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HSBC Bank Malta has announced that it would be helping customers experi- encing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 emergency, with a three- month repayment moratorium on their loan. e bank is also offering a waiver on late payment fees for all credit card accounts, as well as a temporary increase in over- draft or credit card limits, subject to eli- gibility criteria. e bank said it will consider short term capital repayment holidays on term lend- ing for customers facing loss of business. But interest repayments will need to con- tinue being made throughout the term of the concession. "is will enable busi- nesses to meet other payments until the situation reverts to normal," the bank said. Additionally, HSBC is offering Fee-free temporary short-term working capital funding to help customers facing cash- flow problems, and a faster turnaround on issuance of shipping guarantees and waiver of urgency fees. "To help customers experiencing delays in receiving shipping documents from counterparties, the bank will give issuance of shipping guarantees 'immediate priori- ty' , as opposed to the standard 'same-day' issuance. We will also waive our 'urgency fees' in such cases. is means a custom- er can take transfer or receive goods from their counterparty faster without incur- ring additional costs," the bank said. HSBC is also offering a waiver of amend- ment fees on Letters of Credit impacted by delays. Bank of Valletta earmarked a fund of €10 million for direct working capital for business customers facing cash flow is- sues related to COVID-19 scenario. Measures will be considered on a case- by-case basis on the particular circum- stances of each business customer and may include capital repayment holidays ranging from between three and twelve- month, ease of trade finance services via internet banking at no additional cost, and provision of direct working capital for customers facing short term cash flow issues. e terms for the provision of direct working capital is for a period of six months priced at 3.5% repayable over twelve months at zero charges. Each case will be analysed on its own merits and will still be subject to credit approval and the maximum loan per customer may not exceed €500,000. is will ensure that the allocated fund will be made available to as many customers as possible. Other initiatives for assistance may be considered depending on the particular exigencies of the business customer. Banking customers offered home loan moratorium due to Covid-19 19.03.2020 5 NEWS IN a legal notice published late on Tues- day night, the Public Health Superin- tendent has ordered the immediate clo- sure of various outlets. e move comes in the wake of ongo- ing efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus by restricting public gath- erings and travel. e order exempts restaurants, snack bars and kiosks that provide delivery or take-away services, and hotel kitchens that shall continue providing room ser- vice to guests and delivery services to the community. e legal notices come a day af- ter Prime Minister Robert Abela an- nounced that various establishments will be forced to close from midnight on Tuesday as the country scales up its efforts to combat the spread of Cov- id-19. In a statement on Wednesday, the government confirmed that schools, educational institutions and childcare centres will remain closed until at least 17 April. "Following consultation with the health authorities, the period in which schools, educational institutions and childcare centres will remain closed has been extended." Places that have been ordered to close: • Bars • Restaurants • Cafeterias • Snack bars • Cinemas • Gymnasiums • Museums • Exhibitions • Clubs • Discotheques • Night clubs • Open-air markets • Indoor swimming pools • e national swimming pool • Gaming premises including con- trolled gaming premises, bingo halls, casinos, gaming parlours, lotto booths and betting shops Coronavirus: Legal order forcing closure of outlets is published, schools to remain shut

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