The BPER Banca Story from 1994 to 2021

BPER Banca has a rich history that spans over two decades. The bank was founded in 1994.

In its early years, BPER Banca focused on serving the local community in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. It has since grown to become one of the country's leading banks.

Throughout the 2000s, BPER Banca expanded its operations through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. By the end of the decade, the bank had established a strong presence in the Italian market.

BPER Banca's commitment to innovation and customer service has been a key factor in its success.

BPER Banca has a rich history that spans over three decades. The bank was founded in 1984 through the merger of Banca Popolare di Modena and Banca Cooperativa di Bologna.

In 2003, the Banca della Campania was founded, which included several controlled banks, and by 2006, the Banca del Monte di Foggia was also incorporated. The bank continued to expand, acquiring Eurobanca del Trentino and ABF Factoring in 2004, and ABF Leasing in 2005.

BPER Banca has undergone significant transformations over the years, including the incorporation of Banca Popolare del Mezzogiorno in 2008 and the acquisition of a 23.913% stake in Cassa di Risparmio di Vignola in 2005.

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From 1994 to 2001, BPER Banca underwent a period of significant expansion through acquisitions.

The bank acquired the majority of Banca Popolare di Ravenna in 1994. This marked the beginning of a wave of acquisitions that would shape the bank's future.

In 1995, BPER Banca acquired the Banca Popolare di Lanciano and Sulmona and the Banca Popolare del Materano. These acquisitions were a key part of the bank's strategy to unify local banks under its umbrella.

BPER Banca acquired the Credito Commerciale Tirreno and the Banca Popolare di Crotone in 1997. This brought the bank's reach further into southern Italy.

The bank continued its acquisition spree in 1998, buying the Banca del Monte di Foggia, Banca popolare del Sinni, and Banca popolare di Aprilia. This marked a significant expansion of the bank's presence in the region.

In 1999, BPER Banca acquired the Banca popolare di Castrovillari and Corigliano Calabro, the Banca popolare di Salerno, Carispaq (Cassa di Risparmio dell'Aquila), and other local banks. This brought the bank's total number of acquisitions to over a dozen.

The bank's acquisition of the Banco di Sardegna and the Banca di Sassari in 2001 marked the end of this period of rapid expansion.

In 2003, the Banca della Campania was founded, including its subsidiaries Banca popolare dell'Irpinia, Banca popolare di Salerno, and the former Credito Commerciale Tirreno.

The Banca del Monte di Foggia was also absorbed in 2006. This marked the beginning of the BPER Group's expansion.

BPER continued to grow, acquiring the Eurobanca del Trentino and ABF Factoring in 2004, and ABF Leasing in 2005.

In 2005, BPER acquired the 23.913% minority stake in the Cassa di Risparmio di Vignola from the Fondazione di Vignola for 33 million euros, gaining full ownership.

BPER then bought a 31.021% stake in the Cassa di Risparmio di Bra, a 23.077% stake in the Cassa di Risparmio di Fossano, a 31.019% stake in the Cassa di Risparmio di Saluzzo, and a 31.006% stake in the Cassa di Risparmio di Savigliano from UniCredit in 2006 for 149 million euros.

The Banca Popolare del Mezzogiorno was born in 2008 through the merger of the Banca Popolare del Materano and Banca Popolare di Crotone.

BPER strengthened its federal model by streamlining its governance, operational, and product structures over time.

In 2009, BPER's shares were listed on the Italian Stock Exchange, specifically on the Blue Chip segment of the MTA market.

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In 2012, BPER Banca began simplifying its organizational structure through a series of operations.

The 2012-2014 industrial plan included the incorporation of Meliorbanca in November 2012.

This was followed by the incorporation of Banca Popolare di Lanciano and Sulmona, Cassa di Risparmio della Provincia dell'Aquila, and Banca Popolare di Aprilia in May 2013.

BPER Banca also acquired a 35.98% stake in Cassa di Risparmio di Bra from the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Bra for €23.9 million in 2013.

This acquisition gave BPER Banca control with 67% of the shares.

In 2013, BPER Banca also acquired Serfina Banca, which it already controlled with 17.87% of the shares inherited from Banca Popolare di Lanciano and Sulmona.

The 30th of October 2013 saw the approval of a reorganization plan for the entire banking group, through the incorporation of all its banks with a seat in the peninsula into the parent company.

This plan included the incorporation of Banca Popolare del Mezzogiorno, Banca della Campania, and Banca Popolare di Ravenna, which was scheduled to be completed by the end of November 2014.

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In 2015, Banca popolare dell'Emilia-Romagna changed its historic brand to the new "BPER: Banca" with two distinctive points.

The introduction of new regulations in Italy led to the transformation of the institute from a cooperative society to a stock company on November 26, 2016.

Ettore Caselli resigned as president of the board of administration on November 28, 2016, after the formal registration of the new name "BPER Banca S.p.A." and the transformation to a stock company.

BPER acquired Nuova Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara S.p.A. and its controlled companies from the National Resolution Fund for a symbolic price of 1 euro in June 2017.

The acquisition was made possible after an increase in capital of Nuova Carife supported by the National Resolution Fund and the sale of deteriorated credits for 340 million euros.

Nuova Cassa di Risparmio di Ferrara S.p.A. was incorporated into BPER Banca S.p.A. on November 20, 2017.

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In 2018, Unipol Gruppo S.p.A. increased its participation in the bank to 14.23% and then to 15.06% just a week later. Unipol Gruppo S.p.A. had the largest share of the bank at around 9% at the time.

The bank's board of directors approved the 2018 budget and decided to acquire 100% of Unipol Banca S.p.A. for 220 million euros in January 2019. This acquisition also included the simultaneous transfer of a package of problematic credits (NPL) from BPER Banca and the Banco di Sardegna to UnipolReC Spa for 130 million euros in total.

The acquisition was paid for with 33 million BPER shares and 180 million euros in cash. The Fondazione Banco di Sardegna used this money to subscribe to a convertible bond with an 8.75% interest rate, which gave it the opportunity to increase its stake in BPER Banca to 16% over 8 years.

BPER Banca's control of the Banco di Sardegna was also decided upon. A month later, in February 2019, the industrial plan up to 2021 was approved, which aimed to reach a profit of 450 million euros by the end of that year. However, this plan also included 1,300 redundancies and the closure of 230 branches, half of which were to be closed by the end of 2019.

Unipol Banca was eventually fully acquired by BPER Banca in July 2019, with Unipol Gruppo S.p.A. increasing its stake to 100%.

In 2020, BPER Banca incorporated Cassa di Risparmio di Saluzzo S.p.A. and Cassa di Risparmio di Bra S.p.A., with the latter being controlled by BPER with 84.29% of its shares.

BPER also executed an increase in capital reserved for the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Bra for 15.71% of Cassa di Risparmio di Bra.

That same year, BPER announced its intention to acquire 400-500 branches with their clients and credits after Intesa Sanpaolo's public offer of exchange on UBI Banca shares, which was later reduced to 532 branches due to antitrust decisions.

BPER made an increase in capital of 802.26 million euros in October 2020 to facilitate this acquisition.

The first of two negotiations required by the Autorità garante della concorrenza e del mercato to transfer 620 branches to BPER Banca concluded on November 12, 2020, adding 134 limited operation points to the 486 branches with autonomous accounting.

By February 22, 2021, the 620 UBI branches transferred from Intesa Sanpaolo became part of BPER Banca.

Following Intesa Sanpaolo's acquisition of UBI Banca, some branches of both banks were absorbed by the BPER group for antitrust reasons, starting on February 22, 2021.

On April 21, 2021, Piero Luigi Montani was appointed as the new administrator delegate by the BPER board of directors.

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BPER Banca has a diverse group of companies under its umbrella. The group is led by BPER Banca S.p.A. and includes Banca Cesare Ponti, which is a private banking institution that was previously part of the Carige group. BPER Banca also has a presence in Luxembourg through BPER Bank Luxembourg S.A.

BPER Banca has significant stakes in other companies, including Banca Privata Leasing S.p.A. (9.555%), Cassa di Risparmio di Savigliano S.p.A. (31.006%), and Cassa di Risparmio di Fossano S.p.A. (23.077%).

The group also has a number of fully-owned subsidiaries, such as BPER Real Estate S.p.A., which is an immobiliare company, and BPER REOCO s.p.a., which is a construction and property management company. Additionally, the group has a number of other subsidiaries with varying levels of ownership, including Alba Leasing S.p.A. (33.498%), Atriké S.p.A. (45%), and Modena Terminal S.r.l. (100%).

Here are some of the key subsidiaries of BPER Banca:

BPER Banca also has a number of other subsidiaries, including Sardaleasing S.p.A. (99.674%), Estense Covered Bond s.r.l. (60%), and BPER Trust Company S.p.A. (100%).

BPER Banca's financial performance has shown significant growth over the years, with a notable increase in its total assets, reaching €140.591 million in 2024.

The bank's net profit has also seen a steady rise, with a net income of €1.403 million in 2024, up from €525 million in 2021.

Here is a summary of BPER Banca's financial performance over the past few years:

The bank's employee count has also increased, reaching 19,508 in 2024, up from 18,128 in 2021.

The financial information of the BPER Group is a fascinating topic. The group's net operating income has been steadily increasing over the years, with a notable jump from 2023 to 2024, reaching €5.575 million.

One of the most striking aspects of the BPER Group's financials is the significant increase in total assets from 2022 to 2024, rising from €152.304 million to €140.591 million. This suggests a strategic shift in the group's focus.

The group's net profit has also seen a notable increase, from €1.449 million in 2022 to €1.403 million in 2024. This is a clear indication of the group's financial health and stability.

Here's a breakdown of the group's financial performance over the past few years:

The group's employee count has also seen a slight decrease from 2022 to 2024, from 21,059 to 19,508. This could be an indication of the group's efforts to streamline its operations and improve efficiency.

BPER bank's customer service is highly regarded for its availability and professionalism. They provide precise and timely support, resolving doubts with clarity.

Their new contract proposals have raised some concerns among customers, as they now charge for certain services like bank withdrawals and transfers. For example, a €5 withdrawal at an ATM costs €7.50, which can be a significant fee.

The bank's competitive pricing has been a hallmark of BPER bank, but these new fees have created a slight sense of discontent among some customers.

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BPER Banca's listing on the Italian Stock Exchange is a significant milestone in its history, marking a transition from a cooperative bank to a joint-stock company.

The bank's governance structure is designed to ensure transparency and accountability, with a Board of Directors comprising 12 members, including the Chairman and the CEO.

BPER Banca's shareholders have the right to participate in general meetings, where they can exercise their voting rights and influence the bank's strategic decisions.

The bank's Articles of Association outline the rules and procedures for shareholder participation, including the requirement for a minimum quorum for valid meetings.

Shareholders can also appoint and remove members of the Board of Directors through a majority vote at the general meeting.

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BPER Banca Spa is a leading banking group in Italy, offering a wide range of financial services. It operates nationwide in Italy and has a presence in Luxembourg, catering to both domestic and international markets.

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The bank's primary activities include corporate & investment banking, private banking & wealth management, bancassurance, leasing, factoring, and lending to retail customers. BPER provides services such as industrial analysis, advisory services, advanced financial instruments, M&A Advisory, and Corporate Finance transactions.

BPER Banca operates through a network of branches and serves a diverse customer base, including natural persons, sole proprietorships, legal entities, central governments, public administrations, and financial companies. It's headquartered in Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

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A banca con un ottimo servizio è la BPER, che offre velocità nell'erogazione del mutuo e un tasso d'interesse onesto.

The bank's online process allows for a smooth and efficient experience, without the need to physically visit a branch.

La banca Bper è stata molto professionale e cortese, come riportato da un cliente che ha avuto un'esperienza positiva con il Dir. Cannizzo.

Il direttore Cannizzo è stato molto preparato e attento al cliente, spiegando tutto in modo dettagliato e semplice.

La banca Bper aiuta a realizzare sogni e supporta i clienti in modo eccellente.

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The Gruppo BPER has undergone significant evolution over the years. It was founded in 1984 through the merger of Banca Popolare di Modena and Banca Cooperativa di Bologna.

Banca Popolare dell'Emilia, the precursor to the Gruppo BPER, was established on January 1, 1984. This marked the beginning of the group's expansion.

The group's evolution accelerated in the 1990s, with a series of strategic acquisitions. Between 1994 and 2001, the group acquired numerous banks, including Banca Popolare di Ravenna, Banca Popolare di Lanciano and Sulmona, and Banca Popolare di Crotone.

Here's a brief overview of the key acquisitions made by the group during this period:

Today, the Gruppo BPER is a diversified financial services group with a presence in several countries.