Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531391
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 JANUARY 2025 6 COMMERCIAL BOV Joseph Calleja Children's Choir shine at special concert THE BOV Joseph Calleja Chil- dren's Choir was one of the pro- tagonists at the Joseph Calleja Christmas Special, held on the 20th of December at MFCC Ta' Qali. Comprising 40 tal- ented young singers, the choir delivered enchanting perfor- mances during the star-studded evening, earning admiration for their angelic voices and incredi- ble dedication. Under the expert direction of Gillian Zammit, the choir had been rehearsing since mid-Oc- tober to prepare for their pivotal role in this prestigious concert. Their performances, including festive classics like "Walking in the Air", "Angels We've Heard on High", and "The First Noel", added a magical touch to an al- ready unforgettable event. Fostering Young Talent The BOV Joseph Calleja Chil- dren's Choir played a significant role in creating the festive magic of the Christmas Special, which also featured performances by international sensations Il Vo- lo and local stars Clara Calle- ja, Aidan Cassar, and Destiny Chukunyere. Their involvement in such a high-profile event highlights the importance of nurturing young artistic talent, a commitment that Bank of Valletta proudly supports. The Bank's celebration of the choir's efforts underscores its dedication to promoting Mal- ta's cultural heritage and invest- ing in the future of local talent. To honour their hard work and contribution, Bank of Valletta hosted a special thank-you party for the choir at the BOV Cen- tre Internal Street. The event celebrated the young singers' dedication, with several of the concert's stars, including tenor Joseph Calleja himself, attend- ing to show their appreciation. At the party, every choir mem- ber received a personalised me- mento signed by their director, Gillian Zammit, as well as by Jo- seph Calleja himself, Aiden and Destiny. Under the expert direction of Gillian Zammit, the choir had been rehearsing since mid-October to prepare for their pivotal role in this prestigious concert HSBC Malta ready for SEPA instant payments STARTING today, HSBC Bank Malta is fully prepared to receive SEPA instant payments, thanks to significant upgrades to its sys- tems. SEPA Instant Payments allow euro transactions to be completed within just 10 seconds, regardless of the time or day, in- cluding weekends and public hol- idays. HSBC Malta has met the com- pliance requirements for SEPA Instant Payments ahead of the EU regulatory deadlines set for 2025. These enhancements ensure pay- ments received during weekends and public holidays will be imme- diately posted and value-dated, of- fering seamless and uninterrupted service to clients. "SEPA Instant Payments mark a significant step forward in creat- ing a more efficient and equitable payment system across the EU. At HSBC Malta, we are proud to be leading this transition. By com- pleting our system upgrades early and finalising internal testing, we can provide our customers with a reliable and modern banking experience that meets their evolv- ing needs," Geoffrey Fichte, CEO of HSBC Bank Malta, said of the milestone. The regulation, which comes in- to effect in two stages – 8 January 2025 for receiving and 8 October 2025 for sending SEPA instant payments – also mandates equal charges for instant payments and standard SEPA transfers. HSBC Malta remains commit- ted to delivering innovative solu- tions while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, helping its customers benefit from the ad- vantages of faster and more trans- parent payments. Melita employees team up to help children facing difficult circumstances MELITA employees from the Commercial and Customer Ex- perience teams recently volun- teered to help children resident at Dar Sagra Familja. The home, run by Fondazzjoni Sebħ, pro- vides shelter to children who cannot live with their natural families, also offering psycho- logical and therapeutic assis- tance. Working alongside the sisters and care workers, the employees helped to clean, de- clutter and redecorate rooms, improving the living conditions for the residents. "We are pleased to see our col- leagues come together to sup- port such a worthy cause," said Harald Roesch, CEO of Melita Limited. "This initiative aligns with Melita's values of encour- aging teamwork and community engagement. The collaboration and dedication shown by our team highlight the positive dif- ference we can make together." "The assistance provided by Melita's team has made a sub- stantial difference in the lives of the children and the overall environment of our home," said Abigail Grima, Home Manager Dar Sagra Familja at Fondazz- joni Sebħ. "The work carried out was labour intensive and particularly challenging for our sisters, so the support received was invaluable and truly appre- ciated." The recent project at Dar Sagra Familja is part of Melita's con- tinuing commitment to support the community including pro- viding support and encourage- ment to employees who wish to volunteer. As part of the compa- ny's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) pillars, Mel- ita provides community service leave to every employee. : Melita employees teams recently volunteered to help children resident at Dar Sagra Familja