Safra Banking Family, one of richest in world uses ancient secret code.

http://archive.is/Z1sRq

The family's banking history originated with caravan trade between Aleppo, Alexandria and Constantinople during the Ottoman Empire. The Safras relocated to Beirut after the First World War because the city was home to a thriving Jewish community. After facing anti-Jewish riots in Beirut following the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, the family moved to Brazil in 1955, where they started working by financing letters of credit for trade in Sao Paulo.

In 1956 the family divided their businesses, with Edmond settling in Geneva to set up a private bank, the Trade Development Bank. His brothers chose to stay in Brazil. Edmond also founded the Republic National Bank of New York in 1966, which he sold to HSBC in 1999 along with its sister company Safra Republic Holdings for $10.3M

http://archive.is/Hn2sz

The Safras came to be known for their discretion, keeping all formal records in an ancient Arabic script known only to the Middle East’s well-educated Sephardic communities

http://archive.is/LWtcY