Maltese ‘never leave home without their Visa’

The Maltese are more likely than any other European to have a credit card, to invest in shares and bonds and investment funds and to have a car and health insurance, according to a Europe-wide survey by the European Commission conducted last April on financial products and services in Europe.

But they are less likely than other Europeans to have a current account.

Significantly, the Maltese are the fourth most likely to have invested in bonds and shares among citizens of the EU 28 (20%), being surpassed only by the Swedes (43%), Danes (38%) and Finns (25%). 

The Greeks were the least likely to invest in shares and bonds.  Only 1% replied that they held any.

They are also the fourth most likely to own a credit card (62%) being surpassed only by Luxembourgers (84%), Danes (83%), and French (78%). Six per cent of respondents in Malta have also purchased a credit card in another member state.

The Hungarians (11%) were the least likely to have a credit card, followed by the Greeks (17%).

Respondents in Sweden (36%), Malta (15%), Denmark and Germany (both 10%) are the most likely to invest in an investment fund, while those in Bulgaria (0%), Latvia, Greece, France, Romania and Croatia (all 1%) are the least likely to do so.

Unlike most Europeans, the Maltese are more likely to have a savings account than a current account. While 69% of Maltese have a current account, 78% have a savings account. On the other hand 76% of Europeans have a savings account and only 44% own a current account.