Bank of Valletta has been awarded the ISO 37001 certification, an internationally recognised standard for Anti-Bribery Management Systems, becoming the first local financial institution to achieve this milestone.

The ISO 37001 standard is designed to help organisations prevent, detect, and respond to bribery risks through structured governance, controls, and oversight. The certification confirms that BOV has implemented robust systems and processes that meet global best practices in anti-bribery compliance and ethical conduct.

The certification recognises the Bank’s clear and formal stance against bribery, strong leadership commitment to promoting ethical behaviour, and the effectiveness of its Compliance function in overseeing the Anti-Bribery Management System. Particular emphasis was placed on the Bank’s risk assessment processes, reporting and investigation mechanisms, and the due diligence carried out across projects, business associates, and transactions.

The assessment also took into account the regular training provided to employees and stakeholders, as well as the controls in place to monitor and prevent bribery-related activities across the organisation.

Commenting on the achievement, BOV Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Farrugia described the certification as a significant milestone for the Bank. He said that attaining ISO 37001 reinforces BOV’s commitment to integrity and ethical business practices, while further strengthening trust among customers, regulators, and stakeholders.

Group Chief Compliance Officer Anatoli Grech echoed these sentiments, noting that the certification reflects the Bank’s culture of transparency and ethical behaviour. He added that ISO 37001 enhances BOV’s corporate reputation both locally and internationally, while reaffirming its strong market position.

The certification process was conducted by Bureau Veritas, a global leader in testing, inspection, and certification services, which acted as the independent body verifying BOV’s conformity with the ISO 37001 standard.

Peter Cain, Country Manager of Bureau Veritas Malta, commended the Bank for its professionalism and dedication throughout the certification process, describing the achievement as a clear reflection of BOV’s commitment to excellence and ethical business standards.

The ISO 37001 certification provides stakeholders with added assurance that Bank of Valletta maintains a proactive and structured approach to preventing corruption and upholding the highest standards of organisational integrity, governance, and compliance.