BOV secures second consecutive global banking award for social impact strategy

Bank of Valletta has picked up an international award for inclusive banking and social impact for the second year in a row. The WSBI-ESBG Award for Excellence in Inclusive Banking and Social Impact was presented in Thailand, with BOV CEO Kenneth Farrugia receiving the trophy from Peter Simon, chief executive of the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute.

The WSBI and ESBG represent savings and retail banks globally and at European level, focusing on policy, financial inclusion and responsible banking. BOV's nomination centred on its 2025 social agenda, which the bank framed as a core part of its identity rather than a side activity.

The programmes that earned the recognition include the bank's annual backing of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation through L-Istrina and the BOV Piggy Bank Campaign. A partnership with Richmond Foundation delivered Mental Health First Aid training to 6,747 students and 441 educators across Malta and Gozo.

BOV also continues its long-term support for Hospice Malta, assisting more than 1,500 families each year. That work now extends to funding the refurbishment of a residential hall at St Michael Hospice and backing the Hospice's Job Shadowing Programme. Additionally, the bank partners with Julian's Pathfinder Foundation, which offers residential and small-group programmes for gifted and often underserved learners.

Farrugia said that social responsibility is not a separate activity at BOV, but an integral part of who the bank is. He credited employees and partners for investing time, skills and energy in initiatives that make a meaningful difference to vulnerable members of society. Receiving the award again, he added, reinforces the belief that lasting change requires sustained commitment.

The CEO also pointed to the BOV Foundation as a key pillar of the bank's wider CSR efforts, complementing the work of the internal team. For the Maltese business community, this back-to-back recognition underscores a strategic truth: in a small, interconnected economy, visible and consistent social investment builds brand equity and trust with customers, employees and regulators alike.

BOV has not published a separate financial figure for the initiatives, but the scope of the programmes suggests a significant annual outlay. The full SDG 2026 Report, which details the industry's progress against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, is available online.