Banca Apulia

Banca Apulia S.p.A., marketed for much of its later history as BancApulia, was an Italian regional banking institution based in the Apulia region. Its corporate origins went back to 24 March 1924, when it was established in Torremaggiore as Banco di Torremaggiore. Over subsequent decades, the bank changed its legal and commercial identity several times as it broadened its geographical reach and consolidated with other institutions in southern Italy. It became Banco di Torremaggiore e della Daunia, then Banco di Torremaggiore e San Severo, and in 1985 adopted the name Banca della Capitanata S.p.A. The name reflected its regional orientation toward Capitanata, the historical area of northern Apulia. The institution experienced its most significant expansion from the 1980s through the mid-2000s. Felice Chiro’ served as chairman from 1966 to 1998, while chief executive Tommaso Gozzetti was associated with the bank’s growth during the later expansion period. In 1996, Banca della Capitanata acquired Banca Agricola Salentina and subsequently adopted the name BancApulia S.p.A., later commonly rendered as Banca Apulia. The transaction enlarged the bank’s regional footprint and was accompanied by a visual rebranding featuring the Castel del Monte motif, a prominent Apulian cultural symbol. The registered office remained in San Severo, while the main office was located in Bari, the region’s principal business centre. Banca Apulia operated as a retail and regional commercial bank. Its activities included lending, deposit taking, branch banking and related financial services. It also had exposure to consumer finance through Apulia Prontoprestito, a subsidiary specializing in salary-backed loans. According to figures cited from Banca d’Italia for 2005, the bank held meaningful regional shares in lending, primary direct deposits and branches in Apulia, although it remained a regional rather than nationwide banking group. Ownership changed substantially during the 2010s. In January 2010, Veneto Banca acquired a substantial stake from Finanziaria Capitanata and other shareholders. Banca Meridiana, a Veneto Banca subsidiary, was absorbed by Banca Apulia later that year. Veneto Banca’s ownership rose above 50 percent in 2010 and increased further in 2011 and 2012, while Finanziaria Capitanata remained a minority shareholder. In 2012, Veneto Banca and Banca Apulia also acquired minority interests in Apulia Prontoprestito from HDI Assicurazioni and other shareholders. The bank’s independent existence ended in the context of the 2017 crisis of Veneto Banca. On 26 June 2017, as part of the Italian government-supported resolution of Veneto Banca and the protection of eligible depositors, Intesa Sanpaolo acquired selected sound assets and operations, including Banca Apulia. In January 2019, Intesa Sanpaolo submitted a plan for the merger by incorporation of Banca Apulia. The transaction ended Banca Apulia as a separate banking institution and brand within the Italian banking market.

Banca Apulia began on 24 March 1924 in Torremaggiore under the name Banco di Torremaggiore. The institution was created as a local bank serving the economic needs of northern Apulia and changed its name several times as its activities expanded. It later became Banco di Torremaggiore e della Daunia and then Banco di Torremaggiore e San Severo, linking its identity to the wider Daunia and San Severo areas. Felice Chiro’ was chairman from 1966 until 1998. During the 1980s, the bank entered a sustained period of development under a younger management team, with Tommaso Gozzetti serving as chief executive during the principal expansion period that continued through 2006. In 1985, the institution adopted the name Banca della Capitanata S.p.A., a reference to Capitanata, the historical territory corresponding broadly to northern Apulia. A major turning point came in 1996, when the bank acquired Banca Agricola Salentina. Following the acquisition, it adopted the name BancApulia S.p.A., also known in English as Banca Apulia. Its registered office was in San Severo, while its main office was located in Bari. The rebranding included a logo based on Castel del Monte, one of the best-known architectural symbols of Apulia. By 2005, the bank had a measurable regional presence. Figures cited from Banca d’Italia indicated shares of 5.47 percent of lending in Apulia, 4.42 percent of primary direct deposits and 2.32 percent of the region’s branches. The institution remained focused on regional banking rather than developing into a nationwide universal bank. In 2008, Finanziaria Capitanata controlled 52.54 percent of the bank. On 13 January 2010, Veneto Banca acquired 42.394 percent from Finanziaria Capitanata and other shareholders. Later in 2010, Banca Meridiana, a Veneto Banca subsidiary, was absorbed by Banca Apulia. Veneto Banca held 50.787 percent at the end of 2010, with its stake rising to 63.747 percent in 2011 and 70.105 percent in 2012. Finanziaria Capitanata continued as a minority shareholder with approximately 25.85 percent after the transactions. Banca Apulia also operated in consumer finance through Apulia Prontoprestito, a subsidiary focused on salary-backed loans. In 2012, Veneto Banca and Banca Apulia acquired minority interests in that company from HDI Assicurazioni and other shareholders. After the transaction, Veneto Banca held 13.079 percent of Apulia Prontoprestito and Banca Apulia held 86.921 percent. The bank’s final transition was caused by the crisis and resolution of Veneto Banca. On 26 June 2017, Intesa Sanpaolo acquired selected sound assets of Veneto Banca, including Banca Apulia, under an Italian government-supported intervention intended to protect depositors while imposing losses on investors in the failed institutions. In January 2019, Intesa Sanpaolo filed a plan for the merger by incorporation of Banca Apulia. The merger process ended the bank’s separate corporate identity and brought its activities into the Intesa Sanpaolo group.

1. 2019Merger plan submitted

   Intesa Sanpaolo submitted a plan to merge Banca Apulia by incorporation.

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2. 2017Intesa Sanpaolo acquired Banca Apulia

   Banca Apulia was included among the selected sound assets acquired by Intesa Sanpaolo during the resolution of Veneto Banca.

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3. 2012Expansion of ownership in Apulia Prontoprestito

   Banca Apulia and Veneto Banca acquired minority interests in the salary-backed lending subsidiary, leaving Banca Apulia with an 86.921 percent stake.

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4. 2010Veneto Banca became the controlling shareholder

   After acquiring a substantial stake and absorbing Banca Meridiana, Veneto Banca held 50.787 percent at year-end.

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5. 2005Regional market-share data recorded

   Banca d’Italia figures cited for the year placed the bank’s Apulian shares at 5.47 percent in lending, 4.42 percent in primary direct deposits and 2.32 percent in branches.

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6. 1996Acquisition of Banca Agricola Salentina

   The acquisition was followed by the adoption of the BancApulia name and a Castel del Monte-based visual identity.

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7. 1985The bank became Banca della Capitanata

   The institution adopted the name Banca della Capitanata S.p.A. as it developed its regional identity.

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8. 1924Banco di Torremaggiore was established

   The institution was incorporated on 24 March in Torremaggiore, Apulia.

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A regional Italian commercial bank serving households, businesses and local communities in Apulia, with a later emphasis on integration into larger banking groups.

• Regional banking servicesCommercial banking

  Banca Apulia provided conventional regional banking services, including deposit taking, current accounts, lending and branch-based support for households and businesses. Its core franchise was concentrated in Apulia, where it developed a network and customer base tied to the local economy.

• Apulia ProntoprestitoConsumer finance

  Apulia Prontoprestito was a Banca Apulia subsidiary specializing in salary-backed loans, a form of consumer credit repaid through deductions from salary or pension income. Banca Apulia held a dominant stake after the 2012 ownership transaction.

• 2019Plan for merger by incorporationM&A

  Following the 2017 transfer into Intesa Sanpaolo, the group moved to simplify the legal structure.

  What changed. Intesa Sanpaolo filed a plan to merge Banca Apulia by incorporation.

  Aftermath. The separate Banca Apulia corporate identity was scheduled for elimination through integration into Intesa Sanpaolo.

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• 2017Transfer to Intesa Sanpaolo during Veneto Banca resolutionM&A

  Veneto Banca entered a resolution process involving government support, depositor protection and losses for investors.

  What changed. Intesa Sanpaolo acquired selected sound assets and operations, including Banca Apulia.

  Aftermath. Banca Apulia ceased to operate as an independently controlled regional bank.

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• 2012Ownership consolidation of Apulia ProntoprestitoM&A

  The parent banking group consolidated its exposure to the salary-backed consumer-lending business.

  What changed. Banca Apulia and Veneto Banca acquired minority interests in Apulia Prontoprestito from HDI Assicurazioni and other shareholders.

  Aftermath. Banca Apulia held 86.921 percent and Veneto Banca held 13.079 percent.

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• 2010Veneto Banca investment and Banca Meridiana absorptionM&A

  Veneto Banca acquired a major interest in Banca Apulia as part of the consolidation of its banking group.

  What changed. Veneto Banca acquired 42.394 percent and later combined its subsidiary Banca Meridiana with Banca Apulia.

  Aftermath. Veneto Banca held 50.787 percent at the end of 2010 and subsequently increased its ownership.

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• 1996Acquisition and rebranding after Banca Agricola Salentina transactionM&A

  Banca della Capitanata sought greater regional scale through the acquisition of Banca Agricola Salentina.

  What changed. The bank absorbed Banca Agricola Salentina and changed its name to BancApulia, later referred to as Banca Apulia.

  Aftermath. The transaction broadened the institution’s regional identity and was accompanied by a Castel del Monte logo.

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• 2019Intesa Sanpaolo filed a merger plan for Banca Apulia

  Intesa Sanpaolo submitted a plan to merge Banca Apulia by incorporation, formalizing the end of the bank’s independent corporate existence.

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• 2017Intesa Sanpaolo acquired selected assets including Banca Apulia

  During the government-supported resolution of Veneto Banca, Intesa Sanpaolo acquired selected sound assets and operations, including Banca Apulia.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2010Veneto Banca acquired a substantial stake in Banca Apulia

  Veneto Banca acquired a 42.394 percent stake in Banca Apulia from Finanziaria Capitanata and other shareholders, beginning a period of control by the Veneto banking group.

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• 2010Banca Meridiana was absorbed by Banca Apulia

  Banca Meridiana, a subsidiary of Veneto Banca, was absorbed into Banca Apulia as ownership and operational ties between the two institutions deepened.

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1. Banca Apulia