There are many many reasons for choosing an offshore bank and many of the largest businesses structure themselves in an offshore jurisdiction to protect their assets and reduce their tax exposure. For most individuals, going offshore allows you to:

• Avoid burdensome regulations.
  
• Protect your assets.
  
• Avoid lawsuits.
  
• Reduce or eliminate taxes.

Currently the US dollar is a particularly weak currency so it is advisable to consider using a stronger currency for your savings until the US is able to put its economic issues in order. Many Swiss bank accounts allow you to maintain an account in EUR, CHF or USD and trade in multiple markets globally.