“Is there only one stockbroker in Malta,” asked my friend in the UK who had lived in Malta for many years before deciding to return home eight years ago.

She was, of course, referring to the fact that, throughout Bank of Valletta’s MMPF and Perpetuals sagas, there was only Finco TM Ltd to defend the small investors against the bank’s misdeeds with regard to reckless investing, apparent insider trading and definite mis-selling. It still does.

Like me, my friend still cannot believe that any respectable bank could be so mean as to take it out personally against Finco’s boss by withdrawing his credit facilities.

Or is there more for us, bank shareholders, to know?

Does Bank of Valletta not employ a PR official?