Swiss NZB fires banker indicted for tax evasion

* Banker charged with helping Americans hide assets

* NZB says shut down U.S. business early this year

* Advised clients to declare themselves with IRS

By Albert Schmieder

ZURICH, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Switzerland's Neue Zuercher Bank (NZB) has fired a banker who has been indicted on charges of helping wealthy Americans hide their assets from U.S. tax authorities, a spokeswoman said on Friday.

The United States indicted the banker, Hansruedi Schumacher, who moved from UBS (UBSN.VX) (UBS.N) to NZB, on charges of helping wealthy Americans hide their assets from U.S. tax authorities. [ID:nN20516329]

"NZB is aware of the notification, but has no comment on it," the spokeswoman said. "The bank fired the banker immediately."

Switzerland agreed this week to hand over details of 4,450 accounts of Americans at UBS to U.S. authorities and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is expected to use the deal as a template to pursue further prosecutions. [ID:nN19479123]

U.S. officials have tried for years to pierce Switzerland's famed bank secrecy rules and the latest indictment could also ensnare bank Julius Baer (BAER.VX), where a UBS client was encouraged to move his account.

Schumacher and lawyer Matthias Rickenbach were indicted in a South Florida court for a conspiracy in which they encouraged Americans to switch accounts from UBS to private bank NZB in a bid to conceal their wealth.

Reuters was unable to contact either Schumacher or Rickenbach on Friday.

NZB shut down its private banking business for U.S. customers early this year and now has no American clients, the spokeswoman said.

"We asked affected U.S. clients early this year to declare themselves with the IRS early this year," she added.

Other Swiss private banks have taken similar action or significantly raised their disclosure requirements for U.S. clients. [ID:nLK440710] (Writing by Sam Cage; Editing by Rupert Winchester)