Can a foreign government compel my bank to disclose account records through an MLA request?

Yes, MLA requests routinely seek financial records, and banks in most jurisdictions are legally obligated to comply with court orders arising from such requests. However, the requesting state must demonstrate dual criminality and follow proper channels through central authorities. In Switzerland, for example, account holders have statutory rights to be notified and challenge disclosure before transmission. The process typically takes 6–18 months, during which procedural defects—such as fishing expeditions lacking specificity or politically motivated investigations—can form grounds for objection before the executing court.