The 30th edition of the “BOV Annual Managers’ Conference” was held at the Westin – St Julian’s last month. The theme of this year’s edition was “Driving Growth in Uncertain Times”.

BOV CEO Tonio Depasquale highlighted the recent achievements of the BOV Group within the current economic context. He emphasised that the BOV Group has emerged as a stronger institution from the unprecedented financial crisis that has hit the world over the past years and is well positioned to take advantage of new opportunities that are emerging as Malta continues to develop into an international financial services centre. Mr Depasquale said the BOV Group is in a position to anticipate the new regulatory requirements and enjoys a strong capital and liquidity position as confirmed in the EU stress tests carried out this year.

A comprehensive economic outlook, a detailed perspective of the Group’s financial position and the future of banking from a Risk standpoint were presented to the audience.

The bank’s Chief Officer Operations, Michael Galea, and the Executive Head for Electronic Banking Services, Ivo Camilleri, announced that the bank is in the process of launching a new BOV Mobile Banking service. BOV Mobile, which is currently at an advanced testing stage, not only responds to changing customer needs but also, to a large extent, anticipates new and emerging customer preferences. BOV Mobile will be made available through a brand new smartphone application that is set to change the way clients carry out their banking. A demonstration of the software, considered as the next major innovation that will continue to simplify and make banking and payment transactions more straightforward and efficient, was met with enthusiasm by the delegates present at the conference.

BOV Group Chairman Roderick Chalmers concluded the session by thanking Tonio Depasquale who will retire from the bank following the annual general meeting later this month after 42 years of service, for his long and successful career at BOV and praised the way he steered the bank through turbulent times.

At the end of the conference, Horace Laudi, manager of BOV’s Preluna Branch was presented with the Branch Manager of the Year Award; Joyce Tabone, manager at BOV’s Marketing Department was presented with the Employee of the Year Award.