The Isle of Man has received the highest seal of approval with the award of 'triple A' status by both Standard & Poors and Moody's. The AAA credit rating reflects the strength of the Manx economy and proclaims the island a safe and stable financial centre in which to invest.

The Isle of Man Government recognises that a jurisdiction's reputation is of great importance and the island has been commended by various international bodies for its regulatory structure. A recent report published by Financial Action Task Force inspectors said the island was "at the forefront of international efforts to prevent the abuse of company structures for criminal purposes". The financial regulation was described as "comprehensive and effective" and the financial sector as having a "good compliance culture".

The success of the island dates back to the early 1980s after measures were taken by the Isle of Man Government to attract financial businesses. The Isle of Man's financial services industry was built on the back of legislation, including laws covering banking licences in 1982, targeting the insurance market in 1986 and the investment industry in 1988.