APS Bank CEO Marcel Cassar calls for diversification amid rising cyber and geopolitical risks

APS Bank CEO Marcel Cassar has stressed the importance of diversifying markets, sectors and business lines, including pursuing cross-border opportunities, as financial institutions navigate an increasingly challenging global environment.

His comments come as APS Bank reported a record Group pre-tax profit of €34.5 million for the nine months ended 30th September 2026, representing a 94 per cent increase from the €17.8 million recorded during the corresponding period last year.

Reflecting on the results, Mr Cassar said they “once again prove the momentum and strength of our business and underline the progress we are making in building a more efficient, focused and profitable banking franchise.”

The bank's performance was supported by continued growth in lending, improved interest margins and disciplined cost management.

Net interest income increased by 37.5 per cent to €77.7 million, while the Group's cost-to-income ratio improved significantly, declining from 72.8 per cent to 56.6 per cent.

Mr Cassar attributed the bank's progress to its continued efforts to deploy its balance sheet effectively, manage risks and strengthen its operations.

He also highlighted ongoing investment in employees, technology, digital channels and operational resilience, areas which remain central to the bank's long-term development.

However, despite the strong financial performance, the CEO cautioned against the increasingly complex risks facing the banking industry.

Looking ahead, he pointed to the unprecedented challenges arising from the cyber and geopolitical environments, underscoring the need for financial institutions to remain adaptable.

In this context, Mr Cassar emphasised the importance of continuing to “keep diversifying our markets, sectors and business lines, including cross-border opportunities, while continuing to build a business model based on agility, discipline and resilience.”

He also highlighted the bank's commitment to supporting a broad customer base, from young Maltese households to major international corporations, through greater scale, an expanded product offering and improved efficiency.

The bank's financial position continued to strengthen during the period, with total Group assets reaching €4.91 billion by the end of September, an increase of €260.7 million since December 2025.

Meanwhile, customer deposits grew by €216.2 million, while Group profit after tax more than doubled to €22.7 million.

Mr Cassar concluded by thanking APS Bank's customers, employees and investors for their continued trust, loyalty and support.