Farewell to banks, branches leaving citizens without branches. More than 4.2 million people

There are more and more Italian municipalities without a bank branch. After closing nearly 600 branches Since the beginning of the year, driven by technology and cost-cutting, municipalities without a bank presence have reached more than 3,200, 41% of the total and continue to rise, not only affecting inland or mountainous regions or small centers.

More than 4.2 million people And 249,000 companies do not have access to banking services in the municipality of residence and the “network” of branches in big cities is dwindling. The topic, which was also raised by the President of the Republic at the Federcasse Assembly, was elaborated by the Fiba Foundation of the first Cisl federation.

Every day in Italy less than two bank branches are permanently closed and more than 15 employees are disappearing day after day. A negative trend recording fewer branches, fewer services for families and businesses, and fewer employees: In 2022, the number of branches decreased by 664 to 20,986 branches, And about a quarter in the past five years, while in 2017 there were 27,374.

Desertification drags one with it Reduction in bank staffEquivalent to last year’s 264,132, down 2.1% compared to the previous year, with a loss of 5,647 employees.

Giulio Benco Caracciolo