Month: September 2026

As a new scholastic year approaches, bringing with it a new chapter of the Klabb 3 – 16 service, the HSBC Malta Foundation is once again sponsoring the initiative Enhancing Children’s Well-being through After-School Programmes, delivered by the Foundation for Educational Services (FES). Building on the achievements of the previous scholastic year, the Foundation’s continued support will further enrich the experiences and wellbeing of children attending Klabb 3 – 16.

With preparations underway for the 2026/2027 scholastic year, this renewed sponsorship also provides an opportunity to reflect on the impact made possible through HSBC Malta Foundation’s support during the 2025/2026 scholastic year.

The initiative offers educational experiences supporting children beyond the classroom and which extend beyond the academic curriculum. Delivered across Klabb 3 – 16 centres in Malta’s southern and central regions, the sessions focused on fostering self-expression, creativity, mindfulness, and healthy living among children aged seven and above.

The programmes included:

• Mindfulness for Children, helping participants strengthen emotional regulation, concentration, and mental wellbeing;
• Creative Movement and Dance, encouraging self-expression, confidence, and physical health through artistic movement.

Each programme ran over two academic terms and was delivered by warranted practitioners in a safe, inclusive environment. The sessions were offered free of charge to ensure equal access for all children, irrespective of socio-economic background.

Glenn Bugeja, Head of Corporate Sustainability at HSBC Malta said: “This is such a meaningful initiative because it supports children’s well-being in a holistic way, nurturing both their personal and creative development. It’s wonderful to see the Foundation for Educational Services continuing to deliver these impactful programmes, and we are proud to stand behind their work for another year.”

Therese Ellul, representing the Foundation for Educational Services, expressed her appreciation, saying “HSBC Malta Foundation’s continued support has enabled us to expand the reach of our after-school well-being initiatives, ensuring that more children have access to creative, educational, and emotionally enriching experiences. This collaboration allows us to invest in Malta’s future by helping children develop skills that last a lifetime.”

The Foundation for Educational Services operates a range of community-based initiatives that promote learning, inclusion, and social development. Through this renewed partnership, the HSBC Malta Foundation continues its long-standing commitment to supporting education, sustainability, and community wellbeing across Malta.

The BOV Foundation has supported the restoration of the painting of Our Lady of the Rosary at Maria Reġina Parish Church in Marsa, helping to preserve this 18th-century oil painting on canvas.  Attributed to the school of Francesco Zahra, one of Malta’s leading painters of religious works, the painting reflects the rich character of the Maltese Late Baroque tradition.

The composition shows the Virgin Mary enthroned with the Christ Child and surrounded by angels, as she presents the Rosary to St Dominic, kneeling on the left in the distinctive black-and-white habit of the Dominican Order. A dog, one of his traditional symbols, appears at his feet. On the right, St Catherine of Siena is depicted in the Dominican habit, alongside symbols of prayer and contemplation, including a skull, an open book and lilies.

The conservation project was entrusted to PrevArti’s team, whose careful intervention has given the painting renewed clarity and presence. Pierre Bugeja, Founder and Senior Conservator at PrevArti, said the work had been urgently required following several earlier interventions over the years and was obscured by layers of overpainting.

Mr Bugeja explained that the process involved removing accumulated dust and dirt, the deteriorated varnish, and any previously applied retouching; consolidating areas where the paint layer had become detached; and strengthening the canvas support to strengthen the fibres. It also addressed deformations in the canvas support, while areas of loss were filled and levelled using restoration gesso. Mr Bugeja noted that the conservators used ethical and fully reversible techniques to minimise the visual impact of these losses on the artwork’s overall aesthetic. The project was thoroughly documented, with detailed records produced before and after the conservation process. It was completed with the construction of a new decorative gilt frame, produced using traditional methods and designed to complement the historic character of the restored painting.

The restored painting has now returned to Maria Reġina Parish Church, where it has been placed more prominently for parishioners and visitors to appreciate.

Speaking at the inauguration, Ernest Agius, Deputy Chairperson of the BOV Foundation and Chief Operations Officer at the Bank, thanked Pierre Bugeja and his team for their outstanding work. “The Bank and the BOV Foundation are proud to help yet another community preserve a work of art that reflects Malta’s rich cultural heritage and the devotion of its people,” he said. “Our support is a testament to our commitment to being a trusted partner to the communities we serve.”

Mr Agius also underlined the Bank’s wider role in safeguarding Malta and Gozo’s artistic patrimony, noting that culture and heritage form one of the five pillars guiding the purpose of the BOV Foundation. Through its work, the Foundation also supports initiatives in social inclusion, ethical conduct, education, and environmental sustainability. He added that these efforts are complemented by distinctive initiatives such as volunteering leave for staff members, recognising that giving back benefits both the communities supported by the Bank and the employees who dedicate their time to them.

HSBC Bank Malta today announced it has entered into a partnership agreement with FinanceMalta in support of the flagship London reception organised by the Malta Financial Services Advisory Council (MFSAC) and FinanceMalta, to be held on Wednesday 25 November 2026 at the Great Hall of the Guildhall.

The reception, which is being hosted for the fourth time, brings together senior stakeholders to promote Malta’s financial services sector internationally and to strengthen engagement with the UK market. The initiative also supports the wider momentum behind the sector’s national strategy, led through joint efforts by regulators and industry.

Geoffrey Fichte, HSBC Malta’s CEO said, “our bank has a long-standing commitment to supporting the island’s growth and its international connectivity. This partnership reflects our shared ambition to present Malta’s financial services offering with clarity and confidence on a global stage, and London remains an important place to do that.”

Mr Fichte added, “Events like the London reception help open doors for dialogue, investment interest and collaboration. They also give international audiences a practical sense of Malta’s capabilities, professionalism and long-term direction.”

Joseph Zammit Tabona, Chairman of the MFSAC commented, “We are grateful for HSBC’s continued support of this important initiative. The London reception is an invaluable opportunity to further promote Malta’s financial services overseas and to demonstrate the progress being made through the country’s focused Financial Services sector strategy as well as through the close cooperation between the public and private sectors driving implementation.”

George Vella, Chairman of FinanceMalta, said, “This partnership strengthens the platform we’ve built in London to connect Malta’s financial services sector with key international decision-makers. Showcasing our capabilities and the progress of our national strategy helps reinforce confidence in Malta as a forward-looking, well-regulated and collaborative jurisdiction.”

With a significant proportion of the original initiatives in the sector’s long-term strategy already delivered, the MFSAC is now working on an updated strategy for 2027 to 2032. Continued collaboration across the sector and key stakeholders will be important to sustain this momentum.

The partnership agreement was signed at HSBC Hub in Qormi, with HSBC Bank Malta, FinanceMalta and MFSAC now working closely together on the final event logistics arrangements ahead of the London reception in November.

Bank of Valletta has celebrated colleagues who are making a meaningful difference in customers’ lives through its CX Stars recognition programme, an initiative that places the customer’s voice at the heart of employee recognition and reinforces the Bank’s commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences.

The programme forms part of the Bank’s ongoing Voice of the Customer (VoC) initiative, through which customers share feedback about their experiences across the Bank’s channels. This feedback helps BOV understand what matters most to customers, shape service improvements, and recognise colleagues who are making a real difference.

Through CX Stars, frontline employees who receive multiple positive mentions from customers are celebrated, giving customers a direct voice in recognising exceptional service.

Employees across the Bank were also encouraged to nominate colleagues in support and brand protection roles whose work strengthens the overall customer experience. This reflects the fact that great service is not created only at the frontline, but through the combined efforts of teams who simplify processes, remove friction, strengthen controls, and help customers bank with confidence.

Addressing the nominees, Bank of Valletta CEO Kenneth Farrugia explained, “At BOV, customer experience is everyone’s responsibility. What makes the CX Stars programme particularly meaningful is that it combines the voice of our customers with the appreciation of our colleagues. Customers help us identify those who have made a genuine difference to their experience, while employees can recognise peers whose work supports and enables that experience behind the scenes. Together, these recognitions reinforce our commitment to putting customers at the centre of everything we do.”

The recognition programme is part of BOV’s broader customer experience journey, which continues to strengthen the way the Bank listens, learns and acts on customer feedback. It also reinforces a culture where feedback is not simply measured but used to drive meaningful improvement.

CX Stars is also a reminder that every role contributes to the customer experience — from colleagues serving customers directly, to those supporting teams, improving processes, developing solutions, and strengthening the Bank’s operational and governance frameworks.

By linking customer feedback with employee recognition, Bank of Valletta continues to turn insight into action while celebrating the people who bring its customer-first values to life every day.

Bank of Valletta is strengthening its commitment to financial education through its participation in the 2026 SkolaSajf programme, which is expected to reach around 700 children aged between eight and twelve at 30 centres across Malta. This marks the Bank’s third year of participation in this summer-school programme.

The initiative introduces children to essential financial concepts in an engaging and age-appropriate way. Sessions address understanding money and the difference between needs and wants, saving and goal setting, smart spending and simple budgeting. They also promote confidence with money, responsible behaviour and awareness of digital money and safety.

At the heart of the programme is AstroSaver, the Bank’s Young Savers mascot, together with a mix of games, clips, and hands-on activities. A key feature of this year’s programme is Astro Money Mission, an interactive board game developed specifically for the sessions. It gives children an opportunity to apply what they have learned while working together, solving problems and making decisions.

The 2026 programme also broadens the conversation from managing money to protecting it. Community Police Officers are participating in selected sessions, where they provide children with simple and practical guidance on scams and online safety. The sessions explain what a scam is, discuss how children can stay safe when gaming or interacting online, and reinforce three clear steps: “Stop, Think, Ask.”

Children are also introduced to common warning signs, including offers or prizes that appear too good to be true, messages that create urgency or pressure, requests for passwords or personal information, and links from unknown or untrusted sources.

The participation of Community Police Officers builds on the collaboration agreement between the Bank and the Malta Police Force. The agreement supports joint initiatives intended to strengthen national resilience against financial crime, promote public education and awareness, reduce victimisation and enhance customer protection. The wider partnership has also been publicly positioned as a means of helping society respond to the evolving tactics of fraudsters and scammers.

By bringing financial literacy and scam awareness together, the programme encourages children to make considered choices both with money and the online world. The same habit of pausing before spending, distinguishing between needs and wants, and thinking about longer-term goals can also help children recognise pressure, question suspicious requests and seek advice from a trusted adult.

“Every conversation we have with a child about saving, planning and making smart choices helps build confidence that can last a lifetime. Through SkolaSajf, we are not just teaching financial concepts. We are helping young people develop skills that will support them in the years ahead,” explained Vanessa Borg, Lead Marketing and Product Lifecycle Management at the Bank.

Financial literacy is an important life skill, and early, practical conversations can help children develop healthy habits and a positive relationship with money. Through SkolaSajf, Bank of Valletta is taking these conversations directly into communities and presenting them in a way that is relevant, memorable and enjoyable for young learners. This approach complements the Bank’s wider educational outreach, which promotes smarter financial choices, safer digital habits and stronger financial confidence among young people.