HSBC Bank Malta plc has won the Bank of the Year Award 2004 for Malta. This is the second consecutive year that HSBC Malta has won this prestigious award, granted by The Banker magazine of the Financial Times.

The Banker also awarded HSBC Group the coveted annual award of Global Bank of the Year for the third consecutive year. HSBC Group also won the Bank of the Year Award for the Asia-Pacific region, and a number of other awards for the group's banking practices in several specialised financial services sectors.

In its comments on HSBC Bank Malta, The Banker, said: "During 2003, a state-of-the-art operations centre handling core back-office processes was inaugurated after an investment of more that $14 million.

"This facilitated further centralisation, implementation of a call centre and upgrading of IT infrastructure to allow customer contact staff more time to deliver a personalised service."

"The bank continues to deliver considerable progress on behalf of its principal shareholders," HSBC chief executive officer Shaun Wallis said. "Last year saw the bank deliver its best performance yet in the local banking sector, with pre-tax profits up 23.8 per cent.

"These results were achieved against a backdrop of a difficult economic environment domestically, during a period when the economy was gearing up for EU membership, and internationally.

"It is very encouraging for our staff to note that HSBC Malta is again being recognised internationally for its achievements."

"HSBC Malta aims to lead by example, setting high standards in the banking industry in Malta, particularly in the areas of customer service, business ethics and delivery of innovative products and services to our customers."