I am writing to express the disappointment of the Hal Ghaxaq Local Council which represents Ghaxaq residents and those of othe villages nearby about the decision taken, without any consultation whatsoever, for the Bank of Valleta at Bir id-Deheb to no longer serve as a bank.

The bank’s premises are being turned into a Business Investment Centre, and Ghaxaq Local Council became aware of this from the bank’s customers who are enquiring whether the local council has any knowledge of this decision.

I personally do not know how this decision came about and why it is this particular branch that was chosen, when one considers the amount of customers who use it. First and foremost because it is the only Bank in Hal Ghaxaq which can serve Ghaxaq and Gudja residents and obviously those of Bir-id-Deheb, and also people from Zejtun who live close by and who find it a problem to park when using the Bank in Zejtun, whereas at Bir-id-Deheb, parking is no problem.

I do not think this is the way the bank should thank the clients who have shown trust and chose to invest in it, and nor is it showing respect, especially to the elderly and those who have no means of transport.

Therefore, although I know that the decision has already been taken, I also know that if the bank wants to respect its customers, consideration would be taken of the Local Council’s opinion and that of the bank’s customers. The decision to turn the Bank’s premises into a Business Investment Centre has been taken, but the bank should consider that since the premises is large enough it can definitely  accommodate a small part of the place for a cashier to operate. In this way the customers, especially the elderly, could be served.

I hope that this request is received and customers continue to show faith and confidence in the BOV’s services and not make them invest in other banks.

Emanuel Vassallo

Mayor

Hal Ghaxaq Local Council