The euro changeover process is now entering into its final stage with Bank of Valletta, as the official partner bank of the National Euro Changeover Committee, stepping up its efforts to facilitate a smooth changeover to the new currency.

The bank said that as from Saturday, euro starter kits for retailers will be available from all its branches. These kits are made up of EUR131 in various denominations of euro coins with an equivalent value of Lm56.24.

Concurrently, as from 1 December, BOV said, it would start exchanging euros received from retailers at the central parity rate of one euro equal to Lm0.429300 without applying any charges.

“With just one month left for the adoption of the euro as our currency, we are now entering a most exciting phase that will see the unfolding of all the preparations that we have been undertaking over the past two years to support the national effort required to usher in the new currency,” said John Cassar Torreggiani, executive head responsible for the euro changeover programme at the Bank of Valletta.

“Following our experience at the Euro Village, where we were the only bank offering euro notes and coins to the public, we are now looking forward to start selling the retail euro starter kits from all our branches followed by the consumer starter kits.”

Euro starter kits for the public with the various denomination Maltese euro coins will be on sale from BOV branches as from 10 December. These kits are made up of EUR11.65, the equivalent of Lm5.