Just back from Malta for a brief trip, and was particularly taken with the fact that the country appears to be sponsored by HSBC.
Not just the airport, a hotel or a football stadium, but the whole country.
Where did this impression come from?
Well, from the moment of arrival when you are welcomed by a massive “HSBC welcomes you to Malta” sign and self-service lobby.
Upon arrival at the hotel, the HSBC sponsored guide to Malta’s Heritage is the first thing left out visibly on the desk of my room.
Opposite the hotel is an HSBC ATM and branch ...
... and every other ad in the newspapers is for HSBC and every time I use my Chip & PIN Card I get a thank you from ... HSBC.
Returning to the airport, I find yet more HSBC signage upon check-in as well as the usual gates, sponsored by ... HSBC.
So OK, Malta’s a small place – total population of only 400,000 – and so the bank’s beneficence in sponsoring the place is laudable ... it just worried me a little when the latest Malta headlines are about newborn babies sponsored by, yes, you guessed it, HSBC.
Note: in the interests of full disclosure, not all of the images and material used is from Malta
Chris M Skinner
Chris Skinner is best known as an independent commentator on the financial markets through his blog, TheFinanser.com, as author of the bestselling book Digital Bank, and Chair of the European networking forum the Financial Services Club. He has been voted one of the most influential people in banking by The Financial Brand (as well as one of the best blogs), a FinTech Titan (Next Bank), one of the Fintech Leaders you need to follow (City AM, Deluxe and Jax Finance), as well as one of the Top 40 most influential people in financial technology by the Wall Street Journal's Financial News. To learn more click here...