VAULT RANKING
10 providers compared on 18 criteria taken from their public terms, price lists and product pages. Model holding: EUR 50,000 in gold, stored for one year. The order follows a fixed points formula; commercial relationships play no part.
Public documents as of 30 September 2026; price basis and apps as of 1 October 2026; customer inspection right as of 11 October 2026 · How the points are calculated
Positions result solely from a fixed scoring formula (methodology v1.3). Main parameters and their weight in points: Ownership and insolvency protection 30, Independent audit 20, Insurance 15, Costs 20, Access and handling 15 (100 in total); the individual criteria are shown in the table and in the methodology. The basis is the providers' publicly available documents (as of 30 September 2026; price basis and apps as of 1 October 2026; customer inspection right as of 11 October 2026). Information not found there scores 0; providers are asked to supplement it, and confirmed information is included in the monthly update. Positions cannot be bought: offbnk's business relationships with providers are labelled and are not part of the scoring. The ranking is not investment advice or a recommendation of a provider. * Links marked with an asterisk lead to providers that pay offbnk an affiliate commission if you become a customer through the link or with an offbnk voucher code. This has no effect on inclusion, points or order.
| Provider10 providers | 1 BullionStarVault Storage SingaporeProvider website* | 2 Swiss Gold SafeEinzelverwahrung Schweiz – InlandlagerProvider website* | 3 GoldBroker.comGold and Silver Secure Storage – New YorkProvider website* | 4 Strategic Wealth PreservationSecure Segregated Storage – CanadaProvider website | 5 OrSuisseOrSuisse Individual Custody – Zurich DomesticProvider website | 6 Silver BullionS.T.A.R. Storage ParcelsProvider website | 7 SOLITSOLIT Wertelager DeutschlandProvider website* | 8 philoro SchweizDepot für EdelmetalleProvider website | 9 GOLD AVENUEGOLD AVENUE StorageProvider website | 10 Degussa GoldhandelDegussa WertlagerProvider website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total score | Very good83 of 100
| Good72 of 100
| Good69 of 100
| Good69 of 100
| Good65 of 100
| Good65 of 100
| Satisfactory57 of 100
| Satisfactory51 of 100 | Adequate40 of 100 | Adequate38 of 100 |
| 30/30 | 30/30 | 30/30 | 13/30 | 30/30 | 20/30 | 20/30 | 23/30 | 13/30 | 13/30 | |
| Holdings segregated from company assets 10 | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes |
| Direct claim against the custodian or vault 10 | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 10/10Yes | 0/10Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 10/10Yes | 0/10NoConflicting sourcesno (terms). A: Terms cl. 4.6: "You understand that you cannot claim withdrawal directly from the Vault." B: FAQ: "if Silver Bullion ... can no longer fulfill this duty and the liquidator system fails then you can claim your property directly under law." (rule 3.4.11(a)) | 0/10Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 10/10Yes | 0/10Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/10Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) |
| Bar numbers recorded per client 7 | 7/7Yes | 7/7Yes | 7/7Yes | 0/7Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 7/7YesConflicting sourcesyes (individual custody). A: FAQ (DE): "OrSuisse lagert immer in Einzelverwahrung. Ihre Barren- oder Siegelnummern werden immer auf Ihrem Lagerschein aufgeführt." B: GTC 6.1: "Clients have the option to store their precious metals by type ... When storing by type, clients will receive back precious metals of the same type." (manual review) | 7/7Yes | 7/7Yes | 0/7Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/7No | 0/7Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) |
| Title document named 3 | 3/3downloadable Vault Certificate and Live Audit Report | 3/3individual inventory record with bar/seal numbers | 3/3SSOR storage certificate in the client’s name, with seal number and gold-bar serial numbers | 3/3monthly inventory statement / deposit confirmation | 3/3negotiable OrSuisse warehouse receipt listing bar or seal numbers; the GTC also offer storage by type (GTC 6.1) | 3/3invoice plus public Parcel Ownership List | 3/3Receipt confirmation by e-mail after each deposit, plus annual inventory by an audit firm | 3/3Quarterly Depotverzeichnis, deemed approved if no written objection within one month; email receipt on each deposit | 3/3downloadable ownership certificate | 3/3Wertlagerbeleg (written storage receipt issued to the client), plus inventory overview and movement log with each invoice, plus online view |
| 10/20 | 5/20 | 3/20 | 17/20 | 4/20 | 6/20 | 12/20 | 4/20 | 4/20 | 0/20 | |
| Named independent auditor 8 | 0/8Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/8Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 0/8Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 8/8Bureau Veritas (location page); global page also names Alfred H Knight and ALS GlobalConflicting sourcesboth names shown. A: Segregated storage page body: "Alfred H Knight and ALS Global" B: Same page meta description and several location pages: "All holdings are audited by Bureau Veritas." (manual review) | 0/8Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 0/8Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 8/8Gooßen, Heuermann & Partner mbB | 0/8Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/8Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/8Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) |
| Audit at least once a year 4 | 4/42× a year | 0/4Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 0/4Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 4/41× a year | 4/42× a year | 0/4Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 4/41× a year | 4/41× a year | 4/41× a year | 0/4Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) |
| Audit report or certificate public 3 | 3/3Yes | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 3/3Yes | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) |
| Customer inspection right 5 | 3/5Personally onlyiCustomers may conduct a physical audit of their holdings themselves, by appointment; SGD 500 per audit; third parties are not mentioned (accessed 2026-10-11) | 5/5Personally and through independent third partiesiCustomers may carry out their own audits of their stored metal, themselves or by commissioning a company of their choice with an external, impartial analysis; an inventory is possible at any time upon registration (accessed 2026-10-11) | 3/5Personally onlyiClients may inspect their holdings in a private inspection room at the vault, with 48 hours' notice; USD 220 per vault visit; third parties are not mentioned (accessed 2026-10-11) | 5/5Personally and through independent third partiesiClients may audit their holdings themselves or through a third party they hire; USD 75 per hour (accessed 2026-10-11) | 0/5Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 11 Oct 2026) | 3/5Personally onlyiClients may request an appointment to audit their parcels personally, in the vault or by video (Live Audit); SGD 400 for the first two hours plus SGD 200 per additional hour; third parties are not mentioned (accessed 2026-10-11) | 0/5Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 11 Oct 2026) | 0/5Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 11 Oct 2026) | 0/5Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 11 Oct 2026) | 0/5Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 11 Oct 2026) |
| 15/15 | 15/15 | 15/15 | 15/15 | 3/15 | 10/15 | 8/15 | 8/15 | 3/15 | 8/15 | |
| Insurer named 7 | 7/7Lloyd's of London (underwriter), placed by Marsh (broker). Syndicates not named. | 7/7Lloyd’s market stated; underwriting entity not named | 7/7Lloyd's of London (policy arranged by Malca-Amit), placed through broker MIRA Insurance Broker & Consulting GmbH; syndicates not named | 7/7Marsh policy underwritten by Lloyd’s of London | 0/7Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 7/7various syndicates at Lloyd's of London (not named); broker Marsh Ltd | 0/7Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 0/7Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/7Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/7Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) |
| Insurance coverage 5 | 5/5Full value | 5/5Full value | 5/5Full value | 5/5Full value | 0/5Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 0/5Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 5/5Full value | 5/5Full value | 0/5Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026)Conflicting sourcesunknown (less protective reading). A: GTC Art. 8.2: "Product(s) are insured based on current market values" B: GTC Art. 9.6: "insurance coverage ... in such amounts as is commercially reasonable for a company operating in GOLD AVENUE's industry" (rule 3.4.11(d)) | 5/5Full value |
| Insured perils and exclusions published 3 | 3/3full replacement cover including fidelity, mysterious disappearance, sabotage and terrorism; contractual exclusions apply | 3/3all risks incl. theft, robbery, fraud, fire and water; exclusions and mysterious disappearance not published | 3/3all risks; stated exclusions: civil war, nuclear explosion and terrorism; mysterious disappearance not published; full terms only in the Malca-Amit agreement (proof of cover on request) | 3/3comprehensive insurance at full replacement value | 3/3all risks incl. theft, robbery, fire and water damage; OrSuisse excludes its liability for mysterious disappearance, climate, force majeure incl. war and terrorism, radiation and official measures (GTC 22.7); transport not insured by OrSuisse (GTC 21); whether the policy covers mysterious disappearance is not published | 3/3all risks of physical loss or damage incl. theft, mysterious disappearance and employee infidelity, at named locations and in transit by the assured's employees; valued at the LBMA/LPPM AM fix on the day of discovery; exclusions not published | 3/3named perils: fire, burglary, theft and robbery; exclusions and mysterious disappearance not published | 3/3perils not itemised ("gängige Risiken"); mysterious disappearance not addressed; philoro liability limited to intent and gross negligence; excluded: force majeure, riot, war, radioactive or chemical contamination, terrorism, strikes, official orders | 3/3physical loss, theft and damage; force majeure excluded from provider liability; mysterious disappearance not addressed | 3/3loss and damage "im branchenüblichen Umfang", included in the fee; exclusions and mysterious disappearance not published |
| 15/20 | 8/20 | 8/20 | 11/20 | 14/20 | 14/20 | 2/20 | 7/20 | 12/20 | 7/20 | |
| Annual storage cost for the model holding 13 | 10/130.39 % · VAT treatment not found in the documents reviewediGold 0.39% p.a.; daily minimum SGD 0.19 (EUR 0.131) below the daily fee (EUR 0.5342). GST not stated. | 1/132.53 % · VAT treatment not found in the documents reviewediEUR 50,000 = CHF 47390, below the first tier (CHF 0.1m); minimum storage fee CHF 1,200 p.a. applies = EUR 1266.09. Fees "exkl. Mwst."; VAT for private clients not stated. ECB 2026-09-30 CHF 0.9478. | 3/131.2 % · VAT treatment not found in the documents reviewediEUR table (rule 3.4.6): "EUR 50,000 / 1.20%"; account fee applies only below EUR 10,000. VAT on the fee not stated. | 7/130.7 % · VAT treatment not found in the documents reviewediEUR 50,000 = USD 56775 (ECB 2026-09-30), below USD 250,000: gold 0.70% p.a. = USD 397.43; minimum USD 50/quarter not binding. T&C: fees "exclusive of sales tax"; per-location tax not stated. | 7/130.7 % · VAT treatment not found in the documents reviewediGold 0.7% p.a.; fee overview 2026/06: "Alle Gebühren exkl. MWST"; whether VAT is charged is not stated. No minimum fee for gold published. | 10/130.35 % · incl. VATiStandard rate gold 0.35% (holding far below 10,000 points); FAQ: "the storage fees charged include the GST". No minimum fee. | 1/131.4 % · incl. VATiTier "< 100.000 EUR": gold 1.40% p.a.; fees "enthalten die gesetzliche Umsatzsteuer". No minimum fee. | 3/130.86 % · incl. VATi"0.20 % zzgl. MwSt. pro Quartal" x 1.081 x 4 = 0.8648% p.a.; minimum CHF 30/quarter not binding. | 10/130.5 % · VAT treatment not found in the documents reviewediEUR table (rule 3.4.6): "Above €40,000 / 0.5%/year of stored value"; the introductory 3 free months are ignored (rule 3.4.2). VAT not stated. | 3/130.83 % · incl. VATiTier up to EUR 500,000: gold 0.70% p.a. "zzgl. MwSt."; + 19% German VAT = 0.833%. Minimum EUR 2.50/month incl. VAT not binding. |
| Price basis: reference price and fixed rates 4 | 2/4Spot price · no fixed rates found in the documents reviewed (as of 1 Oct 2026)iBuy and sell prices follow the spot price; premium and spread are shown live per product, not as a fixed rate. | 4/4Per the documents reviewed: custody only, no trading (as of 1 Oct 2026)iCustody only: the provider does not buy or sell metal, so there is no dealer price (methodology v1.1 rule 3.4.12). | 2/4Spot price · no fixed rates found in the documents reviewed (as of 1 Oct 2026)iBuy: spot price plus a product premium that is not published as a fixed rate. Sell: buy-back terms are sent on request (clause 14.1); a 1% commission on the buy-back price is published, but the buy-back price itself is not tied to a reference. | 1/4Per the documents reviewed: own dealer prices; no link to LBMA or spot found (as of 1 Oct 2026)iTrades at SWP's confirmed prices. The terms name SWP's live spot price and the LBMA fixing only to calculate cancellation losses, not as the trading price; no fixed premium or discount published. | 4/4Per the documents reviewed: custody only, no trading (as of 1 Oct 2026)iCustody only: the provider does not buy or sell metal, so there is no dealer price (methodology v1.1 rule 3.4.12). | 1/4Per the documents reviewed: own dealer prices; no link to LBMA or spot found (as of 1 Oct 2026)iParcels are bought and sold at Silver Bullion's live shop prices; no reference price or fixed premium or discount published for parcels. | 1/4Per the documents reviewed: own dealer prices; no link to LBMA or spot found (as of 1 Oct 2026)iBuy and sell at SOLIT shop prices; no reference price or fixed premium or discount published. | 1/4Per the documents reviewed: own dealer prices; no link to LBMA or spot found (as of 1 Oct 2026)iBuy and sell at philoro's published shop prices; no reference price or fixed premium or discount published for the Edelmetalldepot. | 2/4Spot price · fixed sell rateConflicting sourcesBuy: live premium per product, no fixed rate. Sell: current bid price from the charts page with 0% commission (fixed rate on a reference). sell at the current bid price, 0% commission (pricing page). A: Pricing page: "resell your stored products to GOLD AVENUE at the current bid price" B: FAQ: "GOLD AVENUE will buy back your stored products at SPOT price" (rule 3.4.11(a)) | 1/4Per the documents reviewed: own dealer prices; no link to LBMA or spot found (as of 1 Oct 2026)iBuy and sell at Degussa's own reference prices; no market reference or fixed premium or discount published. |
| Exit and delivery costs published 3 | 3/3Yes | 3/3Yes | 3/3Yes | 3/3Yes | 3/3Yes | 3/3Yes | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 29 Sep 2026) | 3/3Yes | 0/3Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 3/3Yes |
| 13/15 | 14/15 | 13/15 | 13/15 | 14/15 | 15/15 | 15/15 | 9/15 | 8/15 | 10/15 | |
| Physical access to holdings 5 | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 0/5Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/5No | 0/5No |
| Delivery possible 5 | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes | 5/5Yes |
| Account opening 3 | 3/3Online | 2/3By post | 3/3Online | 3/3Online | 2/3By post | 3/3Online | 3/3Online | 2/3By post | 3/3Online | 3/3Online |
| Residence rules published 2 | 0/2Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 2/2Yes | 0/2Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 0/2Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 2/2Yes | 2/2Yes | 2/2Yes | 2/2Yes | 0/2Not found in the documents reviewed (as of 30 Sep 2026) | 2/2Yes |
| App Shown for information, no points. | No app found in the App Store or on Google Play (as of 1 Oct 2026) | No app found in the App Store or on Google Play (as of 1 Oct 2026) | iOS · Android: prices, view holdings, account opening | No app found in the App Store or on Google Play (as of 1 Oct 2026) | No app found in the App Store or on Google Play (as of 1 Oct 2026) | Web app: view holdings, buy, sell, savings plan | iOS · Android: prices, view holdings, buy, sell, savings plan | No app found in the App Store or on Google Play (as of 1 Oct 2026) | iOS · Android: prices, buy, sell, delivery | iOS: buy, savings plan, delivery |
| Last verified | 30 Sept 2026 | 29 Sept 2026 | 30 Sept 2026 | 30 Sept 2026 | 29 Sept 2026 | 30 Sept 2026 | 29 Sept 2026 | 30 Sept 2026 | 30 Sept 2026 | 30 Sept 2026 |
| Further storage locations | United States, New Zealand | Switzerland | Singapore, Canada, Switzerland | Cayman Islands, Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States | Singapore | – | Canada, Switzerland | – | – | – |
| Provider website | Provider website* | Provider website* | Provider website* | Provider website | Provider website | Provider website | Provider website* | Provider website | Provider website | Provider website |
| Profile | View provider profile → | View provider profile → | View provider profile → | View provider profile → | View provider profile → | View provider profile → | View provider profile → | View provider profile → | View provider profile → | View provider profile → |
A provider is ranked with one storage option per category. These options are left out; the provider may still be ranked with another one.
ALLOCATED STORAGE IN DETAIL
With allocated storage, specific bars and coins remain your sole property. The provider keeps them but does not own them. How well this is protected depends on how clearly the pieces are assigned to you and kept apart from the provider's own stock.
You buy bars or coins from the provider or a dealer and have them stored. Some custodians also accept metal you already own. Each piece is assigned to you, often by bar or seal number, and kept apart from the provider's own stock. As proof you receive a warehouse receipt, a certificate or an inventory statement, depending on the provider.
You pay an annual storage fee, usually a percentage of the metal's value and often with a minimum. To get your metal back, you have it delivered, collect it or sell it straight from storage. You receive exactly the pieces you deposited.
Many providers in Switzerland and Singapore offer both. A customs-free warehouse holds goods that have not yet been imported for customs purposes. Silver, platinum and palladium bought there generally carry no import VAT; it becomes due only when the metal is later brought into the country. Investment gold is generally exempt from VAT in Switzerland and the EU, so for gold the difference is usually small.
Taking metal out of a customs-free warehouse costs extra. Swiss Gold Safe, for example, charges CHF 200 per shipment for transit and customs formalities.
How the three options with the most points in this ranking handle allocated storage.
Under the terms, the bars remain the client's direct property, held apart from BullionStar's own stock, and may not be leased or pledged. Clients download a vault certificate and a live audit report; Bureau Veritas audits twice a year. Storage for gold costs 0.39% a year, and a withdrawal costs SGD 129.
Metal is stored at the Embraport in Embrach or in Lufingen. Clients receive an inventory record with bar and seal numbers, and according to the provider the stored goods remain individually identifiable client property. Storage for gold costs 0.75% a year, with lower rates for larger holdings, and at least CHF 1,200 a year plus VAT.
Holdings are kept by Malca-Amit in a vault near JFK airport, under a customs regime. Clients receive a storage certificate in their name with seal and bar numbers. The fee for gold is 1.20% a year from EUR 50,000, and 1.50% plus a EUR 90 account fee below EUR 10,000; a vault visit costs EUR 200.
Based on the providers' public documents as of 30 September 2026. The examples are the three best-placed options in this ranking and not a recommendation.