Prohibited businesses
The businesses, activities and goods Helm does not serve.
Businesses and activities Helm does not serve
Helm does not open accounts for, and does not process payments connected with, the following. The list applies to the client business, its owners, its counterparties and the goods or services concerned. It reflects the law, the rules of our licensed partners and our own risk policy, and is updated as those change.
The list
- Businesses registered in the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area
- Persons, entities, countries and goods subject to sanctions by the United Nations, the United States, the United Kingdom or the European Union
- Shell companies with no genuine trading activity, and nominee arrangements that conceal ownership
- Unlicensed money services: informal value transfer, unlicensed exchange, payment processing for third parties
- Gambling and betting
- Adult content and services
- Weapons, ammunition, military and dual-use goods without the required licences
- Narcotics and controlled substances, and cannabis where it is not lawful in every country concerned
- Counterfeit goods and intellectual property infringement
- Pyramid and multi-level marketing schemes
- Businesses that cannot show the source of their funds or the commercial purpose of their payments
- Any activity that is unlawful in the country where the business is registered, where the counterparty is, or where the payment is processed
Goods that require a licence
Where the goods you trade require an import, export or dealing licence (for example certain chemicals, pharmaceuticals, precious metals, tobacco and alcohol), Helm asks for the licence before the account opens and before payments connected with those goods are processed.
If you are unsure
Ask your account manager or email hello@helm.business before you apply. We would rather tell you on the first call than after you have sent documents.