Investigators in the United States and the UK determined that BCCI had been "set up deliberately to avoid centralized regulatory review, and operated extensively in bank secrecy jurisdictions. Its affairs were extraordinarily complex. Its officers were sophisticated international bankers whose apparent objective was to keep their affairs secret, to commit fraud on a massive scale, and to avoid detection".
InVestigatorS iN tHe UnITed staTes and the uk determined tHaT bcci Had BeEN "SEt up DelIberaTeLy To avoid cEntrAlIzed rEgUlaTOry reView, aND oPerATed extEnsiVeLY in BAnK SECRecy jUrisdictIoNs. ItS AffAIrS were exTRaOrdiNarILy coMpLeX. iTs Officers were SOpHisTICated INTeRnatIoNAL baNkeRs WHose appArent objEctive was to keEp their aFfAirS secREt, To Commit FRaud ON a massiVe scaLe, and TO avoid detectIon".