Month: November 2025

Bank of Valletta announced that it has reached the initial €100 million of the first series and tranche of the 5% unsecured subordinated bonds under the €325 million Unsecured Euro Medium Term Bond maturing in 2030-2035.

Due to investor demand the Bond Issue will remain open till 25^th November, under Bank of Valletta’s Over-Allotment Option, allowing the management of investor meetings currently in progress with the Bank and third-party intermediary representatives. This is also in line with the Bank’s commitment to continue supporting the local economy as well as providing long-term value to shareholders and investors, allowing the public the time necessary to participate in this opportunity.

The strong response to the bond is a testament to the Bank’s solid reputation, performance and market trust, and follows the successful €150 million unsecured subordinated bond issued earlier this year, which closed after a few days following a strong response from investors.

The purpose of the programme is to enable the Bank to consolidate its capital position, mainly in support of the forecasted balance sheet growth in line with its 2024-2026 strategy. It also targets improved capital efficiency and ensures compliance with evolving regulatory demands under CRR III, including higher risk weightings for specific exposures.

Given its features, the bond is classified as a complex instrument and may be difficult for potential investors to understand. As a result, it might not be suitable for all types of retail investors. Potential investors are advised that a suitability test is a required step to ensure full understanding and an appropriate fit for their investment portfolio. The publication of the base prospectus and the final terms, and additional information are available at  https://www.bov.com/bond-prospectus. The approval of the prospectus should not be understood as an endorsement of the securities offered or admitted to trading on a regulated market.

HSBC Malta is nearing the completion of its ATM replacement programme, which will see all its 62 ATMs across Malta and Gozo upgraded to new, state-of-the-art machines.

The new ATMs are designed to deliver a better customer experience, offering enhanced stability, improved uptime, and smoother day-to-day operation, ensuring a more reliable banking service for all customers.

As part of this initiative, HSBC is also upgrading its ATM sites to ensure they meet the latest accessibility standards. The new machines and sites are fully compliant with requirements set out by the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD), including improved signage, better lighting, and the appropriate height and layout of ATMs for ease of access.

The bank has worked closely with the CRPD in redesigning lobbies and ATM areas to make sure every customer can access services comfortably and independently.

HSBC has also relocated certain ATMs to more convenient and accessible locations in San Ġwann, Żabbar, Balzan, Żebbuġ and shortly Marsaskala. In addition to upgrading existing machines, ATMs have been installed in new prominent locations including St Julian’s (Eden) and Sliema (Neptunes), with another planned at Bir id-Deheb, in line with customer demand.

Muriel Rutland, Head of Wealth and Personal Banking at HSBC Malta, said the programme represents another step in the bank’s commitment to improving customer experience and accessibility. “We are investing in technology, infrastructure and new locations to make everyday banking simpler, faster and more inclusive for all our customers. These upgrades ensure that customers across Malta and Gozo can enjoy a seamless, reliable service whenever and wherever they need it.”

This upgrade marks another milestone in HSBC Malta’s ongoing investment to make banking more intuitive and accessible, empowering customers to manage their finances confidently wherever they are.

HSBC Malta ATM Locator

Bank of Valletta (BOV) has hosted its first Investor Days in Malta, welcoming shareholders, customers, and financial community stakeholders to a discussion on the Bank’s performance, strategy and capital plans. One of the session was also live-streamed, enabling a broader spectrum of individuals to attend and engage with the speakers. The sessions included keynote remarks from Chairperson, Dr Gordon Cordina, Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Farrugia, and Chief Financial Officer, Kevin Cardona.

The event also featured an expert panel discussion, including Anatoli Grech, Chief Compliance Officer, and Simon Azzopardi, Chief Personal and Wealth Officer.

Opening the event, Dr Cordina reinforced BOV’s role in supporting Malta’s economic development and delivering sustainable long-term value to its shareholders. “These Investor Days represent an important step in strengthening our engagement with the market and reflect our commitment towards transparency and offering value to our stakeholders and the wider Maltese community.”

In his intervention, CEO Kenneth Farrugia outlined ongoing transformation efforts being made by the Bank to strengthen customer experience across both digital and physical channels, improve service delivery, and support lending growth while maintaining strong risk discipline. “We continue to grow with discipline and focus, supporting households and businesses while ensuring sustainable performance. These sessions offer our stakeholders the opportunity to understand the Bank’s trajectory and growth prospects.”

The financial update delivered by the CFO highlighted solid deposit levels, healthy lending activity, stable asset quality, and a carefully managed capital position. “Our financial position reflects consistent execution and forward-looking planning. We are strengthening resilience while maintaining the capacity to finance growth. Our capital strategy remains measured, disciplined, and aligned to long-term value creation,” commented Kevin Cardona.

A highlight of the BOV Investor Days was the focus on the Bank’s €325 million Medium Term Note programme and the first tranche of €100 million (up to €125 million) Subordinated Notes. The bonds carry a 5% coupon, mature in up to 10 years, and include an optional early redemption feature between years 5 and 10. The issue is open to the general public, with minimum applications of €10,000 for retail investors and €100,000 for institutional investors. The offer forms part of the Bank’s ongoing capital optimisation strategy to support sustainable balance sheet growth.

Given its features, the bond is classified as a complex instrument and may be difficult for potential investors to understand. As a result, it might not be suitable for all types of retail investors. The publication of the base prospectus and the final terms, and additional information are available at  https://www.bov.com/bond-prospectus.

The encouraging participation of stakeholders in the Bank’s first Investor Days augurs well for the future and the Bank intends to build on this success with further investor communication sessions in future.

Highlighting its commitment to customer-centricity and digital transformation, Bank of Valletta (BOV) reaffirmed its pledge to put customers at the heart of the organisation. This happened during the second annual BOV Customer Experience (CX) Conference, held on 31 October 2025 at the Radisson Blu.

Opening the conference, CEO Kenneth Farrugia stated, “Customer experience is not a trend. It is our compass. Every decision we make is guided by the principle of staying relevant to our customers in a fast-changing world.”

The conference brought together around 180 colleagues from across the organisation alongside guest speakers and industry leaders. A key part of the agenda was a panel discussion featuring experts from hospitality, healthcare and artificial intelligence. They were Nico Sarti, Angie Balzan, Charlotte Sant Portanier, and Dr Gege Gatt. They emphasised that while technology is vital, genuine service is built on trust and human connection.

A highlight of the day was the BOV CX Hackathon, where six employees presented creative solutions designed to make banking more intuitive and meaningful. Following a live vote by attendees, the winning concept was a digital self-service tool to support customers during bereavement. It will now be developed and implemented as part of the Bank’s transformation journey.

As Chief Customer Experience Officer, Theodoros Papadopoulos reflected, “For me, this isn’t just another conference. It’s proof that courage, creativity, and heart can redefine what a financial services institution stands for.”

The 2025 BOV CX Conference reinforced a powerful message. Customer experience is not a project with an end date, but it is a mindset. By listening, learning, and acting with purpose, BOV ensures every change adds up to a better experience for its customers.

DIGI-ELEVATE is a new ERASMUS+ co-funded project led by the Malta Business Bureau (MBB), designed to help micro-entrepreneurs strengthen their digital capabilities and sharpen their competitive edge. It focuses on raising awareness of how practical digital skills and tools can support small business owners in responding more effectively to market shifts and customer needs.

The project was officially launched during the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Grant Award Ceremony 2025 organised by the European Union Programmes Agency (EUPA). The launch highlighted the project’s relevance to ongoing European efforts to support small enterprises in adapting to digital transformation.

DIGI-ELEVATE brings together MBB and its partners: Eurodimensions, an SME based in Malta; DIDEAS, a social enterprise based in Valencia; and the University of National and World Economy in Sofia.

Its core goal is to generate lasting change by equipping micro-entrepreneurs to effectively apply digital management strategies in planning, operations and business development. By optimizing their skills, the project aims to stimulate innovation and encourage a critical reassessment of business models, including sustainability and long-term growth.

The project aims to deliver its goals through a comprehensive learning model established through a research phase which will help the partners develop a new curriculum and outline the learning outcomes. This will be followed by the development of a massive open online course (MOOC) which will be available on demand and feature e-learning tools. The MOOC will then undergo pilot testing before being disseminated widely with its target audience.

This project aligns closely with EU priorities and addresses the urgent need for microenterprises to gain clarity on digital opportunities, fostering resilience against rapid technological change and larger entity competition.

A few weeks ago, Bank of Valletta joined the Parish of Sacro Cuor, Sliema, to inaugurate the restoration of The Triumph of the Immaculate Conception, the dramatic apsidal painting by renowned Maltese artist Giuseppe Calì (1846–1930). The work, originally executed in 1892 using oil on stone, has been carefully conserved to its former radiance through a multi-stage process led by restorer Prevarti.

The evening opened with choir and organ, followed by reflections from Parish Priest Fr Martin Coleiro OFM and a step-by-step walkthrough of the conservation journey by Pierre Bugeja, founder of Prevarti. The inauguration and blessing of the restored apse were performed by W.R.P. Twanny Chircop OFM.

The restored main apse depicts the Madonna on a crescent, centred among a gathering choir of angels forming a distinctive V-shape. Heresy lies vanquished at her feet. Pope Leo XIII appears to the right, alongside the symbols of the Evangelists and two angels. Blessed John Duns Scotus OFM features to the left with angels and a red flag. The composition is structured on diagonals converging at the Madonna, rendered in Calì’s signature subtle pastel palette with romantic, saccharine overtones. The Navarro family coat of arms is visible in the left-hand corner.

Whilst giving an overview of the conservation project undertaken, Pierre Bugeja explained, “After carrying out scientific analysis of the painting, we provided consolidation to the stone support and stabilised the paint layer. The complex cleaning process removed a layer of wax that was added on the surface during a past intervention, together with a layer of dust, dirt and previous retouching and overpainting. Finally, we carried out a conservative reintegration using reversible materials. The colours and structure that Calì intended are legible once more—without compromising the integrity of the original.”

Addressing the congregation, Fr Martin said, “This restoration returns a powerful focal point to our parish—art that lifts eyes and hearts. We are grateful to all who made this possible, especially Bank of Valletta for championing our community heritage.”

Charles Azzopardi, Head of the Bank’s CSR team represented the BOV Foundation. In his intervention, he explained that, “At BOV we believe that thriving communities protect their past while investing in their future. We are proud to stand with Sacro Cuor and the Sliema community to safeguard a national treasure for generations to come.”

This is another example of how Bank of Valletta continues to invest in Malta’s living heritage. By supporting the conservation of landmark works, it is helping communities preserve spaces and artefacts that bring people together.A few weeks ago, Bank of Valletta joined the Parish of Sacro Cuor, Sliema, to inaugurate the restoration of The Triumph of the Immaculate Conception, the dramatic apsidal painting by renowned Maltese artist Giuseppe Calì (1846–1930). The work, originally executed in 1892 using oil on stone, has been carefully conserved to its former radiance through a multi-stage process led by restorer Prevarti.

The evening opened with choir and organ, followed by reflections from Parish Priest Fr Martin Coleiro OFM and a step-by-step walkthrough of the conservation journey by Pierre Bugeja, founder of Prevarti. The inauguration and blessing of the restored apse were performed by W.R.P. Twanny Chircop OFM.

The restored main apse depicts the Madonna on a crescent, centred among a gathering choir of angels forming a distinctive V-shape. Heresy lies vanquished at her feet. Pope Leo XIII appears to the right, alongside the symbols of the Evangelists and two angels. Blessed John Duns Scotus OFM features to the left with angels and a red flag. The composition is structured on diagonals converging at the Madonna, rendered in Calì’s signature subtle pastel palette with romantic, saccharine overtones. The Navarro family coat of arms is visible in the left-hand corner.

Whilst giving an overview of the conservation project undertaken, Pierre Bugeja explained, “After carrying out scientific analysis of the painting, we provided consolidation to the stone support and stabilised the paint layer. The complex cleaning process removed a layer of wax that was added on the surface during a past intervention, together with a layer of dust, dirt and previous retouching and overpainting. Finally, we carried out a conservative reintegration using reversible materials. The colours and structure that Calì intended are legible once more—without compromising the integrity of the original.”

Addressing the congregation, Fr Martin said, “This restoration returns a powerful focal point to our parish—art that lifts eyes and hearts. We are grateful to all who made this possible, especially Bank of Valletta for championing our community heritage.”

Charles Azzopardi, Head of the Bank’s CSR team represented the BOV Foundation. In his intervention, he explained that, “At BOV we believe that thriving communities protect their past while investing in their future. We are proud to stand with Sacro Cuor and the Sliema community to safeguard a national treasure for generations to come.”

This is another example of how Bank of Valletta continues to invest in Malta’s living heritage. By supporting the conservation of landmark works, it is helping communities preserve spaces and artefacts that bring people together.