Month: December 2025

HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c. has been named Bank of the Year 2025 for Malta by The Banker, the Financial Times internationally renowned publication covering global banking and financial affairs. The award was presented at The Peninsula London during The Banker’s annual awards ceremony, held on 3 December, recognising outstanding performance and leadership in the financial sector across more than 120 countries.

Since 2000, The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards have been one of the most prestigious distinctions a bank can achieve. Winners are selected following a rigorous, peer-reviewed process by a panel of editors and sector specialists, assessing financial strength, operational efficiency, innovation, and year-on-year improvements.

HSBC Malta’s recognition reflects the Bank’s significant progress across key performance metrics, including earnings growth, capital strength, operational efficiency, and continued investment in digital and technological capabilities.

Geoffrey Fichte, CEO of HSBC Malta, said: “We are honoured to receive this distinguished recognition from The Banker. It reflects the dedication of our Malta team, the capital and liquidity strength of our company, and our successful results and customer focus.  Securing this award during a period of strategic review underscores our bank’s enduring strength and stability. Above all, it reaffirms our commitment to delivering value to our customers and the trust our customers continue to place in us. While the industry evolves, our focus remains clear, as we continue to serve our customers with integrity, strengthen our foundations, and ensure future success.”

Bank of Valletta has launched the new BOV Studies+ StudentAssist Scheme, developed in collaboration with the Malta Development Bank (MDB). This launch marks the third consecutive tranche entrusted to BOV, reinforcing the Bank’s position as the leading partner for educational financing.

Since 2019, when the first tranche was launched, BOV has built a proven track record in supporting students through MDB-backed initiatives. The first tranche supported 168 students and generated a portfolio exceeding EUR6 million. Building on that success, the second tranche launched in 2022, expanded dramatically, assisting over 540 students and raising the portfolio to approximately EUR26.8 million. These results demonstrate BOV’s consistent ability to deliver high-impact educational finance with reliability, scale, and strong operational expertise.

The new BOV Studies+ StudentAssist scheme continues this mission by widening access to further and higher education, including MQF Levels 5 to 8, and specialised international qualifications such as aviation and maritime licences. True to the principles of previous schemes, BOV Studies+ StudentAssist Scheme focuses on removing barriers that may prevent individuals from pursuing their studies. The scheme introduces more flexible and affordable terms, ensuring that students can advance academically without being limited by financial pressures.

Kenneth Farrugia, BOV CEO, remarked, “This third tranche is a clear endorsement of our unparalleled experience and proven performance in supporting students with their financing solutions to enhance their academic qualifications. With the BOV Studies+ StudentAssist Scheme, we reaffirm our position as a leading and trusted provider of educational finance in Malta—a distinction built on years of expertise and a strong partnership with the Malta Development Bank. Our track record speaks for itself: we have supported over 700 students with more than EUR32.5 million in financing since 2019, and we continue to set the standard in removing financial obstacles for aspiring learners.”

Through the BOV Studies+ StudentAssist Scheme, BOV is once again demonstrating its long-standing commitment to investing in education, a key pillar of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility. By empowering students to specialise, upskill, and embark on new career paths, BOV is not only advancing academic opportunities but also making a tangible contribution to Malta’s long-term economic and social development. Our deep-rooted understanding of students’ needs, combined with the consistently high impact of our educational finance solutions, ensures that BOV remains the partner of choice for those who wish to invest in their future through further and higher education.

The BOV Studies+ StudentAssist Scheme is now available across all BOV branches. Students interested in pursuing further studies are invited to speak with a BOV representative for more information on eligibility and application requirements. Additional information is found on the Bank’s website https://www.bov.com/studies-plus-loan, and potential applicants are encouraged to book an appointment through the Bank’s online booking system https://myappointment.bov.com/

Bank of Valletta has been honoured with outstanding national recognition at this year’s Premju Nazzjonali Ħaddiem tas-Sena, further strengthening its position as one of Malta’s leading employers. The Bank was awarded Best Company for Inclusion, while Silvio Cassar, a BOV employee, won the highly respected Best Manager Award, following a third-party nomination. The Bank was also a finalist in the Organisational Well-being category.

The Premju Nazzjonali Ħaddiem tas-Sena celebrates organisations and individuals who demonstrate excellence in workplace culture, leadership, fairness, and employee support. BOV’s success across these categories is a testament to the Bank’s long-term strategy centred on its people and a workplace environment built on dignity, respect, and opportunity.

Winning the award for Best Company for Inclusion marks a milestone in BOV’s continuous journey to cultivate a workplace where every person feels represented and valued. As Ray Debattista, Chief People and Culture Officer, stated, “Inclusion at BOV is a strategy that is deeply embedded in the Bank’s operations. The Bank’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) framework, overseen by a central committee and supported by dedicated sub-committees, ensures that employees from all backgrounds are given equal access to development, support, and growth.”

With a workforce representing forty-seven different nationalities, BOV’s employee community is one of the most diverse on the island. Initiatives throughout the year, ranging from mental health awareness campaigns, cultural celebrations and Pride participation, to educational workshops on neurodiversity and domestic violence awareness, reflect the Bank’s belief that diversity is a source of strength, innovation, and unity.

These awards and nominations collectively represent a national endorsement of BOV’s ongoing commitment to being an employer of choice. They also highlight the Bank’s belief that strong organisational performance begins with a culture in which people are supported, respected, and empowered to succeed. From its inclusion efforts and well-being programmes to its leadership development and employee recognition systems, BOV continues to place its people at the centre of every transformation initiative.

As Ray Debattista remarked, “These achievements reflect years of work, dedication, and a shared belief that people are the heart of our success.  These awards belong to every employee at BOV.” The Bank is working hard to strengthen its efforts to ensure that positive initiatives undertaken by the Bank are experienced by employees across the organisation.