Business & Finance
BOV explains ATM mechanical fault on euro day
By MaltaMedia News
Jan 2, 2008 - 4:29:01 PM

Bank of Valletta (BOV) said on Wednesday that the mobile ATM it specifically set up at the Valletta Waterfront for the official euro celebrations developed a mechanical fault in the cash dispenser when it was being used by the Prime Minister.

"The mechanical fault developed as a result of the ATM loosing its alignment due to movement caused when large crowds surrounded the machine to witness the historic moment. Due to the mechanical fault in the mobile ATM, the official ceremony during which the Prime Minister withdrew the first 100 euros was shifted to the fixed BOV ATM at the Bank’s Valletta Waterfront Branch just two metres away. At this fixed BOV ATM, the Prime Minister used his commemorative BOV Platinum Card and withdrew the first 100 euros marking the historic moment for Malta," BOV said in a press release.

The Bank said that it deeply regretted any embarrassment that the incident might have caused to the Prime Minister.

Bank of Valletta explained further that the mobile ATM that failed to function during the official ceremony had been extensively tested and functioned properly even up to a few minutes before the Prime Minister was due to use it.

The Bank said that this was an isolated unfortunate incident which was deeply regretted. In fact, apart from this mechanical fault, all BOV ATMs, IT and card systems functioned well during the changeover.

Meanwhile, HSBC and Bank of Valletta stated that over €2.4 million were withdrawn from ATMs across Malta and Gozo between midnight and late afternoon on Tuesday. The figure was 10 times the typical ATM usage for the same period in previous years, the banks said. Read the news item.

Relive the major events that made the headlines in 2007 with MaltaMedia's Special Review of 2007.


© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com