HSBC Bank Malta opened the doors of its refurbished flagship branch in the heart of Valletta.

The fresh and modern look and feel of the renovated branch complements the taste and expectations of the discerning HSBC customer. Dedicated meeting rooms will provide customers with added privacy, while state-of-the-art innovations such as Talking ATMs with voice technology will ensure a better experience for visually impaired customers.

The Talking ATMs transform into a live interactive machine once a customer plugs in any standard 3.5mm earphone to a special connector. This technology further strengthens HSBC's smart banking services which include Mobile Banking that enables customers to manage their accounts from home or their work place. Throughout the development of the ATM project for the visually impaired people, the Bank worked with the National Commission for Persons with Disability (KNPD) and the Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA). The Bank plans to roll out this functionality to cover its entire Maltese ATM network in 2015. 

With the re-opening of Valletta branch, the total number of refurbished HSBC branches across the Maltese islands stands at 14. Besides the branch in Valletta, HSBC has renovated its branches in Balzan, Buġibba, Ħamrun, Swieqi, Paola, Żejtun, Mosta, Żurrieq, San Ġwann, B'Kara, Sliema and Żabbar in Malta and Victoria in Gozo.

The branch was officially inaugurated by the Minister for Finance, Professor Edward Scicluna, and presided by HSBC Malta's CEO Mark Watkinson. HSBC Malta's Retail Banking and Wealth Management Head Paul Steel and Mayor of Valletta Professor Alexiei Dingli were also present along with other invited guests and officials from the National Commission for Persons with Disability (KNPD) and the Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA). 

Mark Watkinson said: "Valletta is central to the Maltese economy and HSBC is strategically placed right in the heart of the capital to provide customers with top class financial services and express banking. The branch refurbishment is the latest in a series of investments that the Bank is dedicating toward improving its operations in Malta."

Furthermore, earlier this year, the Bank has also successfully introduced mobile banking. The Bank's main website www.hsbc.com.mt can now be viewed on any mobile device with ease.