The Bank of Valletta has announced that, since launch in February this year, hundreds have already applied for the advantageous computer loan offer introduced in conjunction with the incentive launched by Government last February.

"The demand we have registered is truly outstanding showing that people are responding and taking advantage of the incentive being made available by Government as part of The Smart Island strategy," said Mario Gouder, Executive Head responsible for Consumer Finance at Bank of Valletta.

Through this scheme, any household purchasing computer equipment between 18th February 2008 and 30th May 2008 is being refunded 16% of the purchase price.

"Our results also show that the BOV Computer loan is offering customers a highly advantageous financing option featuring a greatly reduced interest rate, the waiving of processing fees, with repayments spread over four years. This package effectively means that those who take advantage of this computer loan offer will be paying less than €1 a day for their new computer," said Mario Gouder.

Through the BOV Computer Loan, customers can borrow between €600 (Lm257.58) and €1,200 (Lm515.16) for the purchase of computer equipment.

More details can be obtained from any Bank of Valletta branch, by logging onto the Bank's website www.bov.com, or by calling the BOV Customer Service Centre on 2131 2020.

Loans are subject to normal Bank lending criteria and final approval from a BOV branch.