BoV named best bank in Malta

Prestigious US-based publication Global Finance has named Bank of Valletta the Best Bank in Malta for 2007.

Emmanuel Ciappara, BoV's chief representative for North America, attended the awards ceremony and was presented with the award by the president and publisher of Global Finance, Joseph D. Giarraputo, at the National Press Club in Washington.

The venue was packed with chairpersons, presidents and chief executive officers from all over the world with governors of central banks who also happened to be attending the Washington meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Mr Giarraputo said that criteria for choosing the winners included growth in assets, profitability, strategic relationships, customer service, competitive pricing, and innovative products.

"We have identified the banks that provide service to corporations seeking to take advantage of substantial opportunities for growth in a sometimes challenging environment," he added.

BoV's CEO Tonio Depasquale said: "We are delighted to receive the Best Bank in Malta award for the second consecutive year from Global Finance. This award is supported by the record results that we have just published which show that Bank of Valletta has retained its leading role, taking full advantage of the business opportunities that have presented themselves as a result of Malta's development as an international financial centre, financial innovation and economic growth".