Every purchase transaction effected by means of a BOV Cashlink Card between the 1st and the 31st of August will result in an automatic donation of 7? cent by Bank of Valletta in aid of 'The Malta Hospice Movement' thanks to a new campaign launched today.

The Bank of Valletta 'Cashlink Cards for Charity' campaign 2008, was today launched by Mrs Mary Fenech Adami, Patron to the Malta Hospice Movement, during a media conference held at the Verdala Palace, Buskett.

During the launch, Tonio Depasquale, Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Valletta explained that through this campaign BOV has the potential to raise thousands of Euros in aid of the Malta Hospice Movement.

"Customers will not incur any additional costs since the contribution will be made by Bank of Valletta, through its Community Programme, in recognition of the valuable contribution the Malta Hospice Movement is making within the Maltese Community," said Mr. Depasquale. "However, the more people use their Cashlink to pay, the higher the global donation that the Bank will present to the Malta Hospice Movement at the end of this campaign," added Mr. Depasquale.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Bank of Valletta is organizing the Cashlink Cards for Charity Campaign during August. In 2005 the beneficiary was the Eden Foundation, the 2006 campaign saw Caritas as the sole beneficiary, whilst last year the funds raised under this campaign were donated to 'Id-Dar tal-Providenza'.

Mr Depasquale added, "We feel that this campaign provides our customers with an added incentive to use such a straight-forward and efficient method of payment. Through this incentive all parties stand to gain since customers enjoy the convenience of the BOV Cards whilst 'The Malta Hospice Movement' benefits from the resulting donation. This initiative also underlines the Bank's strong involvement within the Maltese society. It stems from our resolve to support worthy social initiatives as outlined in the social dimension of our Community Programme," concluded Mr Depasquale.

Addressing the media, Mrs Theresa Naudi, Chairperson to the Malta Hospice Movement described how Hospice works relentlessly to create and deliver the highest standards of palliative care, within the local community. A multi-professional team works hand in hand with a group of dedicated volunteers, to enable this non-profit organization to attend to the physical symptoms, psychological, social and spiritual needs of their patients, whilst extending invaluable support to their families, children, friends and significant others.

She went on to describe how these services are offered free of charge, to hundreds of patients and their relatives annually. The organisation depends heavily on fund raising initiatives, such as the 'BOV Cashlink for Charity' campaign, to be able to provide the highest possible levels of service to those who make use of the organisation's services."

Further information regarding the 'BOV Cashlink for Charity' may be obtained from the Bank's website www.bov.com, or by sending an e-mail on customercare@bov.com or by calling the Bank's Customer Service Centre on 2131 2020 between Mondays and Saturdays, from 8.00am to 8.00pm.