About Malta

The Maltese archipelago consists mainly of three inhabited islands, namely Malta, Gozo and Comino which are situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea enjoying a warm temperate climate.  Malta is well known as an ideal hub for combining business and pleasure in that it offers an enjoyable Mediterranean lifestyle.

Over the centuries Malta has developed a distinctive characteristic in spite of long periods of foreign domination.  The official languages are Maltese and English with the latter being the main medium of official documentation in banking and commerce.  The Maltese language is a Semitic origin with a strong Arabic content.  However, the language has been enhanced by assimilations from Italian and English.  Italian is also widely spoken given that Malta is located about 100 kilometers south of Sicily.

Banking business in Malta is regulated by the Banking Act which came into force on 15 November 1994 and subsequently amended in 2002.  The Banking Act, 1994 has introduced a modern regulatory regime with all the flexibility necessary in a modern and dynamic banking environment.  To achieve this flexibility, the Act empowered the Malta Financial Services Authority, as the competent authority, to issue directives to credit institutions to monitor risks and establish a regulatory framework based on the European Union Directives.

Malta Links:

www.mfsa.com.mt
www.centralbankmalta.com
www.fiumalta.org
www.gov.mt