Lombard Bank is one of Malta's major banks, together with Bank of Valletta, HSBC Bank Malta and APS Bank. Today, Cyprus Popular Bank of Cyprus is the single largest shareholder with an equity stake of about 49%. Over 1,200 shareholders, including investment funds, hold the remaining shares. The Bank has a 69% stake in MaltaPost plc., the Maltese national postal operator.
Services Offered by the Bank
Personal Banking
- Cards, including MasterCard Classic and Gold credit cards, American Express Classic and Gold cards and Lombard CashPoint debit card
- Current Account
- Direct Debits
- Home Loans
- Personal Loan
- Personal Overdraft
- Safe Deposit Lockers
- Savings Accounts
- Standing Orders
- Term Deposits
Business Banking
- Business Loans
- Business Overdrafts
- Cards
- Current Accounts
- Documentary Collections
- Documentary Credits
- Guarantees
- Payment Services
- Treasury Management
- Savings Accounts
- Standing Orders
- Term Deposits
International Business Banking
- Foreign Currency Accounts
- Foreign Currency Loans
- Foreign Exchange
- International Payments
- Treasury management
- Investments
Wealth Management
- Local and International stockbroking Services
- Funds
- Premium Saver Accounts
- Xtra Accounts
Branches
The Bank operates a network of 7 branches in Malta and Gozo with its Head Office at Spinola Palace in 67 Republic Street, Valletta. These branches are located in:
- Valletta - 67, Republic Street;
- Sliema - 225, Tower Road;
- St. Julian's - Paceville Avenue;
- Qormi - San Bastjan - 82 St Sebastian Street;
- Qormi - San Gorg - 4 Main Street;
- Balzan - Balzan Valley;
- Victoria - Gozo - Ninu Cremona Street.
A 24-Hour Lombard CashPoint ATM is located in every branch except Qormi San Gorg. Furthermore, the CashPoint ATM card can be used on all HSBC ATMs in Malta and Gozo.
Chronology
The bank dates back to 1955 when Lombard North Central (now known as Lombard Direct) of the United Kingdom started taking deposits in Malta through a number of agents.
- 1958: National Provincial Bank Ltd. (now National Westminster Bank Plc) acquires North Central Finance Ltd. (now Lombard North Central Plc).
- 1969: Lombard North Central established Lombard Bank (Malta), (now Lombard Bank Malta).
- 1975: The Maltese government purchases 25% of Lombard Bank Malta.
- 1981: The Maltese government purchases 35% of Lombard Bank Malta.
- 1988: NatWest, unable to find a buyer, sold its remaining shares to the government.
- 1990: In April 1990 the Bank became a Public Limited Company and offered equity to the public. The issue was five times oversubscribed and the government subsequently totally divested its shareholding.
- 1994: Lombard Bank Malta listed on the Malta stock exchange. The Government sold 21% of the shares (Lombard North Central’s remaining stake) to Malaysian entrepreneur Robert Tan Hua Choon.
- 1998: CCF Holdings (Suisse) acquired Tan’s 21%.
- 2000: HSBC Holdings acquires Credit Commercial de France and with it the stake in Lombard Malta.
- 2002: HSBC sells its shares in Lombard Bank Malta to Swiss-based Banca Unione di Credito, which now owns 26%.
- 2006: Lombard Bank Malta acquired Transend Worldwide's 35 per cent shareholding in Maltapost Plc. Transend Worldwide, a New Zealand company, was instrumental in restructuring Maltapost over the past four years.
- 2006: Banca della Svizzera Italiana (BSI) acquired Banca Unione di Credito.
- 2007: Cyprus Popular Bank (formerly Marfin Popular Bank) acquired 43% of the share capital from BSI and other international investors for €48 million.
References
- Consiglio, John A. A history of banking in Malta, 1506-2005 Progress Press, Valletta, 2006
- http://www.lombardmalta.com