BANK of Bermuda chief executive officer Henry Smith and chief operating officer Phillip Butterfield are set to address members of the general public during a special meeting to be held next Thursday at the Warwick Workman?s Club.

Mr. Smith, who recently announced he intends to step down from the bank?s top post within a year, will be present during the meeting at which he will make a presentation and answer any questions the public may have concerning multinational banking giant HSBC?s recent acquisition of the island?s largest bank.

The meeting, scheduled to start at 8 p.m., is being put on by the Progressive Labour Party?s Warwick branch.

?We thought it was most appropriate to have this meeting because very often only the sort of financial class in Bermuda get to attend these presentations,? said Sports & Community Affairs Minister Dale Butler.

?Because there is concern in the community and people have questions, we decided to go right to the top and Mr. Smith immediately agreed to come and speak along with Mr. Phillip Butterfield to make a presentation and then answer people?s questions.

?The meeting is open to the entire public and anyone who has a question or wants to learn more about this issue are invited to attend. And we hope everyone will attend.?

Although still subject to shareholder and regulatory approval, HSBC is poised to close in on its purchase of Bermuda?s largest bank during the first quarter of next year in a deal worth $1.3 billion.