HSBC Malta

Naxxar Road in Birkirkara is the address given for this HSBC Malta branch, in one of the island's largest and busiest towns and a short hop from Valletta. HSBC Bank Malta is the local retail arm of the group and serves customers with accounts, cards, loans, investments and insurance, whether they visit a branch or manage things from a phone.

Birkirkara has several other banks, finance firms and professional offices, which makes it easy to compare. Our directory of banks in Malta lists the main options, and APS Bank on Tower Street in Birkirkara is one of the nearest. Anyone new to the island may also want our Malta relocation guide for UK residents.

Managing money from your phone

The bank's mobile app and online banking cover everyday payments, statements and transfers. Sign-in with Touch ID or Face ID is available, and the biometric data stays on your own device rather than being kept by the bank. A Secure Key adds one-time codes for online transactions, and customers are encouraged to choose a password that is unique to them. Mobile alerts and mobile top-ups are also offered.

Sending money abroad is a common need for people with ties to the UK. Transfers made in online banking or the app show live exchange rates, while those made in a branch or by telephone use the rate at the moment of the transaction. For payments into an HSBC Malta account, the bank asks for the IBAN, which already contains the sort code information, and the BIC MMEBMTMT. Remote workers who split time between countries may find the digital nomad guide to Malta useful.

Cards, disputes and fraud

Debit cards come in Premier, Advance, Student and International versions, and credit cards include Premier, Advance, Mastercard and Visa options. A lost or stolen card should be reported immediately by phone, day or night, after which a replacement and PIN are posted separately. For a payment you do not recognise, check the usual causes first: an unfamiliar merchant name, a different processing date, a joint account holder, a free trial that has ended, or an exchange rate difference after travel.

If the payment is still wrong, you can visit a branch, phone, or post a dispute form with supporting evidence. The form and proof must reach the bank within 60 days of the transaction. Suspected fraud should be reported as soon as possible. For a wider view of how Malta regulates banks and payments, see our overview of financial services in Malta.

Insurance support and nearby help

HSBC sells life, critical illness, loan, travel and buildings insurance, and its life insurance pages explain how to change or cancel a policy, which is done at a branch or through a secure message. A claims team handles notifications; on average life cover claims are paid within four weeks and critical illness claims within six weeks of the bank receiving everything it needs. Customers who cannot afford premiums are invited to arrange an appointment to talk about options.

If you would like a broker's view, AIB Insurance Brokers is a local alternative, and accountants such as 3a Malta and financial firms such as Apex Group Malta are nearby. When you have seen the practical side, our guide to Valletta is a good place to plan a day out.

Complaints and starting out

Should something go wrong, the bank has a set complaints procedure. Customers with online banking can send a secure message under Help and support, and others can use a form or telephone. Complaints may be written in English or Maltese, the bank acknowledges them within 48 hours and aims to answer within ten working days, and if you remain unhappy you can write to the Arbiter for Financial Services. New customers are invited to apply online or to request an appointment, after which the bank phones back to arrange a branch visit.

Sensitive account details should never be sent by ordinary email or posted on social media; the bank asks customers to use secure messaging in online banking instead. To ask HSBC a question before you begin, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the bank.