Helping expats settle down in Malta

Hi Rob,

although you can use ATM's with your NatWest account and soon even pay through direct debit ( new EU bank regulation) if you work in Malta you will probably be paid by cheque that you will need to pass into your bank . And using any other bank services (loans,buying real estate, paying with debit card and so on) will be better or cheaper with a local bank.

It can be easy or difficult to open a bank  account in Malta so a standard recommendation from your UK bank will help you set up a new account.

The biggest public banks in Malta are HSBC and BoV with branch offices in all major localities.

Hello, and good afternoon from always sunny Florida.
  I am actually writing on behalf of my friend living in Germany, because she is so shy, but very tired of living there, single woman in her 40s, working hard, kids are out of house, but getting nowhere with life and job too. So I've been helping her to look for better place to start again, and have a nice life without all the stress. Shes been most her life around horses, training and taking care of, so shes not afraid of hard work.
I would like to ask you for your opinion, if she should even try to move over there and start new life, look for work,  maybe start new carrier.  Shes smart, speaks German and fluent English but financially not so great as you know , German economy is very slow too.
  Thank you all for any comments.