New head office building for APS Bank

Laid out on over 7,000 square metres of floor space, this landmark building houses the Bank’s various core operational units with more than 120 employees working in very modern and spacious offices on four floors with underground parking. The building also includes a fully fledged branch office offering all the retail and commercial services of the Bank, as well as an ATM machine accessible 24/7 at street level.

During the opening ceremony, APS Bank’s chairman Prof. Emanuel P. Delia expressed the management’s satisfaction at reaching this important milestone in the bank’s 100 year history. “APS Bank was set up by a Jesuit priest in 1910 as The Apostleship of Prayer Savings Bank, mainly to instil saving habits amongst the working classes.  As the Bank’s role and function in society evolved over the years, it maintained its core principles of integrity, security, sustainability and respect,” said Prof Delia. He concluded by explaining the importance of these shared values not only to the Bank’s shareholders, but also to its staff, suppliers and customers.

The Minister of Finance, Economy and Investment, Hon. Tonio Fenech, congratulated APS Bank and augured that the improved facilities will aid in further expansion and development of the Bank over the coming years. Similar feelings were also expressed by H.G. Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. who addressed the guests and blessed the premises. He explained the importance of ethics in all forms of business, especially in these challenging times of global financial instability.

During this inauguration, the original workers’ hymn commissioned by the Unione Cattolica San Giuseppe (UCSG) in 1912 was played again for the first time since those days. It was performed by the Bel Canto Choir together with a string orchestra conducted by Hermann Farrugia Frantz with James Vella Bondin as baritone. The UCSG was the founder organisation of the forerunner of APS Bank Ltd. This hymn was composed by the prolific Maltese composer Mro. Paolino Vassallo with words penned in Italian and Maltese by Dun Karm Psaila. It was in fact one of his earliest works to be published in Maltese.

An exhibition about the Bank’s 100 year history has also been set up at the foyer of this new APS Centre. Various artefacts from the Bank’s rich past are juxtaposed on a backdrop of posters depicting local and international events across the past ten decades. Exhibits include original manuscripts and diaries, meeting notes and many other interesting pieces that are on public display for the very first time.

A fun day activity is also being organised on the street at the newly inaugurated APS Centre in Swatar, this Sunday 10 October. The event includes a classic car Concours d’Elegance and static car show with a kid’s area to provide entertainment for all the family. Entrance is free of charge.