Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/480415
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 18 MARCH 2015 11 Business Today www.creditinfo.com.mt info@creditinfo.com.mt Tel: 2131 2344 Your Local Partner for Credit Risk Management Solutions Supporting you all the way BOV Credit Cards Easter promotion launched BOV credit card holders who pay with their card between the 15 March and 6 April stand a chance of winning a BOV MasterCard Prepaid Card of €50. "Participation in our BOV Credit Cards Easter Promotion is automatic and cardholders will earn one stake for each purchase of a minimum of €25 effected with their credit card," said Michael Galea, Chief Electronic Banking Officer at Bank of Valletta. Galea explained that, following the success of other similar promotions organized for the Christmas period and Valentine's Day, the Bank was once again seeking to offer an added incentive, making it even more attractive for its customers to use their credit cards to effect payments. "We are seeing card usage increase year after year. Cards, being a straightforward, efficient and secure means of payment, are truly moving up the customer preference ladder, fast becoming the payment method of choice for more and more customers," added Mr. Galea who highlighted that overall cards business turnover transacted by the Bank over a period of twelve months had exceeded the €1 billion mark for the first time in 2014. Cards offer important benefits including protection for the cardholder and versatility when effecting purchases, both from retail outlets and online. Bank of Valletta today also offers a 3D Secure service which adds an additional layer of security when customers use their BOV Visa and BOV MasterCards for online purchases at participating merchants. This added protection is provided by means of a one-time pass code delivered to the customer's mobile phone that is used to authorize the transaction, thus safe guarding against unauthorized use of the card. The lottery draw will be held on the 20 April 2015. Ten randomly drawn cardholders will be contacted by the Bank and asked a skill-based question to win the prize. For further information or assistance, customers are encouraged to visit any BOV branch, call Customer Service Centre on 2131 2020 or visit bov.com. Atlas Insurance holds diabetes talk for staff European allies say they'll join China-led bank, defying US A talk on diabetes was given to Atlas Insurance staff as part of Atlas' sponsorship of 'Sah- htek', the nationwide health and wellbeing study being car- ried out by the University of Malta. The talk was given by Dr Julian Mamo, head of the Public Health Department and senior lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. Mamo explained the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as well as related conditions, such as high blood pressure, circulatory problems, obesity and the lifestyle choices that can be made to alleviate such conditions. Staff were also given the opportunity to undergo a random blood glucose test. 'Sahhtek' is a project aimed at determining the number of people suffering from conditions such as diabetes and hypertension in Malta. Through nationwide testing, it aims to find out how common diabetes is in Malta – both diagnosed and undiagnosed. It will also examine the occurrence of diabetes, together with related conditions such as obesity and hypertension, as well as levels of physical activity, tobacco consumption and nutritional intakes. To learn more about the project, visit http://www. sahhtek.com/ For further information, call 2132 2600 or visit atlas.com. mt Germany, France and Italy said on Tues- day they had agreed to join a new China- led Asian investment bank after close ally Britain defi ed US pressure to become a founder member of a venture seen in Washington as a rival to the World Bank. The concerted move to participate in Beijing's flagship economic outreach project was a diplomatic blow for the United States, reflecting European eagerness to partner with China's fast- growing economy, the second largest in the world. It comes amid prickly trade negotiations between Brussels and Washington, and at a time when EU and Asian governments are frustrated that the US Congress has held up a reform of voting rights in the International Monetary Fund due to give China and other emerging economies more say in global economic governance. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Europe's biggest economy, a major trade partner with Beijing, would be a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. A French Finance Ministry official said that Paris "confirms France's participation and highlights agreement between Germany, France and Italy" on the matter, first reported by the Financial Times. The Italian Treasury said the Europeans had agreed to work to ensure the new institution "follows the best standards and practices in terms of governance, safeguards, debt and procurement policies". French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters: "We are indeed considering this idea positively. We are looking at the precise modalities internally in France, then we'll have the opportunity to discuss it with other European countries. "You have seen that the British have already joined. We have been working on this prospect for quite some time," he added. The AIIB was launched in Beijing last year to spur investment in Asia in transportation, energy, telecommunications and other infrastructure. It was seen as a rival to the Western-dominated World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Washington has questioned whether it will have high standards of governance and environmental and social safeguards. It is seen as a key vector to spread Chinese "soft power" in the region, possibly at the expense of the United States. The World Bank is traditionally run by a US nominee and Washington also has the most influence at the IMF. China said earlier this year a total of 26 countries had been included as AIIB founder members, mostly from Asia and the Middle East. It plans to finalise the articles of agreement by the end of the year. Download the MaltaToday App now