It probably has to do with soon to be enacted tax policies that come into effect in 2014. If a financial institution has financial dealings within the US of any kind they are required to report to the US govt. the existence of accounts held by all Americans in their non-US branches. This is probably to be in compliance with that. I think Americans will no longer be able to bank anywhere without the US gov't knowing about it. Perhaps we'll all be banking with the Bank of Baroda or Bank Melli sooner or later.....