Month: June 2026

Bank of Valletta (BOV) and the Association of Tractor and Trailer Operators (ATTO) have further consolidated their long-standing business relationship by signing a new Collaboration Agreement for the next two years. The agreement was signed by BOV Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Farrugia and ATTO Chairman Joseph Bugeja, in the presence of BOV Chief Operations Officer Ernest Agius, Head of Business Development & Customer Value Kenneth B Micallef, and ATTO board members and industry practitioners, at the BOV Centre in Santa Venera.

The alliance between the Bank and ATTO goes back several years. This agreement is one of several business alliances established by the Bank with various organisations across different sectors, reflecting its commitment to support industries and sectors that play a vital role in Malta’s economic well-being.

Through its agreement with ATTO, BOV is supporting Malta’s logistics and transport sector. This collaboration also helps the Bank better understand the sector’s specific challenges and opportunities, enabling it to provide solutions such as trade financing and cross-border payments.

Speaking about the renewed agreement, BOV CEO Kenneth Farrugia noted that transportation plays a critical role in modern industry and is a key contributor to many economies around the world. “BOV remains committed to helping this sector transition towards more efficient and sustainable operations. We continue to provide financing solutions that encourage investment in modern, efficient and environmentally responsible vehicles, helping to reduce environmental impact, while supporting the long-term viability and competitiveness of the industry”, said Mr Farrugia.

ATTO Chairman Joseph Bugeja underlined the industry’s importance to Malta’s economy and stressed the value of collaborations that help address the challenges facing the industry. He thanked Mr Farrugia for the Bank’s continued support and stated, “This agreement strengthens ATTO’s capacity to support a key pillar of Malta’s logistics sector, ensuring reliable daily connectivity with mainland Europe.”

ATTO represents logistics operators in Malta and plays a vital role in connecting Malta to international markets. ATTO members are responsible for transporting approximately 85% of Malta’s imports and exports via International Trailer Services.

The painting of Our Lady of the Rosary, on the lateral altar of the Old Church of St Sebastian in Ħal Qormi, has been restored with the support of the BOV Foundation. The altarpiece, typical of late nineteenth‑century sacred art, depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus as she presents the Rosary to St Dominic, with a dog beside him carrying a flaming torch in its mouth. The artwork was donated to the church by the Gulia-Schembri family, whose coat of arms is depicted on the left-hand side of the painting.

Despite a number of interventions carried out in the past, including one undertaken in the early 1970s during which the canvas was permanently stuck to the hardboard, the altarpiece was in a poor state of conservation. The canvas suffered from tears, especially towards the top of the painting, and the paint layer had begun to detach and flake.

The conservation and restoration work was carried out by PrevArti. Pierre Bugeja, founder and senior conservator at PrevArti, outlined the interventions undertaken on the altarpiece. He explained that the works included the cleaning of the canvas, the removal of yellowed varnish and previous retouching and over-painting. This intervention proved challenging for the conservators, as much of the paint added during previous interventions had been applied directly onto the canvas without any preparatory stucco being applied. Work was also carried out to consolidate the canvas in areas where it had detached from the hardboard.

Ernest Agius, on behalf of the BOV Foundation, remarked that the Bank is proud to support communities through projects of this nature. He stated, “It is an honour for BOV to stand alongside various communities and entities in the conservation and restoration of artistic works. Works such as this are valuable not only from an artistic perspective but also from a historical and social one. This forms part of our corporate social responsibility and represents a way for us to give back to society.”

While the artist who painted this altarpiece remains unknown, popular tradition suggests it is most likely of Neapolitan origin. During the cleaning process carried out as part of the present restoration, snippets of the artist’s signature were uncovered, namely the first letter and the final two letters. Despite this discovery, the artist remains unidentified, and research is ongoing. The altarpiece of Our Lady of the Rosary was donated to the Church of St Sebastian at a time when Ħal Qormi had begun to develop into an urban centre.

A group of employees from Bank of Valletta spent a day volunteering at id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi, lending their support across a range of activities, including cleaning, kitchen duties, washing the Home’s vehicles, and carrying out general maintenance work.

The Bank has long been a proud supporter of this organisation through a number of initiatives, most notably the annual BOV Volleyball Marathon, which this year will be held between the 16^th and 18^th July and, for the first time, at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali.

This volunteering activity at id-Dar tal-Providenza forms part of the Bank’s ongoing commitment to the community through a structured volunteering programme that has seen strong employee participation during the first months of 2026. Around 100 employees from different units within the Bank dedicated their time to support nine NGOs working in the social and environmental sectors. Between February and April, the NGOs supported were Embrace, Inspire, Voice of Inclusion Gozo, Dar Papa Franġisku, Caritas Malta, Conservatorio Vincenzo Bugeja, MSPCA, Din l-Art Ħelwa, and Grow 10 Trees.

The Bank offers its people one day of volunteering leave, in addition to their standard leave entitlement. Launched in 2024, this initiative forms part of the Bank’s ongoing commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and highlights the strong link between teamwork and a positive impact on society.

Ernest Agius, BOV Chief Operations Officer, stated, “Volunteering activities, such as this one at id-Dar tal-Providenza, continue to be an important pillar for Bank of Valletta, as they strengthen our engagement with the community we serve. The strong participation of employees since the launch of the volunteering initiative in 2024 reflects both management’s and our employees’ genuine commitment to give back and make a positive impact on society.”

Ray Debattista, BOV Chief People & Culture Officer, highlighted the bond that these volunteering initiatives create among employees outside their working environment. “They reflect the Bank’s commitment to employee well-being, given the positive impact that such experiences have on our staff’s personal development and overall engagement,” he said.

The NGOs involved welcomed the employees’ support and expressed appreciation for the time, energy, and enthusiasm dedicated to their respective causes.