Introduction Directive No. 19 (the “Directive”), issued by the Central Bank of Malta (the “CBM” or the “Central Bank”) on the 7th July 2021 officially came into effect on 1st January 2022, with amendments issued in September 2024. It applies to all paper-based instruments issued, processed, or encashed within Malta’s jurisdiction, as long as these instruments are denominated in euros. The Directive sets the framework for the safe and effective use of cheques and bank drafts (collectively referred to as "paper-based instruments") where the payer, payee and the regulated institutions servicing the paper-based instruments are all located in Malta. It…
1. Introduction We are not only living in a digital age but also in an age where individuals and businesses increasingly depend on banks for their day-to-day activities. The convergence of these two factors is compounded with the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) both generally and specifically in the banking sector. From a general perspective, AI start-ups in 2013 received USD 2 bn in investments globally which increased twelvefold in 2018 to USD 24 bn . The European Commission is also planning to invest a total of €112 mm in AI, quantum research and innovation . More specifically, recent…
We are pleased to issue the tenth edition of the Regulatory Compliance Quarterly Updates. These updates are intended to keep Maltese regulated entities informed of regulatory changes and developments taking place in the local financial services space. In this issue, we focus on the sector specific and cross-sectoral regulatory updates relating to investment services, CSPs, fintech, insurance undertakings and insurance intermediaries. Our tenth Regulatory Compliance Quarterly Update can be found here .The Regulatory Compliance Quarterly Update does not purport to give legal, regulatory,financial or tax advice. Should you require further information or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Michael…