The CEO of HSBC Malta, Geoffrey Fichte, has told The Malta Independent that HSBC Malta's takeover by Greek bank CrediaBank is currently awaiting regulatory approval. Once this sale is approved to proceed, the transaction can be expected to close in the second quarter of next year, he said.

Speaking to this newsroom following the presentation of HSBC Malta's half-yearly results for 2026, CEO Fichte said that "the transition is going very well" and that HSBC Malta is in close contact with both HSBC Global and CrediaBank "to make sure that their transition is a success."

"We are very enthusiastic and motivated, and we are committed to a seamless transition for our customers," he said.

In December 2025, CrediaBank signed a definitive agreement for sale to acquire HSBC Continental Europe's 70% share holding of HSBC Malta. The takeover is worth €200 million. The deal itself was announced in September 2025. As announced in December, HSBC staff will be receiving €30 million in compensation in ex gratia payments as part of this takeover.

Fichte told this newsroom on Tuesday that this takeover is presently subject to corporate and regulatory approvals. He said that this deal is forecasted to receive regulatory approval in the final quarter of this year (Q4 2026), and that another two quarters would be required to close the deal once and for all.

When asked to share a message to HSBC customers who are concerned by this takeover, Fichte stated that HSBC Malta is not concerned by it, saying: "we think clients have nothing to worry about." Citing HSBC Malta's half-yearly results, Fichte stated that the bank has the highest capital and liquidity of any listed bank in Malta, and that these ratios also rank among the highest in Europe.

"We have a very strong team, who's staying on, and we are committed to a smooth transaction. We are very much open for business, so we think that clients have nothing to worry about. In fact, we hope that they'll be as excited as we are about the future," CEO Fichte said.

During this press conference, CEO Fichte insisted that this takeover is not taking long or at a stumbling block when pressed by someone in attendance. Fichte noted that this transaction is moving along faster than other transactions in the market.

Fichte had also told those present that HSBC Malta is "confident about a seamless transition, which we are calling a transition and upgrade with CrediaBank, with full support from the Board." He also expressed satisfaction with the resilience of HSBC Malta's business model, in supporting 180,000 customers, and in it offering "the highest dividend yield from any bank in Malta."