize
| INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR MAGAZINE

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INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR MAGAZINE
and investing opportunities. The pandemic has created
these challenges and more.
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF?
outside of my banking responsibilities, I serve as an
delivers online training on the latest technology and
Revolution, now in its third edition, and available on
international online bookstores.
times for the American economy. The primary focus of
the study was to examine and determine the accuracy of
credit bureau information.
HOW DID CAYE INTERNATIONAL BANK GET ITS START?
After a continued success over several years, the decision
was taken to become an international bank.
Caye was granted an unrestricted Class A International
for regulating Caye International Bank and setting the
standards for its liquidity and capital adequacy ratios.
CAYE INTERNATIONAL BANK HAS WON MANY
AWARDS AND IS A CONSISTENT REGIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL CONTENDER. WHAT DO YOU THINK
ARE THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR THIS?
Caye is the only fully focused international bank in the
traditional banking services and accounts in multiple
currencies, helping people with asset protection and asset
other offshore locations.
HOW HAS THE BANK AND BUSINESS MANAGED TO
THRIVE THROUGH A PANDEMIC?
Caye International Bank clients all face similar concerns,
regardless of their location. The main differentiator in
portfolio.
investor may switch asset classes or make speculative
moves. At Caye, we are fortunate that our liquidity ratios
far exceed minimum requirements. This allows us to
Best Private Bank and Banker
in CARICOM for 2021

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MANY BUSINESS LEADERS HAD TO MAKE HARD
DECISIONS TO SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC. WHAT
STEPS DID CAYE MAKE, IF ANY?
We decided at the onset that we would not cut staff or
reduce salaries. We chose to get through the crisis as
structure to a completely digital online arrangement with
staff now working from home.
task could be achieved in a matter of days when receiving
WITH THE WORLD WORKING TO MOVE PAST
THE PANDEMIC, WHAT DO YOU ENVISION AS THE
FUTURE OF OFFSHORE BANKING IN BELIZE?
country and our economy will thrive.
the world of offshore banking and investment. The laws
of ethical and practical banking solutions. A welcoming
personnel in this country know the industry inside and
keep increasing.

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INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR MAGAZINE
YOU HAVE AN EXTENSIVE TRACK RECORD AS A
LEADER IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICE INDUSTRY.
CAN YOU TIE THIS UP BY TELLING US WHAT THE
FINANCIAL SECTOR NEEDS FROM ITS SENIOR
MANAGERS IN AN ENVIRONMENT LIKE WE SEE
TODAY?
There are two ways of dealing with rapid change. one way
is through reactive protectionism. This is often through
trying to stop the bleeding when change is forced upon
you. This can be done by tweaking costs here and there
to still be in the black for each quarterly budget. The
other method is a nimbler, more proactive approach. It
of potential opportunity.
needs are the ones who will be the most successful. often
the big breakthrough successes come from leveraging
this point also requires helping employees develop skills
to deal with rapid change and as always, communicating