It was heartening to hear Alan Richards, CEO of HSBC Bank Malta, announce to shareholders that the bank made a profit of €96.1 million last year.
He also said that 2009 would be a challenging year for the bank, but it seems he is not worried, as HSBC is in "good shape".
This is good to hear, although I should think that the bank is in better shape than many old age pensioners, who did not do as well as HSBC last year and who, now, if they use internet banking, are charged €6 for doing so.
This is shameful. Allegedly, this charge is to cover rising costs for HSBC to be able to provide this service. Surely, they must be joking.
Doesn't HSBC realise that banks have been the cause of this global recession thanks to their greed? Oh yes, I remember the saying "penny wise pound foolish".