I refer to correspondence in your newspaper about Bank of Valletta's internet banking service and other 24x7 services. Bank of Valletta would like to thank your correspondents for the various comments and suggestions.

The bank would also like to clarify that its internet banking service is, in fact, available to non-resident customers. Indeed, through BoVI, our private banking division, the bank has managed to attract a significant number of non-resident customers who are making full use of the BoV internet banking service. BoV also offers a telephone banking service to non-resident customers.

Separately, we feel it is also important to highlight that BoV internet banking offers a convenience-oriented solution to existing customers so that they may access and process transactions directly from their homes/offices/etc without having to call at a BoV branch on their existing accounts.

It must also be pointed out that the bank does not as yet offer the possibility of opening accounts remotely/online via 24x7 channels or a specific internet-based/24x7 services account with particular benefits. Of course, these are options that the bank will take up in the future.

In this regard, may I take this opportunity to highlight that BoV is planning to announce, in the near future, other new services, including transactions on foreign currency accounts, that will become available through BoV internet banking and the other 24x7 channels.

These new services will continue to consolidate BoV's leading position in this sector and to deliver more value to the customer.