A Certificate of Incumbency (COI) is an internal document issued by the company itself, so there’s no central authority requiring personal details beyond what you choose to disclose. However, if you need it for banking or legal purposes, they might expect additional info like:
Full names of officers Titles and roles Signatures Corporate seal (if applicable)
Limit the information to what’s required. If a bank asks for a COI, you don’t need to list every officer—just those relevant to the transaction.
Use a nominee officer/director. Some companies appoint a third party to sign official documents to protect privacy.
Pair it with a Secretary’s Certificate. Some institutions accept this instead, and it often contains less personal data.
Check local laws. Some jurisdictions (like Delaware) don’t even require COIs, so you might be able to provide alternative documentation.If this is for offshore banking, expect zero privacy these days. Post-Panama Papers, most banks will ask for passport copies, proof of address, and ownership details anyway. A COI alone won’t cut it.
Thanks Launder ExpertA Certificate of Incumbency (COI) is an internal document issued by the company itself, so there’s no central authority requiring personal details beyond what you choose to disclose. However, if you need it for banking or legal purposes, they might expect additional info like:
Ways to Minimize Disclosure:
If you’re concerned about why you’re being asked for it, ask the requesting entity for specific requirements before you submit anything.
- Launder Expert Moderator
yeah man i know but i just want to give the bare minimum so that even if my company gets busted (for money laundering) the feds won't have much s*it to go off of tbh
Translation: “How do I prove I run a company without actually proving I run a company?”
If this is about not disclosing shareholders or beneficial owners, the COI won’t help you. That’s what nominee directors/shareholders are for.
Yeah, but nominee directors come with risks. If they have actual signing authority, you better trust them. Some shady ones have stolen company assets before.
This is why you use a binding legal agreement with nominees—so they can’t act without your permission.
Or just… don’t do shady stuff.
