Banking in Italy

Banking in Italy has, as of 11 October 2008, an average leverage ratio (assets/liabilities) of 12 to 1, while the banks's short-term liabilities are equal to 86% of the Italian GDP or 43% of the Italian national debt.^[1]

The origins of modern banking can be traced to medieval and early Renaissance Italy, to the rich cities in the north like Florence, Lucca, Siena, Venice and Genoa. The Bardi and Peruzzi families dominated banking in 14th century Florence, establishing branches in many other parts of Europe.^[2] One of the most famous Italian banks was the Medici Bank, set up by Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici in 1397.^[3] The earliest known state deposit bank, Banco di San Giorgio (Bank of St. George), was founded in 1407 at Genoa, Italy,^[4] while Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, founded in 1472, is the oldest surviving bank in the world. Unicredit is one of the largest bank in Europe by capitalization and Assicurazioni Generali is the seventh in the world by total assets

See also

• List of banks in Italy

References

1. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/business/worldbusiness/11charts._r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&referer=sphere_related_content&referer=sphere_related_content&oref=slogin
2. Hoggson, N. F. (1926) Banking Through the Ages, New York, Dodd, Mead & Company.
3. Goldthwaite, R. A. (1995) Banks, Places and Entrepreneurs in Renaissance Florence, Aldershot, Hampshire, Great Britain, Variorum
4. Macesich, George (30 June 2000). "Central Banking: The Early Years: Other Early Banks". Issues in Money and Banking. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers (Greenwood Publishing Group). p. 42. doi:10.1336/0275967778. ISBN 978-0-275-96777-2. Retrieved 2009-03-12. The first state deposit bank was the Bank of St. George in Genoa, which was established in 1407.

External links

• Major banks in Italy