Sarah Pulis Joins EU Network As Malta's Financial Literacy Ambassador

Sarah Pulis, Head of Conduct Supervision at the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), has been appointed as Malta's National Financial Literacy Ambassador. The role recognises her leadership in shaping financial education policy and signals a coordinated national push to raise financial capability across the population.

Pulis brings twenty years of experience in the regulation and supervision of financial services, spanning investment firms, collective investment schemes, insurance undertakings and company services providers. In her current role at the MFSA, she has placed financial literacy at the centre of the Authority's consumer protection strategy, overseeing the Financial Education Committee and a range of initiatives aimed at vulnerable groups including the elderly and young people.

Her appointment builds on substantial groundwork. The MFSA has been leading an EU-funded Technical Support Instrument project in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), designed to lift financial literacy among the Maltese population, particularly retail investors. A recent survey under the project gathered responses from more than 1,500 adults aged between 16 and 79, providing one of the most comprehensive datasets on financial behaviour in the country to date.

The findings, presented earlier this year by OECD policy advisor Andrea Grifoni, showed that Malta's overall financial literacy levels are slightly above the OECD average, reflecting strong budgeting and saving habits. The survey also revealed that home ownership remains a central financial goal, with 70% of respondents owning their property, while two thirds expect to rely primarily on public pensions in retirement. Only one in three plans to supplement income through private savings or pension schemes.

Pulis has said the evidence base will continue to guide targeted initiatives that strengthen consumer awareness, confidence and participation in the capital markets. The ambassador role is expected to amplify that work by bringing greater visibility to financial education across schools, workplaces and community settings, and by deepening collaboration between the MFSA, government bodies, industry partners and civil society organisations.

The appointment comes as Malta prepares the next iteration of its Financial Capability Strategy, with the OECD providing recommendations to inform the framework. With retail investment activity growing and a wider range of digital financial products reaching consumers, the ambassador role reflects a recognition that consumer empowerment is now central to the country's financial services agenda and to building long-term economic resilience.