Bank of Valletta’s chief executive officer, Tonio Depasquale, hosted the bank’s management team to a reception held at the Portomaso Suite, Malta Hilton, to celebrate the successes BOV has registered in the past days. Bank of Valletta won the Bank of the Year in Malta 2005 award of the Financial Times publication The Banker and has had its outlook upgraded by the international rating agency, Fitch.

Addressing the guests, Mr Depasquale said, “These two achievements are a vote of confidence in our people and prove that our dedicated staff is capable of facing the challenges of competition and innovation. Winning the best bank award also shows that we are successfully improving ourselves and becoming better at what we do – not only for ourselves but also for our customers.”

Mr Depasquale added, “These successes give us strong feelings of satisfaction and achievement. Above all, these results make us proud to form part of this successful and results oriented organization,” concluded Mr Depasquale who invited the bank’s chairman, Roderick Chalmers to address the guests.

Mr Chalmers congratulated all the BOV employees. “Twice in one week the bank received public recognition of its successes. This would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the employees of the bank. The Bank of the Year Award and the upgrade by Fitch show that Bank of Valletta continues to be effective in supporting its customers, consolidating its position in the financial services market,” Mr Chalmers said.