The Bank of Yohannes—NationStates' Oldest Bank RP

[Isle de Mar]

Application Form [Branch Opening]
Nation: Isle de Mar
Type of government: Monarchy
[Optional]Economic policy: Capitalist
[Optional]Foreign policy: Friendly

[Peoples Republic of Joyea]

Application Form [Account Creation]
Which one you are [tick one]? Agency [], Alliance [], Business [], Government [], Individual [x], Organization []
Official name on record: Billy Crabblesnitch
Official nation of origin: Peoples Republic of Joyea
Type of account [tick one]:
Standard [x] Executive [] Cash Fund [] High Security [] Green Future [] Next Generation [] Gold Bullion []
Initial deposit [US$/gold/assets/etc.]: NS$ 221,600
Do you want us to invest the money nationally? yes
Do you want us to invest the money overseas? no
[Optional]If stated as YES, how do you want us to invest your money? In what way?

[Yohannes]

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Application Form [Branch Opening]
Nation: Principality of Catalunya
Type of government: Federal parliamentary democracy
[Optional]Economic policy: Rhine capitalism
[Optional]Foreign policy: Friendly

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By: Vanessa Fiolka
Staff writer—latest industry insights

The Office of Embassy and Consulate Programme has granted IBE Bank Eimsbüttel a market authority permit to establish 20 branches in the Principality of Catalonia next year. The move comes as part of the institutional bank’s gambit to work with big corporate, institutional and government organisations across the principality, marking IBE’s first market foothold outside Yohannes. Catalonian Foreign Minister Carles Borges approved the agreement after a comprehensive meeting with Catalonian monetary authority representatives yesterday.

According to the Parliament of Catalonia’s latest official news updates, IBE will operate ten branches across Catalonia Proper. Six banking centres will serve Barcelona and two regional branches will be built in Girona and Menorca, while the Overseas Territories will receive 10 ATM home centres. IBE received the go-ahead to join the Economic Palace’s settlement cash programme in September, allowing the bank to register itself as a Realm (Federal) Bank. Under section 85 of the Central and Realm Bank Amendment Act 2004, only a bank deemed to be sufficiently large to qualify under the Bank of Yohannes’ deposit protection regime may apply to become a registered bank under the settlement cash schemes. Both IBE Bank Eimsbüttel and the Office of Embassy and Consulate Programme’s social media spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment.

As of this update, IBE has not filed a building consent application with the provincial authority of Barcelona yet, a prerequisite to establish a physical bank branch in Catalonia’s largest city.

Bank of Yohannes $26.680 ▲0.61% HASF Materials $17.990 ▲0.07% Royal Beaufort $39.250 ▲0.18% VMK Steel Works $25.580 ▼0.31%

Thomas Mannschatz, a banking commentator from Halsten University, said the decision to expand in Catalonia came only after the Board felt sure the bank would be able to effectively participate in the Government’s settlement cash schemes and, at the same time, afford to gain a foothold in the new market.

“The IBE Bank Eimsbüttel Board of Directors is aiming to build new partnerships with corporate, government and institutional clients in Catalonia Proper and form an alliance with local relationship managers and product specialists. That said, I’m doubtful that you’re going to see IBE succeeding across Catalonia Proper next year—they will need at least three years to gain a better understanding of the new market, not one.”

“If IBE is genuinely looking to establish a firm foothold in Catalonia, they should wait and not try to do too many things at once next year. Participation under the settlement cash schemes will come at a cost to the bank next year—frankly, I still consider IBE a regional bank, not federal.”

Mr Mannschatz said the Board did not include IBE’s international expansion and market entry strategy in its annual report to shareholders in 2017.

IBE Bank Eimsbüttel opened its doors in at least 18 locations in East Lindblum last year, with another batch of 57 full-service branches planned for construction in the Kingdom of Alexandria.

The bank estimated it would hire up to 700 additional front-end staff in Yohannes and 120 locally recruited employees in Catalonia by the end of next year.

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Copyright: © Library of Parliament, 2020. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 NationStates licence. You are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work to claudiaintern@libraryofparliament.govt.yo and abide by the other licence terms.

1 Nov, 2019 3:27 pm EYT • © 2020 Merchant Bankers of Lindblum

[Yohannes]

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Opinion—commentary, editorial and analysis



Entering 2020 and another decade and many business owners in Yohannes would sit down, a little bit introspective, relaxed and pondered: what this year will bring for them?

Many business owners will continue working hard as they have always done and are looking at their next holiday and starting to plan accordingly, to make good use of their time, probably grinding away for 40 hours or so a week. For some, they’ll think they can’t take this anymore, saying, “Should I go part time (can I), or maybe sell instead?” The steps to a fresh start strengthen the soul and provide new challenges. Then, there are the brave Yohannesians, who sold their business to create a new life with a different kind of career. Many will look to imitate what they are already doing; some will look to buy existing businesses that complement their skill set and passions well. The minority will explore the unknown to start something fresh—trying to prove the world wrong, the Mark Zuckerberg kind.

Looking closer to home, my mother’s experience was to improve on what she was already doing, but doing it the way she thought a commercial bank would be like—client-centric and innovative, without crazy rules and procedures to dictate her success. The politics required to progress was probably the one thing she hated most.

Don’t be fixed in your ways

Having a strong business model that makes money for you and augments your personal growth journey as the owner is important—finance is an indispensable key aspect. Whether it’s a start-up stage, buying an existing business, growing your business or a revolutionary kind of business, they all need funding. This has been mentioned by citizen Lewis Castellon in a previous issue: the importance of creativity in business, and how it leads to success. But Yohannesian banks are strict when it comes to financing a new business or self-employed client, and over the past few years they seem to have become tougher as more banks begin to adhere to an uncompromising rule-based system.

It’s going to be easier for a start-up needing little capital—such as starting your very own hand-me-down store or online clothing business—to get the finance they need. If you’re a sensible first-time entrepreneur, a Yohannesian bank will probably allow you to create a small overdraft or pre-assessed credit card limits up to $25,000 without much wrangling. If equipment will be needed by your business and you have industry experience like a farm manager or an energy and chemical plant operator, then business equipment financiers can also provide finance for capital equipment without significant funds requirement. Interest rates and conditions are higher, but they almost always will match capital equipment depreciation with effective use.

In Yohannes, to buy a business already in existence or operated on the ground, you’ll probably need at least 40 per cent of your own money, give or take based on your credit report and experience. For instance, buying a business you already work and fundamentally operate will give you greater leeway. Even most middle-class households in Yohannes don’t have $100,000 lying around so end up securing the 50 per cent against the equity in their home and 10 per cent by voluntary contributions from friends and families. Many banks like this as it keeps you motivated and reduces the risk of them losing money if your business fails. That said, they will scrutinise you closely before you can get the funding you need—they see it as their responsibility to make sure they don’t have to take away your house. Yohannesian banks don’t like selling people’s homes when they can’t pay back what they owe to the bank, especially in the small Bible Belt states—the media, always looking for sensational quick-cash opportunities, will be more than happy to inflict some serious damage on the bank’s reputation. This means less clients for the bank, meaning less money for the shareholders.

Not going for broke

Whether you're investing for the short,
medium or long term, you will find a
solution to suit you

When it comes to ambitious start-ups in Yohannes, it’s probably smart to leave debt out completely except for a few credit card or overdraft here and there. Business angels are probably your best friends. Looking abroad, today’s American giants such as Facebook started with already large sums of capital to fund future expansion before borrowing—though not everyone will come out the other side.

One thing many business owners don’t get is that in the first three years, they’ll struggle to get finance—say, wanting upgrades on the new house or rental property. Yohannesian banks will require you to have at least one year of good trading results, and many of the local ones will ask for a two-year record. One thing we often see is the business owner, quickly and without warning, finds their business performing well and may have been for six months; they don’t understand why the bank just don’t see it that way.

A Yohannesian bank almost always work on the previous two years before this, when the business owner was probably still struggling. The bank will look at your income or profit and loss statement for the year, but they tend to be more sceptical than the business owner or his or her accountant. There are some important things that will give a Yohannesian business owner the edge over their competitors if they need to finance their start-up or once their business is up and running.

To prepare a validated budget as best as they can at the start and each year to measure is one of the most important things a business owner in Yohannes must do, even if it’s badly written in Microsoft Word. This gives the bank the things they need to evaluate the business. Some large Yohannesian banks, such as Commerce Credit Institute Banking Group and the Bank of Yohannes, also have partnership schemes with the Government to help the business owner.

Plan in the bag

Creating a sound business plan, even a basic one, can really help get your finance moving.

Claiming expenses to reduce your tax payments is something many business owners in Yohannes will do, but doing it too much will make it harder to show the profit you need to buy new assets. The Financial Diary recommends for you to get your statements done after the financial year has ended, which is a good time for you to get the business finance you need. If you don’t like this, there are some non-bank lending solutions out there: with the support of your accountant, they will use six months of your existing value-added tax for goods and services record from your state—actually, it wouldn’t be 2.50 per cent fixed annually for many of us!

To throw away your career and go this way can terrify many Yohannesians, even if they have the skills and are staying in their industry. By looking at the Bank of Yohannes’ business sentiment studies last year, the one biggest thing we can see is wasted talent. To central bankers, the labour force and employment indicators are just that—statistics. But for many of us, a negative outlook for employment opportunities means our society has to some extent failed to embrace those brave enough to go out there and build a successful business, and those still overcome by excuses and the fear of the unknown.

A question of us

Does this mean that the unique Yohannesian model, our own little piece of social market paradise with Yohannesian characteristics, has failed us?

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Copyright: © Library of Parliament, 2020. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 NationStates licence. You are free to copy, distribute and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work to claudiaintern@libraryofparliament.govt.yo and abide by the other licence terms.

The Financial Diary • 5 March 2020 • 20

[Diarcesia]

Application Form [Branch Opening]
Nation: Diarcesia
Type of government: Monarchy
[Optional]Economic policy:
[Optional]Foreign policy:

Application Form [Investment]
Which one you are [tick one]? Agency [], Alliance [], Business [✓], Government [], Organisation []
Amount to be invested [US$]: Two billion
Summary of how and where we should invest in your nation: The Pryfors Bilar automotive company seeks the Bank of Yohannes's investment to raise more capital for local and international expansion. The Bank may choose to participate in events like the Pryfurium Circuit Masters WGP2 race.

[Chricoma]

Application Form [Instalment Loan]
Which one you are [tick one]? Agency [], Alliance [], Business [], Government [x], Individual [], Organisation []
Official name on record: The Government of the Holy United States of Chricoma
Official nation of origin: Chricoma
Amount to be borrowed [US$]: $650,000,000,000
Repayment plan [tick one]: <6 months [], <1-2 years [], <4-6 years, <8-10 years, 10 years+ [x], Others/please explain []
What will the loan be needed for [summary]? The Loan is going to be used for military spending.

[The Union of British North America]

Application Form [Branch Opening]
Nation: The Union of British North America (IC: North American Union)
Type of government: Federal constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy
[Optional]Economic policy: mixed economy
[Optional]Foreign policy: offshore balancing and occasional humanitarian intervention

Application Form [Investment]
Which one you are [tick one]? Agency [X], Alliance [], Business [], Government [], Organisation []
Amount to be invested [US$]: 5 billion NSD equivalent in North American pounds
Summary of how and where we should invest in your nation: allowed to invest in the Supplemental Account of the Union Financial Administration, the general government agency to provide loans to small businesses in the NAU. The Supplemental Account (which holds foreign investments into UFA) is used to turn some of the UFA asset structure into something like a partial bilateral development bank, and this would be loaned out to regions of the NAU desiring more economic development, such as the Far North Provinces, the Caribbean Provinces, and some Plains Provinces. There can be stipulations for sustainability-oriented investment here as well if desired.

[McDonald and Parliamentary Archives]

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Out-of-Character (OOC) information: Shameless Out-of-Character Bring Up My Post, because why not?

[Peoples Republic of Joyea]

Application Form [Instalment Loan]
Which one you are [tick one]? Agency [], Alliance [], Business [], Government [x], Individual [], Organisation []
Official name on record: Barbara Sanchez
Official nation of origin: Peoples Republic of Joyea
Amount to be borrowed [US$]: $1500000000
Repayment plan [tick one]: <6 months [], <1-2 years [], <4-6 years, <8-10 years, 10 years+ [x], Others/please explain []
What will the loan be needed for [summary]? We will use the money to buy 10,000,000 SAI Drill Budget Battle Rifle for the Patriots Militia.

[Yohannes]

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Ardenfontein Köhler is proud to be the official banking and finance law firm of the Bank of Yohannes since 2008.

NAY Philadelphia Centre

Work has started on an important refurbishment of the North America and Yohannes Banking Group’s Philadelphia Centre in Philadelphia’s High Street, designed to support the subsidiary bank’s business operations over the next 30 years.

Originally it was decided to replace the early skyscraper, the Philadelphia NAY Centre with a brand new building. But following the Financial Crisis of 2012, the Board of Directors completed an assessment of the extent of the maintenance and modernisation required to see the Philadelphia NAY Centre serve the bank for the next 30 years.

NAY Managing Director of Private Banking and Wealth Management Waltraud Hörmann says this has involved working with the senior architect and other necessary specialists to deliver a modernised and quality high-rise office tower.

“It’s a large and exciting project involving removal of an iconic building in the North American Union,” said Ms Hörmann.

Pryfors Bilar Automotive

The Bank of Yohannes is in talks with a number of publicly traded companies in Diarcesia, including Pryfors Bilar Automotive, about their plans to raise credibly sourced capital through debt, according to business insiders with knowledge of the matter.

The plan is for the Bank of Yohannes to take a minority stake in any international joint operation involving the companies, such as Pryfors Bilar’s planned participation in the famous Pryfurium Circuit Masters World Grand Prix Two. According to Sir Matthew Gilligan, the bank looks forward to working together with Pryfors Bilar Automotive, believing that it could gain new clients in the previously untapped motorsports market.

“I believe it to be important for us to open the door to new partnerships and participate in non-traditional ventures that would allow us to tap new market segments,” Sir Matthew said in a guest contributor comment in the Financial Diary, while declining to comment on any existing talks with Pryfors Bilar.

YAG Tech Business Applications Pack

Active in over 300 countries and World Assembly member nations, the Bank of Yohannes relies on many foreign IT and software firms so that it can manage cash, finance trade, and fund its branch operations and investment projects outside the Nineteen Countries. YAG Technologies International has been an important participant in the bank’s multinational supplier and IT procurement agreement since 2015.

Yesterday, the Ionician company released its latest corporate video, YAG Tech Business Applications Pack [ Click to show... ]

Did you know?

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The Bank of Yohannes has been a recognised business partner and official bank of the Yohannesian Cancer Society since 2010. We are proud to support the selfless work of the Cancer Society’s many volunteers across Yohannes.

[Yohannes]

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❀❀❀

Emma had enjoyed a year of stability as one of the youngest Investment Implementation Analysts in the Bank of Yohannes.

It took her almost five years to secure the job. As a junior analyst on the International Asset Accumulation and Investment Banking desk, she was responsible for research and idea generation, contributing to the bank’s active foreign investment strategy and giving her grumpy old boss, Theobald, the information he’d need to make important asset allocation and currency decisions across different funds. Last week, she had contributed to the bank’s decision to allocate some available capital to the Glass Oasis and Nikoland, and she was proud of it.

“Never invest in a business you can-
not understand.” —Warren Buffett

Emma had just broken up with her boyfriend of several months. Ignoring his phone calls this morning was hard, but he’d made the call by cheating on her, and anyway, she was in no mood to listen to his lame-ass excuse. She learned that the person he had slept with was a prissy bartender from the posh suburb of Stade. Emma had finally found her Facebook profile yesterday, after being tormented by the thought of her boyfriend’s disloyalty, on one of their mutual friends’ Friends List. She laughed and cried at the same time—laughing at herself for being silly enough to go steady with him in the first place, and crying at the life she would never have with him now.

In a way she had buried herself in work because she refused to face the reality: they would mean nothing now, the timeless snuggles she’d had with him, and the countless hours they had spent together volunteering at the local church; but worst of all, she knew she would never see his adorable little cousin again.

As a twenty-six-year-old junior analyst in such a big bank, Emma was still considered fair game by every fat banker and many fund managers. Last week, she had pretended not to know a thing or two about portfolio investment entity tax rebates; and she’d asked a superannuation fund manager—a bald pudgy man, probably in his fifties—about the ideal prescribed investor rate. This morning, she received a heartwarming e-mail, telling her of the great personal rate of return she’d be able to give to her clients by reallocating some units in one of her funds to this—well, supposedly great—aggressive fund settings of his. Just as she had expected. Emma was furious. Did he really think she was that dumb? She wanted to send a harsh e-mail to embarrass him, so that he would never, ever underestimate her again.

But she had more pressing concerns right now.

Over the last two months Emma had seen great investment returns for her newly managed funds. New national fixed interest securities and bond investment was going up nearly twice as fast as the previous forecast, while her latest international infrastructure fund posted a monthly return after charges of almost four per cent—easily beating some diversified funds in the aggressive growth category! She could see some common patterns among them—they invested in the growth of state-backed core infrastructure companies, with low exposure to commodity and volume risks, in politically stable countries. She could name a few by looking at the Financial Market list: Southern Cayman and Democratu, to name just two.

Emma regretted her decision last night.

While browsing her laptop she could have bought more units at today’s early trading price, advertised on the Ground Floor’s overhead board. In the nearby Breakfast café this morning her older co-workers had goaded her, pointing at the board, repeatedly. She could still hear their words. “What? Oh, look at you darling—it’s all right, I know you’re still young and it’s still early learning.” How patronising. On the way back to her office, before, Emma was fuming, and people were staring at her, wondering why this young lady was talking to herself, red-faced; whereupon she would glare back at them, as if to say, mind your own business.

Someone opened the door behind, interrupting her thoughts.

“May I speak with you for just a moment, Emma?”

She turned. Of course—it was Theobald. What was her boss doing here around this time? It was almost dinner time, for God’s sake. Go home and see your grandchildren, old man!

“Yes,” Emma said, politely. “Just a minute—I need to adjust the following investment fund and confirm that I have received the requests of our clients by e-mail.”

“No need to worry about that,” Theobald said tersely and took out his smart phone. “We have more pressing problems to look at, now.”

Out-of-Character (OOC) information: For anyone wondering, the Majapahit Empire and its dependent territories are In-Character trading partners of Yohannes. Feel free to check our NationStates Forum posts histories in the National and International Roleplaying forums.

Good day, citizens of Majapahit. I hope you are safe and healthy, wherever you may be.

I have been monitoring the news for updates regarding the KN755-B1 outbreak from time to time, constantly advising the Imperial government to take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus strain here in our beloved Empire. Therefore, I would like to assure you that every decision made by the Imperial and regional governments shall hopefully be the most effective in handling this disheartening outbreak. I would also like to emphasise that a lockdown is currently not necessary and that the government is not currently planning to enact that decision.

“I would like to advise each and every one of you to take extra care of yourselves.” Theobald looked at Emma, while repeating what he read online. “According to the official instructions released by the Health Ministry …”

Emma looked at her opened laptop, then she looked back at Theobald’s face—he was looking at her, expectantly—and finally, she turned her attention back to her laptop. The International Infrastructure Fund account page was still open and left unmodified; and her draft, unfinished.

In the Year of Our Lord

Dear Investor,

Divestment intention—staggered sell-down of stock ownership in Bala Mantre’s precious metals refiners and suppliers

Last month, the Bank of Yohannes announced its intention, subject to a majority “Yes” vote by shareholders and regulatory approvals by the Economic Palace, to sell its interest in the precious metals refiners, fabricators, casters and suppliers of His Mantrean Majesty’s Government over the next five to eight years to the Central Provident Fund of the Nineteen Countries. From a contractual, accounting and regulatory point of view, this move will permit the Bank of Yohannes to deconsolidate its existing joint ventures with His Mantrean Majesty’s business enterprise.

Yours sincerely,

Investment Board Administrators
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Yohannes

Telephone 585 5 338 1717Facsimile 585 5 338 1417Email service@boyinvestments.co.yo
Private Bag 15140, Parliament Square’s National Bank Buildings, Royal Alexandria 1008, Kingdom of Alexandria, The Yohannesian Realm.

Emma said, “Yes, Gramp, I know what to do next.”

Theobald frowned, as though her jest was done at an inappropriate time. “I swear on all that is holy, young lady, if you don’t get our money out of that godforsaken warring region—Dienstad, Dienstadi? Whatever—someone is going to lose their job tomorrow morning!”

Emma bristled. She did not like to be referred to as a “young lady.” But if she argued, her boss would go on his usual fit of rage; so she bit her tongue and replied quietly. “My apologies, I will cancel the divestment call in the slave-trading Mantrean gold exporting company, and rewrite the draft for a general divestment of our existing—small, might I say, assets—in possibly affected Dienstadi countries instead.”

“What are they?” Theobald interrupted, waving his hand exasperatedly. “The numerous companies of Lyran Arms in their host Dienstadi countries? We should have a few thousand shares there, because of our past investment policy in VMK, as I recall. Affected countries, affected businesses, get our money—get ’em out of there. What about that country condemned by the World Assembly, Ralkovia, Eito—”

Emma shook her head. Sometimes the old man was wrong. “Just a little of that leftover from the past,” she said, rolling her eyes. Someone was getting more senile by the day.

But wait.

An idea was forming in Emma’s mind.

[Yohannes]

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❀❀❀

At least twenty people from the Retail and Commercial Banking desk were staying late at the office tonight, and Emma was about to join them and ask, “I didn’t expect to see you guys around here at this time?”

Everyone from the management team was inside, and the commonly empty desk was filled with official documents and papers. Emma opened the door to the meeting room. Vincent Schön was here. As Regional Manager of Retail Banking, he normally worked from midday to evening, five days a week, so Emma would amuse him with general small talk whenever they met in the hallway during the day. Tonight, however, Vincent was too absorbed in his work to see her entry.

Looking left, Emma could see what they were doing. Vincent and his team had filled the meeting board with the latest reserve requirement reports of the Economic Palace. The Economic Palace was the monetary authority of Yohannes, and it regulated banks, insurance companies, and non-bank deposit takers to ensure a sound and efficient financial system for the country. Emma knew why everyone was busy tonight. The reserve requirement was the law set in place to insure against possible insolvency, or lack of existing money to safeguard existing depositors’ assets held by the bank. Depositors in many World Assembly member nations trusted the Bank of Yohannes to safely hold their assets, and Emma knew that calculating the amount the bank must hold to cover existing deposit liabilities was no easy task. She could also see another report, perhaps a more important one: the capital adequacy requirement, which as its name suggested, would regulate the ratio of equity as a percentage of risk-weighted assets held by the bank. Risk versus reward.

“Exactly.” Vincent closed his laptop and packed up the documents, carefully arranging every printout in a separate pile on the desk. “According to the news reporters, there was only one confirmed case of KN755-B1 in Port Travemuende.”

“What does it mean for us?” a low-looking, sour old man next to him asked. “Port Travemuende is just a backwater territory, far out there. So why should we expect the Economic Palace to lower the interest rates, or adjust the cash rate further—by employing unconventional monetary policies to counter the effects of this overseas pandemic on the Yohannesian economy?”

“The fact of the matter is this,” Vincent replied. “So far this so-called Panooly Virus has only spread to some parts of Greater Dienstad, barely one-tenth of Gholgoth, and probably eight or nine backwater states outside both regions. A total of thirty or so countries, at most, at least half of them having no trade relations with Yohannes. Why would Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn’s Executive Council even bother to take this overseas virus outbreak seriously?”

While he was talking, Emma stepped in.

“Because if the virus could spread widely enough, infecting enough people, we might have a real pandemic on our hands,” she said, looking curiously at the room.

Vincent laughed. “Do you know what is the meaning of a pandemic, young lady?” He looked around the room, and his colleagues laughed with him.

Emma looked at him curiously. “Well, yes.” She took out her smart phone. “Here, according to Wikipedia, a pandemic is a disease epidemic that has spread across a large region—for instance, multiple continents, or worldwide.”

“And Greater Dienstad and one-tenth of Gholgoth are the equal of more than one thousand countries of the international community, combined?” Vincent grinned.

“Well, no—”

“How many Yohannesian trade partners are out there?” Vincent interrupted her.

“At least one hundred from the World Assembly, and more non-member countries—”

“And how many countries are there in Greater Dienstad?”

“I ... I don’t know,” Emma turned red and started stammering. She hated Vincent for making her feel like a fool in front of everyone.

“Probably twenty,” he said. “At least half of them constantly at war with one another.”

Emma shook her head. “‘Godforsaken warring region,’ Theobald said yesterday.”

Vincent laughed. “The senile old man? He’s right, for once. You’ve got some big guns in Greater Dienstad, but they’re no threat to Yohannesian trade, now.”

Vincent took out a pen and drew a big circle on the meeting board. “This is us,” he said. Then, he drew a much smaller circle next to it. “This is them—the foreigners.”

Emma was shocked. How arrogant!

“It doesn’t take one warring region to make a pandemic, an international one—meeting adjourned. I’d like to thank everyone for coming tonight.”

[The Chuck]

Kevin Lee was not known to be a man who trusted large institutions. Normally he usually would find himself dealing with the enemies of such institutions. Now as he sat facing his laptop at a hotel overlooking the dockyards in the International city of Port Arthur, he was getting ready to open an account with the venerated Bank of Yohannes. Looking over his account details, Kevin checked the details twice before clicking the [Accept] button. As he sat back as his military grade encrypted laptop purred and whirred, he muttered under his breath,

"Why the hell am I putting my assets and faith in this bank..."

Down on the dockyard, a shipping container with all of his deposited assets was being loaded onto a ship bound for the nearest Bank of Yohannes branch.

Application Form [Account Creation]
Which one you are [tick one]? Agency [], Alliance [], Business [], Government [], Individual [✓], Organisation []
Official name on record: Kevin Lee
Type of account [tick one]:
Standard [] Executive [] Cash Fund [] High Security [✓] Green Future [] Next Generation [] Gold Bullion []
Initial deposit [US$/gold/assets/etc.]: 850,000 Silver Argentums (Native Currency), 2 one kilogram gold bullion ingots. 20 crypto-currency coins (cold storage card), 2 crates of CSP-21 pistols (198 pistols per crate with 2 magazines each), 5 crates of 9x19mm Parabellum ammunition (2,880 cartridges per crate), 17 crates of TCR-18 rifles (15 rifles per crate with 2 magazines each), 20 crates of 6.8x43mm SPC ammunition (1,100 cartridges per crate), 3 crates of Composition C-4 explosive (30 bricks of C-4 per crate), and 5 secure flash drives with unknown contents.
I, as the creator of [name of your Nation here], hereby give my Out-of-Character (OOC) permission for the Bank of Yohannes to hold one of my In-Character (IC) characters’ wealth on NationStates, according to my Nation’s existing canon (the material accepted as officially part of my Nation’s story in the fictional international community of NationStates). As the owner of The Chuck, I understand that, should I dislike the In-Character (IC) actions of the Bank of Yohannes in future, I can always terminate this OOC agreement and refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Bank of Yohannes in my Nation.

[Yohannes]

-+-PUNCH CORPORATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-+-

Princess Elisabeth’s Diary
@HRHPrincesselisa

Wrote a shout out just a while ago:

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Dear Realm Superannuation Fund Guardians/Investors,

I am writing to inform you about some important changes in the coming days. I have made a submission to the International Diplomacy and Advisory Committee on behalf of the Bank of Yohannes Share Ownership Limited Corporation, first traded in the Stock Exchange of Yohannes and registered in the Kingdom of Alexandria, acting through its Royal Alexandria Parliament Square Branch and situated at Economic Palace, Level 7, Parliament Square.

The Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn’s 37th Christian Democratic Executive Council and the Government of the Armed Republic of the Chuck will be negotiated next week. The Armed Republic of the Chuck is a growing industrial power in the Northern Ocean region, notable for its two largest economic activities: industrial manufacturing and the arms industry. The Bank of Yohannes has forecast that our current demand for imports from the Chuck will continue to increase over the next five years. Looking ahead, although Yohannesian trade with the Chuck will constitute only a small part of our country’s international trade, this would still hurt the long-term movement of our country’s merchandise terms of trade.

The Minister of Economy, Industry and Trade has asked me to negotiate for the gradual reduction of existing tariff rates against our industrial chemicals exporters in the Chuck over the next six years. The Armed Republic of the Chuck is currently our 247th-largest export market for goods, with trade and investment flows between Yohannes and the Chuck set to grow rapidly over the next three years. The thriving arms and industrial manufacturing industries in the Armed Republic of the Chuck is a growing market for our small and medium-sized industrial chemicals exporters—for instance, according to the Chambers of Industry and Commerce Yohannes, Yohannes’ exports to the Chuck totalled $17 billion over the last three years, with significant structural adjustment ready to be carried out by the Bank of Yohannes to facilitate more trade and investment flows over the next three years.

The Armed Republic of the Chuck is a growing market for many hard-working small and medium-sized business owners and “mum and dad” investors in Yohannes. From the perspective of an institutional investor, the Realm Superannuation Fund will gain from an improved investment protection policy framework for Yohannesian trade and enterprises in the Chuck.

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❀❀ @HRHPrincesselisa to the Realm Superannuation Fund on “A New Friend—The Chuck and Yohannes.” ❀❀

#thechuckyohannesfriendship #nationstates2020

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707 Hits

-+-PUNCH CORPORATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-+-

[Yohannes]

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❀❀❀ Arty Bee’s Storytelling ❀❀❀

Elisabeth shaded her eyes. The strong summer sunlight dazzled her as soon as she opened the door. Standing in front of the cheering crowd, waiting, she could see Monica Blaire walking towards her. Next to the Chuckian ambassador was a serious-looking lady, armed to the teeth in her Diplomatic Protection Service gear. They were the head of the delegation of a thriving country—an ebullient industrial power and a growing market for Yohannesian goods.

Embassy Row was a street of wealth and power. The Flower Garden and Natural Heritage Reserve, home to countless protected native forest, plant collections and seasonal displays, was located just two blocks away. Many important buildings surrounded the Reserve—they included some of the most important banking centres and local ministry offices in the city; and, of course, foreign embassies, such as the Chuckian Embassy in Yohannes.

At noon on summer solstice—it was just last week, Elisabeth didn’t realise time could pass so very quickly—the Chuckian Embassy had reached an agreement with the Bank of Yohannes to form a bilateral partnership, allowing the bank to provide asset management and advisory and trading services for the largest arms manufacturer in the Chuck. The Bank of Yohannes’ most important role since then had been to help issue new securities for McAllister Munitions and its growing partner companies, many of whom were considered to constantly be in need of new capital. Now, Elisabeth had suddenly realised as Ambassador Blaire approached her, the McAllister Munitions Company was probably the first topic that would be discussed at their dinner meeting tonight.

She remembered the important Executive Council e-mail she’d received this morning: the Chancellor had said, “Please take it slow.”

Chancellor Annabelle Thorndon-Stevensonn was right to be worried. Many of her most important allies in government had not warmed to the Chuck because of its radical pro-growth and anti-environment policies. Her confidence-and-supply partner was Majority Leader pro tempore Zoe Nilsson, who hated high-emission countries like the Chuck and led her Party for the Forest and the Environment like a true authoritarian; and as the largest confidence-and-supply partner in the Executive Council, the Greens often held the whip hand.

Felix stood looking at the cheering crowd, who were exchanging pleasantries with members of the Chuckian diplomatic staff. “Would you look at that,” he said to Elisabeth, interrupting her thoughts. “Who knew that someone coming from a country like the Chuck could be this popular—can you see the two rifles in the Chuckian flag? Well, I can.”

Elisabeth chuckled. “You’ll understand why in a couple of hours.”

With an amused look at her assistant, she turned away and walked down the front porch stairs. She moved forward down the line, walking just a few feet in front of the cheering crowd, giving them her best smile and accepting flowers from adoring royal fans. Then, she approached the Chuckian ambassador.

Elisabeth extended her hand to Monica and spoke softly. “Madam Ambassador,” she said. “It’s a great honour to meet someone of your stature and influence—please follow me. Let us go inside and talk about so many important things ...”

“Like McAllister Munitions—I hear the Chuck is profiting so much from selling its guns, millions of them, to protect many innocent people abroad?”

Elisabeth put her hand on Monica’s arm and smiled. “I’d like to hear more about this McAllister Munitions Company.”

The Bank of Yohannes Share Ownership Limited Corporation ELF 77 330 129 050

A message from the Chair of the World Assembly International Securities and Exchange Commission in Yohannes

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Dear shareholder,

I am writing to inform you that the Bank of Yohannes has released the offer of a new high-quality Additional Tier 1 capital security known as “The Chuckian McAllister Arms Manufacturing Note.” You have received this letter because you are eligible to participate in our Convertible Preferred Shares Programme as a Registered Investor in the Chuck or Yohannes. Your participation in this programme is optional.

For interested participants

The Chuckian McAllister Arms Manufacturing Note purchase offer will start on the first day of next month. We will give you the option to reinvest your existing McAllister shares starting next week. Additional payments are only required if you are going to apply for additional Note and are planning to exchange them with additional shares face valued at 60 International Dollars.

This letter has been published as per the procedures and guidelines of the International Securities and Exchange Commission. This letter should not be regarded as financial product advice and does not take into account your financial situation or objectives.

Local structural changes

Last week, the Bank of Yohannes released its five-year strategic plan to bring about structural changes to the way we work in the Chuck. Our goal is to make our local branch operation in the Chuck simpler, and to encourage regional management to develop more flexible and efficient practices, conducive to building a client-focused culture.

The Bank of Yohannes must raise its game in order to convince clients that its services can drive value, while constantly trying to increase management flexibility to tackle head on some of the trickier non-financial risk and compliance issues out there. This is especially important in light of the proliferation of new government regulations and more stringent World Assembly compliance requirements.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for being part of our Bank of Yohannes and McAllister Munitions Company Investment community in the Chuck and the Nineteen Countries.

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Yours faithfully,
ELISABETH S

HRH The Crown Princess
Head of Investor Relations
The Bank of Yohannes

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To view our privacy policy: visit http://www.boyinvestment.co.yo

The Bank of Yohannes Share Ownership Limited Corporation

[Dukin Donuts]

Application Form [Account Creation]
Which one you are [tick one]? Agency [], Alliance [], Business [/], Government [], Individual [], Organisation []
Official name on record: Dukin Donuts LLC
Type of account [tick one]:
Standard [] Executive [] Cash Fund [/] High Security [] Green Future [] Next Generation [] Gold Bullion []
Initial deposit [US$/gold/assets/etc.]: $2,000,000 (two million CFD)
I, as the creator of Dukin Donuts, hereby give my Out-of-Character (OOC) permission for the Bank of Yohannes to hold one of my In-Character (IC) characters’ wealth on NationStates, according to my Nation’s existing canon (the material accepted as officially part of my Nation’s story in the fictional international community of NationStates). As the owner of Dukin Donuts, I understand that, should I dislike the In-Character (IC) actions of the Bank of Yohannes in future, I can always terminate this OOC agreement and refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Bank of Yohannes in my Nation.

[Laeral]

Application Form [Branch Opening]
The name of your Nation on NationStates: Laeral
I, as the creator of Laeral, hereby give my Out-of-Character (OOC) permission for the Bank of Yohannes to open its branches in my Nation, according to my Nation’s existing canon (the material accepted as officially part of my Nation’s story in the fictional international community of NationStates). As the owner of Laeral, I understand that, should I dislike the In-Character (IC) actions of the Bank of Yohannes in future, I can always terminate this OOC agreement and refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Bank of Yohannes in my Nation.
OOC: Further information about Laeral can be found here. Alternately, feel free to reach out to me if any further information is needed regarding the opening of Bank of Yohannes branches in Laeral.

[Yohannes]

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Out-of-Character (OOC) information: I have received the following telegram from a well-established member of the National and International Roleplaying community of the NationStates Forum.

[Removed to protect the player's privacy]
18 minutes ago
My Discord ID is [Removed to protect the player's privacy]#[Removed to protect the player's privacy]

And I am kinda taking a break from some RPing for the time being. But, did you noticed the spam messages within your Bank thread? The one posters who are just typing out "Such and such nation endorsed The Bank of Yohannes"? It seems like puppet spamming to me because they all have just one post and they were all created within the last month.

In reply to...

No, they are not alternate accounts. They all have one thing in common: World Assembly membership, meaning they are not alternate or "puppet" accounts. Yes, they have one forum post, and yes, they are all new accounts, but no, they are not alternate or "puppet" accounts. How do I know? NationStates Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.nationstates.net/page=faq

I have more than one nation. Can they all join the WA?
No. While you can have as many nations as you like, only one may be a World Assembly member at a time.

What if I sneak them in?
First, please don't. This is against the rules, and considered cheating. Sophisticated pattern-matching software constantly scans for suspicious behavior and will expel nations from the World Assembly that it determines are likely to be cheats (known as "WA multies"). Repeat or large-scale offenders are deleted.

I only have one WA nation but my brother has one and he sometimes uses this computer.
Unfortunately that's asking for trouble. We try to identify WA cheats accurately, but we have no way of telling exactly whose fingers are touching the keyboard at any given time. So unfortunately if you don't want to run the risk of being ejected from the WA (or worse), you shouldn't let anyone else operate WA nations from your computer, either.

Sharing a network or IP address is usually fine. The game does not rely on any single method of identifying WA cheats, but combines data from many different methods to calculate the likelihood that multiple WA nations are operated by the same person.

So no, they are not alternate or puppet accounts (not mine, nor anyone else's).

They are posting in this storefront using an existing short form application, available only to World Assembly member nations (meaning ... only for main accounts)

[This short form application is only available for member nations of the World Assembly, i.e. to prevent people from using their alternate or puppet accounts to post here]

Code: Select all

Greetings!

I speak on behalf of the Government of [your Nation name], and I would like to invite the Bank of Yohannes to our country. This has been an announcement from the Government of [your Nation name].

This has been an Out-of-Character post from the Bank of Yohannes—NationStates' Oldest Bank RP

Edit: NationStates Lesson of the Day—Read NationStates FAQ, people!

#nationstates2020

[Amarawai]

Application Form [Account Creation]
Which one you are [tick one]? Agency [], Alliance [], Business [], Government [✓], Individual [], Organisation []
Official name on record:
Type of account [tick one]:
Standard [✓] Executive [] Cash Fund [Maybe?] High Security [] Green Future [✓] Next Generation [] Gold Bullion []
Initial deposit [US$/gold/assets/etc.]:
I, as the creator of [United Republic of Amarawai or (Unidi Ripublike Da Amarawe)], hereby give my Out-of-Character (OOC) permission for the Bank of Yohannes to hold one of my In-Character (IC) characters’ wealth on NationStates, according to my Nation’s existing canon (the material accepted as officially part of my Nation’s story in the fictional international community of NationStates). As the owner of [United Republic of Amarawai or (Unidi Ripublike Da Amarawe)], I understand that, should I dislike the In-Character (IC) actions of the Bank of Yohannes in future, I can always terminate this OOC agreement and refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Bank of Yohannes in my Nation.

(Note:
I do this even though i'm a WA member to make this Thread look Fresh)

[Sedgistan]

It has been brought to our attention that most of the last 4.5 pages consist of cookie-cutter "%nation% endorses the Bank of Yohannes..." posts that are lacking in any other content or attempt to roleplay. These effectively amount to glorified bump spam, which cannot continue.

If players want to participate here and roleplay, they are welcome to do so, but continuned posts in the vein of what have been posted here recently will result in both their removal, and removal of all the old bump spam posts.

[Werchegia]

Greetings!

I the minister of finance speak on behalf of the Peoples Republic of Werchegia, and I would like to endorse a bank that has brought great prosperity to our dear motherland. That bank is The Bank of Yohannes.

So I say to all Werchegians, who wish to keep their hard earned Denars safe, change to The Bank of Yohannes!
The Bank of Yohannes is safe, secure, and above all stable.

This has been an announcement from the Werchegian Ministry of finance.

[Yohannes]

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Out-of-Character (OOC) information: Hi Neo-Capitalism and Confederacy of Antarctica! How are you guys doing!!

If possible, may I ask for you to expand your post in the bank thread like Werchegia's:

Greetings!

I the minister of finance speak on behalf of the Peoples Republic of Werchegia, and I would like to endorse a bank that has brought great prosperity to our dear motherland. That bank is The Bank of Yohannes.

So I say to all Werchegians, who wish to keep their hard earned Denars safe, change to The Bank of Yohannes!
The Bank of Yohannes is safe, secure, and above all stable.

This has been an announcement from the Werchegian Ministry of finance.

Edit: Another good example by former International Democratic Union Delegate Laeral:

Application Form [Branch Opening]
The name of your Nation on NationStates: Laeral
I, as the creator of Laeral, hereby give my Out-of-Character (OOC) permission for the Bank of Yohannes to open its branches in my Nation, according to my Nation’s existing canon (the material accepted as officially part of my Nation’s story in the fictional international community of NationStates). As the owner of Laeral, I understand that, should I dislike the In-Character (IC) actions of the Bank of Yohannes in future, I can always terminate this OOC agreement and refuse to acknowledge the existence of the Bank of Yohannes in my Nation.
OOC: Further information about Laeral can be found here. Alternately, feel free to reach out to me if any further information is needed regarding the opening of Bank of Yohannes branches in Laeral.

Otherwise, Sedgistan will be very angry with me (and I will have to hide ...) Thank you guys!!

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[Carlinland]

"Branch invitation: As an equal trading partner and regional neighbour of Yohannes, the Government of Carlinland invite the Bank of Yohannes to do business with us. We look forward to continuing peace between the Republic of Carlinland and the Realm of Yohannes."

[Kyrusia]

It has been brought to our attention that most of the last 4.5 pages consist of cookie-cutter "%nation% endorses the Bank of Yohannes..." posts that are lacking in any other content or attempt to roleplay. These effectively amount to glorified bump spam, which cannot continue.

If players want to participate here and roleplay, they are welcome to do so, but continuned posts in the vein of what have been posted here recently will result in both their removal, and removal of all the old bump spam posts.

As per Sedg's above directive, Neo-Capitalism and Confederacy of Antarctica both receive *** warnings for bumpspam ***.

Further, as per the above, five pages of predominantly bumpspam have been removed entirely from this thread.

[Zulkan]

Republic of Zulkan :

I General Supreme of Republic Zulkan , send 26,000,000 dollars to The bank of Yohannes . Thanks for this great nation now my Stare is save to new project law secret.