The euro changeover process is now entering into its final stage with Bank of Valletta, as the official partner bank of the National Euro Changeover Committee, stepping up its efforts to facilitate a smooth changeover to the new currency.

The Bank said that as from Saturday, 1st December, euro starter kits for retailers will be available from all its branches. These euro starter kits are made up of €131 in various denominations of euro coins with an equivalent value of Lm56.24. Concurrently, as from the 1st December, BOV said that it will start exchanging euros received from retailers at the central parity rate of 1 euro equal to Lm 0.429300 without applying any charges.

"With just one month left for the adoption of the euro as our currency, we are now entering a most exciting phase that will see the unfolding of all the preparations that we have been undertaking over the past two years to support the national effort required to usher in the new currency," said John Cassar Torreggiani, Executive Head responsible for the Euro Changeover Programme at Bank of Valletta. "Following our experience at the Euro Village where we were the only bank offering euro notes and coins to the public, we are now looking forward to start selling the retail euro starter kits from all our branches followed by the consumer starter kits," added Mr. Cassar Torreggiani.

Euro starter kits for the general public with the various denomination Maltese euro coins will be on sale from BOV Branches as from the 10h December 2007. These starter kits are made up of €11.65 the equivalent of Lm5.00.