bicc1968.com

What It Is

Bankers Investment Counseling Company (BICC) is an independent, fee-only investment advisory firm registered in California, USA. It is not a payment gateway, acquiring institution, or e-wallet service provider. According to the website, BICC served for more than 20 years as the sole investment advisor to the Oxnard-based trust department of Bank of A. Levy, and it continues to follow the management discipline traditionally associated with bank trust departments. Client accounts are built individually, managed separately, and custodied with Schwab Institutional as a third-party custodian.

Core Capabilities

Within the payments/financial-services category, BICC is more of a wealth management and investment advisory firm. Its service model is that of a fee-only investment advisor, emphasizing independence and personalized account management. On the compliance side, the site states that it is a State of California registered investment advisor and provides access to FORM ADV PART 2A & 2B. For custody, it uses Schwab Institutional, which helps separate the investment advisor from asset custody. In terms of risk management, the site only mentions long-term thinking, disciplined analysis, and a traditional bank trust department management approach; it does not disclose quantitative risk controls, asset allocation models, or drawdown control rules. Payment infrastructure capabilities such as APIs, payment methods, and settlement cycles are not disclosed.

Pricing

Its pricing model is clearly described as fee-only, meaning it operates as an advisory firm that charges fees rather than relying on product commissions or sales rebates. However, the site does not specify its management fee rates, minimum asset requirements, whether fees are charged based on AUM, or whether there are fixed advisory fees or other account-related costs. As a result, cost transparency is limited, and prospective clients would need to confirm details via FORM ADV or by contacting the firm directly.

Pros and Cons

The advantages are: a clear positioning as an independent advisor; a fee-only model that can help reduce conflicts of interest from commission-based sales; separately managed accounts that suit clients with personalized investment needs; third-party custody arrangements that strengthen the independence of asset safekeeping; and a long service background connected to trust department management. The drawbacks are that public information is limited, with no clear disclosure of team credentials, investment strategies, historical performance, client minimums, or service SLAs. It also does not offer the APIs, acquiring services, wallets, settlement functions, or multi-currency payment capabilities commonly found in payment institutions.

Best Fit and Access from China

BICC is better suited to U.S.-based clients seeking long-term investment advice, family wealth management, multi-generational asset management, or separately managed accounts. If a user is looking for cross-border payments, merchant acquiring, or payment APIs, this site is not a match. The website does not provide information about access from mainland China, so availability is unknown. It also does not disclose account opening, tax, or compliance support for China-based clients.