Many Indian Americans that have either heard of or have entered into the 2011 OVDI know of the outrageously high civil penalties they could face by maintaining undisclosed foreign bank accounts; now, these Indian Americans are taking action with the U.S. Government to lessen their penalties.

Recently HSBC India has mandated that all ties with U.S. Clients and anyone associated with U.S. persons are to be severed.  Due to heightened pressure by the U.S. government into banks such as Credit Suisse and UBS, HSBC India is taking preventative action in order to limit current investigations by U.S. authorities.  The branch has issued letters to all of its U.S. clients informing them of their recent change in client structure, that is they do not want U.S. clients. 

Credit Suisse has long assured their clients that they will not suffer the same fate as its rival Swiss counterpart, UBS, but it seems those assurances are not so sure.  On July 14, 2011, Credit Suisse received a formal letter from the U.S. Department of Justice, stating that the U.S. agency has opened an investigation against the bank for improper offshore banking practices.

A New York lawyer, Kenneth Heller, admitted hiding more than $26.4 million at Swiss bank UBS AG. He is the sixth person to plead guilty to criminal charges of tax evasion out of seven charged in the last few months.

There has been talk amongst government officials of a Global Resolution, expected to come to terms within the next few months, between several foreign banks, in order to put an end to tax evasion within the U.S.  However, there is a catch.  In exchange for investigations against the foreign banks to be discontinued, the respective bank will be required to turn over all U.S. client names, which will then be used by U.S. government agencies to open criminal investigations against said taxpayer. HSBC, world-wide banking giant that has been under high scrutiny by U.S. officials, seems to have caught wind of the potential Resolution and is making plans to come into compliance with the U.S. government.