1483–1990: early years
In 1483, the Franciscan religious Angelo Da Chivasso, founded the mount of piety of Genoa.[2] In 1846, a decree of Piedmont-Sardinia King Charles Albert of Sardinia created the Cassa di Risparmio di Genova,[2] which extended the basic financial services of the mount to encourage and protect small savings more widely. In the 19th century, the bank expanded into western Liguria, and in 1967, it became the Cassa di Risparmio di Genova e Imperia.[2] Imperia was the capital of the west-most province of Liguria region.
1991–1999
In 1991, due to Amato Law, the bank, as a statutory corporation, was split into Banca Carige S.p.A. and Fondazione Carige,[3] forming Gruppo Banca Carige in the same year. The bank absorbed Istituto di Credito Fondiario della Liguria and Mediocredito Ligure. In January 1995, Banca Carige entered into the Borsa Italiana as a listed company. In 1997, the Gruppo Banca Carige acquired some insurance companies.
2000–2013: Berneschi's Bank Management
In 2000, Carige Vita Nuova Assicurazioni was created from Basilese Vita Nuova, while in 2002, Carige Assicurazioni was founded from Levante Norditalia. In 2000, the Banca Carige Group acquired the Cassa di Risparmio di Savona and the Banca del Monte di Lucca. Between 2000 and 2002, Carige completed three further acquisitions of branches from other banks: 21 branches from Banco di Sicilia, 61 from Banca Intesa group, and 42 from the Capitalia Group in Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia–Romagna, Tuscany, Lazio, Marche, Umbria, Apulia, and Sicily. In 2004, the bank strengthened its position in Tuscany with the acquisition of the Cassa di Risparmio di Carrara and founded Carige Asset Management SGR for the management of financial products. In 2004, the bank acquired the private bank Banca Cesare Ponti. In 2008, two further major acquisitions were completed: 79 branches from the Intesa Sanpaolo Group in Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, and Sardinia, and another 38 branches from the UniCredit
2014–2019
In 2014, the bank sold its insurance subsidiaries Carige Assicurazioni and Carige Vita Nuova to investment funds managed by Apollo Global Management for €310 million (via Primavera Holdings S.r.l.).[8][9] However, in 2016 the new board of directors wanted to sue the old managers for mismanagement by selling the insurance companies, claiming it was actually harmful to the bank instead of gain.[10] However, the court rejected the lawsuit.[11]
In mid-2015, subsidiaries Cassa di Risparmio di Savona (with second-tier subsidiary Immobiliare Carisa), Cassa di Risparmio di Carrara, Columbus Carige Immobiliare were absorbed into Banca Carige.[12] In 2016 Banca Carige Italia was absorbed by Banca Carige.
Around 2015, Malacalza Investimenti replaced
2020–2022
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank's top management was looking for a buyer who could put an end to the banking crisis that the bank has been through in the previous decade.[32][33] On 14 February 2022, the purchase negotiation by BPER Banca was concluded, with the approval of the Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi (FITD). Furthermore, the FITD guaranteed to Carige other funds for a total €530 million.[34] On 28 November 2022, the bank was incorporated into BPER Banca.[35] The Monte di Pietà of Genoa is sold to Affide, a brand of Custodia Valore - Credito su Pegno S.p.A. and from 2022 part of it.[36]
