For all the adverts in all the local media, one expects excellent customer services in our banks. But when one asks for certain services, he finds bureaucratic walls in front of him.

Recently my wife needed a visa card to use while on holiday abroad. This card was suggested by a Bank of Valletta cashier when I went to exchange Maltese liri into euros.

When my wife went to the BOV San Gwann branch to apply for one, the customer care receptionist was not welcoming at all. He asked her whether she is employed or not. He made it look difficult for her to obtain the visa card when she certainly has enough money in her account to obtain one.

Last but not least, this receptionist also tried to ridicule my wife by telling her, “as if you have a hundred thousand liri in the bank.”

After this very strange behaviour, I went to the bank myself to try to resolve this problem. I asked for an explanation from the receptionist and also his manager, but to no avail. They both told me that in order to obtain a visa card, they had to make a recommendation on my application!

Isn’t all this very stupid? Why do I need a recommendation to make use of my own money? I was not asking for a gold card, a debit card or loans from the bank. I was simply trying to avail myself of a service suggested by the bank itself and offered free of charge.

How’s that for services to bank customers.

Henry Calleja

St Julian’s