Min. Deposit
$500
First Universal Bank’s Precious Metals Storage Account and optional Gold and Silver Debit Card are the complete solution for precious metals investors, providing the security of physical precious metals stored at The Perth Mint in Australia while you enjoy the convenience and access of a private bank’s international wire transfer, debit card, and investment facilities.
As a result, you can protect your purchasing power in spite of future currency, counter-party, and political risks, ultimately increasing your freedom. Travel the world without needing to take your bullion with you. Simply log into your Online Banking to track your Precious Metals Storage Account holdings, from anywhere in the world.
Secure Storage
There are three important security characteristics of the Precious Metals Storage Account. First, First Universal Bank stores all precious metals through The Perth Mint in Australia’s government guaranteed Perth Mint Depository Program (PMDP).
Second, First Universal Bank is audited and regulated by OCIF in Puerto Rico and the international accounting firm KPMG. In addition, The Perth Mint itself is wholly-owned by the triple-A rated Western Australian Government and audited regularly.
- Geographically isolated with stable economic and political systems
- Major source of world gold supply; refines over 400 tonnes of gold per year
- Supplies Gold and Silver blanks to mints worldwide
- Insured by international insurers and by the Australian Government
- Follows advanced physical, electronic and procedural security protocols
Approved Dealer Status
First Universal Bank has approved dealer status at The Perth Mint, making us the world’s only offshore bank with this type of relationship. You can review the Bank’s listing directly from the Perth Mint website. For more details on The Perth Mint’s storage program and the safety of your metals, we encourage you to read this analysis of their gold and silver storage facilities and security.
Fees to Buy, Sell, and Store
Purchase Method
You have a choice of two order methods:
1. Instant Fill Order – buy/sell is executed instantly upon buy/sell request
2. Delayed Fill Order – buy/sell is executed during Perth Mints business hours (8am–4pm UTC+08)
Trading Costs
Gold and silver are purchased and sold at the spot price + commission.
| Instant Fill Orders | BUY | SELL |
|---|---|---|
| $1 – $100,000 | 4.00% | 4.00% |
| Delayed (Offline) Fill Orders* | BUY | SELL |
|---|---|---|
| $5000 – $19,999 | 3.00% | 0.50% |
| $20,000- $49,999 | 2.50% | 0.50% |
| $50,000 – $99,999 | 2.25% | 0.50% |
| $100,000 – $499,999 | 2.00% | 0.50% |
| $500,000 – $999,999 | 1.50% | 0.50% |
| $1,000,000 + | 1.00% | 0.50% |
*Offline trades are executed during Perth Mint business hours, gold orders must be placed during bank business hours (Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm). Please note that only market orders are accepted.
Annual Storage Fees
| Precious Metal Type | GOLD | SILVER |
|---|---|---|
| Fee (debited quarterly from bank account) | 0.00% | 0.95% |
Taking Delivery
Clients can request physical delivery of their metals holdings.
- Minimum of $10,000
- Your holdings will need to be converted into bars and/or coins of your choice before shipment
- Fabrication premium and a Processing Fee of 0.50% will be applied
- Delivery is completed via insured and track-able courier service
Gold and Silver Debit Card
Gold and silver have historically been excellent ways to preserve one’s purchasing power over the long term. However, in today’s world it does not act well as a medium of exchange. In contrast, many of the world’s fiat currencies are now being questioned as a store of value, but are still used predominately for exchange.
First Universal Bank has introduced the world’s first Gold and Silver Debit Card to solve this problem. Now, in a cost effective manner, clients can have a bank account denominated in gold and/or silver with an optional debit card.
How Does the Card Work?
The debit card we issue is accepted in over 210 countries and territories and millions of merchants worldwide. You will be able to track account transactions online through our banking software.
The card must be linked to a First Universal Bank cash account. Once this account is activated with the minimum deposit (see below), the debit card can be purchased. This process may take up to three weeks.
In order to use your debit card, it must be funded with cash. In addition to your initial minimum deposit, more cash can be placed into your First Universal Bank Account at any time via wire transfers. You then fund your debit card from monies held within your First Universal Bank Account and use the debit card to make purchases worldwide.
You can also increase the balance in your First Universal Bank Account by selling your gold and silver holdings. All buying and selling of precious metals are done in USD or AUD.
Purchasing a Gold and Silver Debit Card
The debit card is not mandatory. You can still open a Precious Metals Storage Account without purchasing the card. The card simply provides a facility for more quick and secure access to your funds.
The primary cost for a new card holder is the initial purchase of the card, which is a one-time fee of $150. This fee covers the cost of the card and delivery charges for regular mail. Traceable courier shipping is recommended for clients outside of continental Europe.