Banca di Roma
An Italian banking brand formed in Rome in 1992 through the merger of Banco di Santo Spirito and Banco di Roma.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Banca di Roma was an Italian banking institution headquartered in Rome. It was created in 1992 when Banco di Santo Spirito merged with Banco di Roma, following the restructuring of the former Cassa di Risparmio di Roma banking operations under Italy's Legge Amato reforms. Those reforms required Italian savings banks to reorganize their banking activities into joint-stock companies. Rather than establishing an entirely separate bank for its banking business, the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Roma created a holding structure, Cassa di Risparmio di Roma Holding, also known as Società Italiana di Partecipazioni Bancarie. The banking assets were subsequently combined with Banco di Santo Spirito and Banco di Roma, producing the institution that adopted the name Banca di Roma. The bank expanded beyond its original Roman base during the 1990s and became the center of a wider banking group. In 1992 it acquired a minority interest in Cassa di Risparmio della Provincia dell'Aquila, although that investment was later sold in 1998. Banca di Roma also absorbed its subsidiary Banca di Roma Holding in 1994. During the latter part of the decade, the group pursued a broader consolidation strategy, acquiring or incorporating interests connected with Banca Mediterranea, Banco di Sicilia and Mediocredito Centrale. Mediocredito di Roma, a Banca di Roma subsidiary, was involved in a reversed merger with Mediocredito Centrale in 2000. The group also went through a divestment and restructuring phase. Banca Mediterranea was privatized in 2000 and became Nuova Banca Mediterranea. In 2001, Banca di Roma sold the institution to a consortium led by Banca Popolare di Bari and Veneto Banca; Banca Mediterranea was subsequently dismantled in 2002. These transactions reflected the wider reorganization of Italy's banking sector at the turn of the century. In 2002, Banca di Roma Group merged with Bipop Carire to create Capitalia. The Banca di Roma name therefore became part of a larger banking group rather than remaining an independent listed banking platform. Capitalia was acquired by UniCredit in 2007. After the acquisition, Banca di Roma continued as a UniCredit subsidiary and was reorganized as UniCredit Banca di Roma S.p.A. in 2008. The subsidiary received the UniCredit group's branches in central and southern Italy, while sister entities served other geographic areas, including northern Italy and Sicily. At its 2008 peak as a regional distribution network, the bank had 1,533 branches. Its largest concentration was in Lazio, with substantial networks also in Campania, Apulia, Tuscany, Marche and Umbria, plus smaller presences in Sardinia, Abruzzo, Molise, Calabria and Basilicata. In the same year, 11 branches were sold to Banca Carige. The regional allocation of branches formed part of UniCredit's geographic specialization strategy, with UniCredit Banca focused on northern Italy and other group entities serving Sicily. The legal entity ceased operating as a standalone bank in 2010, when UniCredit Banca, Banca di Roma and Banco di Sicilia were absorbed into UniCredit. The Banca di Roma name was retained as a registered trademark, but the separate bank no longer existed as an independent operating subsidiary. Its legacy is consequently tied to the consolidation of Rome-based savings-bank institutions, the creation of Capitalia and the subsequent integration of Italian regional banking assets into UniCredit.
History
Banca di Roma emerged from the reorganization of Rome's banking institutions during the early 1990s. Italy's Legge Amato required savings banks, known as casse di risparmio, to separate their banking operations from their philanthropic foundations and convert those operations into joint-stock companies. In this context, the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Roma established a holding structure rather than creating an entirely independent bank for the banking activities. In 1991, the banking section of Cassa di Risparmio di Roma was absorbed by Banco di Santo Spirito. The following year, Banco di Santo Spirito merged with Banco di Roma, and the combined institution adopted the name Banca di Roma. The new bank consolidated a significant Roman banking franchise and then developed into a broader banking group. It absorbed Banca di Roma Holding in 1994 and acquired a minority interest in Cassa di Risparmio della Provincia dell'Aquila in 1992; the latter investment was sold in 1998. During the late 1990s, the group expanded through investments and acquisitions involving Banca Mediterranea, Banco di Sicilia and Mediocredito Centrale. A related subsidiary, Mediocredito di Roma, reversed its merger with Mediocredito Centrale in 2000. Banca di Roma also participated in the privatization of Banca Mediterranea. That institution became Nuova Banca Mediterranea in 2000 and was sold in 2001 to a consortium led by Banca Popolare di Bari and Veneto Banca. Banca Mediterranea was dismantled in 2002, illustrating the substantial restructuring taking place across Italian banking groups during the period. A decisive change occurred in 2002, when Banca di Roma Group merged with Bipop Carire to form Capitalia. The Banca di Roma identity continued within the new group, but the bank was no longer the same standalone group that had been assembled during the 1990s. Capitalia was acquired by UniCredit in 2007. UniCredit subsequently reorganized the business in 2008 as UniCredit Banca di Roma S.p.A. and allocated to it the group's branches in central and southern Italy. Northern Italy was served by UniCredit Banca, while Banco di Sicilia served the Sicilian market. In 2008, the Banca di Roma network comprised 1,533 branches. The largest number was in Lazio, followed by networks in Campania, Apulia, Tuscany, Marche and Umbria. Smaller networks operated in Sardinia, Abruzzo, Molise, Calabria and Basilicata. Eleven branches were sold to Banca Carige during the year. This geographic structure made the brand particularly important in central and southern Italy, even though it operated within the wider UniCredit organization. The separate legal entity ended in 2010. UniCredit absorbed UniCredit Banca, Banca di Roma and Banco di Sicilia into the parent bank. Banca di Roma continued only as a registered trademark. Its history therefore spans the transformation of Italian savings-bank institutions, the formation of a Rome-centered banking group, the Capitalia merger and the final integration of regional banking operations into UniCredit.
- 2010
The bank is absorbed into UniCredit
[1]UniCredit absorbed Banca di Roma, UniCredit Banca and Banco di Sicilia. Banca di Roma remained as a registered trademark.
- 2008
UniCredit Banca di Roma is established
[1]The bank was reorganized as UniCredit Banca di Roma S.p.A.; 11 branches were sold to Banca Carige and the subsidiary operated 1,533 branches across central and southern Italy.
- 2007
UniCredit acquires Capitalia
[1]The acquisition placed Banca di Roma within the UniCredit Group.
- 2002
Capitalia is created
[1]Banca di Roma Group merged with Bipop Carire to form Capitalia.
- 2000
Banca Mediterranea is privatized
[1]Banca Mediterranea was privatized and became Nuova Banca Mediterranea.
- 1998
Interest in Cassa di Risparmio della Provincia dell'Aquila is sold
[1]Banca di Roma disposed of the minority interest it had acquired in 1992.
- 1994
Banca di Roma Holding is absorbed
[1]The bank absorbed its subsidiary Banca di Roma Holding as part of its corporate consolidation.
- 1992
Banca di Roma is established
[1]Banco di Santo Spirito merged with Banco di Roma, creating Banca di Roma.
- 1991
Cassa di Risparmio di Roma banking operations are absorbed
[1]The banking section of Cassa di Risparmio di Roma was absorbed by Banco di Santo Spirito during the implementation of Italy's savings-bank reforms.
Products and positioning
A Rome-centered Italian universal banking institution that developed into a major central and southern Italian branch network before becoming part of Capitalia and later UniCredit.
Banking services
Retail banking
Banca di Roma operated a broad branch-based banking business serving consumers in Rome and across central and southern Italy. The available historical description identifies the institution as a general bank rather than a narrowly specialized provider. Its retail activity would have been delivered through its extensive branch network, although the supplied sources do not identify specific account brands, pricing plans or digital products.
Banking services
Commercial banking
The Banca di Roma group operated as a diversified banking group with activities extending beyond its original Roman franchise. Its group structure and regional network supported banking relationships with businesses and institutions, but the supplied reference material does not provide a detailed catalog of commercial lending, treasury or investment-banking products.
Distribution channel
Branch banking network
The brand's most clearly documented offering was its physical distribution network. In 2008, the UniCredit Banca di Roma subsidiary had 1,533 branches, concentrated in Lazio and distributed across several central and southern Italian regions. The network was reorganized within UniCredit and no longer operated under Banca di Roma as a standalone bank after 2010.
Brand decisions
2010
Absorption into UniCreditStrategyBackground
UniCredit continued simplifying its Italian legal-entity and brand structure after the Capitalia acquisition.
Action taken
Banca di Roma, UniCredit Banca and Banco di Sicilia were absorbed into UniCredit.
Aftermath
Banca di Roma ceased to exist as a separate bank, although its name was retained as a registered trademark.
2008
Regional reorganization under UniCreditStrategyBackground
Following UniCredit's acquisition of Capitalia, the group reorganized its Italian banking brands and geographic responsibilities.
Action taken
Banca di Roma was incorporated as UniCredit Banca di Roma S.p.A. and assigned the group's central and southern Italian branches; 11 branches were sold to Banca Carige.
Aftermath
The brand became a regional operating subsidiary of UniCredit, with sister companies serving northern Italy and Sicily.
2002
Merger with Bipop CarireM&ABackground
Banca di Roma Group was pursuing greater scale through consolidation in the Italian banking market.
Action taken
Banca di Roma Group merged with Bipop Carire to create Capitalia.
Aftermath
Banca di Roma became part of the Capitalia group, which was later acquired by UniCredit.
2000
Privatization of Banca MediterraneaStrategyBackground
Banca di Roma was restructuring its wider group portfolio while Italy's banking sector was undergoing consolidation and privatization.
Action taken
Banca Mediterranea was privatized and renamed Nuova Banca Mediterranea.
Aftermath
The institution was sold in 2001 to a consortium led by Banca Popolare di Bari and Veneto Banca and was later dismantled.
1992
Merger creating Banca di RomaM&ABackground
The Italian banking sector was being reorganized under reforms requiring savings-bank banking operations to be separated and placed in joint-stock companies.
Action taken
Banco di Santo Spirito and Banco di Roma merged, producing the new Banca di Roma institution.
Aftermath
The merger established a Rome-centered bank that subsequently expanded into a wider banking group.
Recent events
- 2010
UniCredit absorbs Banca di Roma[1]
M&A
Banca di Roma was absorbed into UniCredit together with UniCredit Banca and Banco di Sicilia. The name remained as a registered trademark rather than an independent bank.
- 2010
UniCredit absorbs UniCredit Banca di Roma[1]
M&A
UniCredit Banca di Roma, UniCredit Banca and Banco di Sicilia were absorbed into UniCredit, ending the subsidiary's separate banking operations.
- 2008
Banca di Roma is reorganized as UniCredit Banca di Roma[1]
Leadership change
The bank was incorporated as UniCredit Banca di Roma S.p.A. and became the UniCredit subsidiary responsible for a substantial central and southern Italian branch network.
- 2008
Eleven branches are sold to Banca Carige[1]
M&A
As part of the reorganization following the Capitalia acquisition, 11 UniCredit Banca di Roma branches were transferred to Banca Carige.
- 2007
Capitalia is acquired by UniCredit[1]
M&A
UniCredit's acquisition of Capitalia brought Banca di Roma into the UniCredit Group.
- 2007
UniCredit acquires Capitalia[1]
M&A
Capitalia was acquired by UniCredit, bringing the Banca di Roma franchise into the UniCredit Group.
- 2002
Banca di Roma Group merges with Bipop Carire to create Capitalia[1]
M&A
The transaction transformed Banca di Roma Group into part of Capitalia, ending its existence as the central independent group in the previous form.
- 2002
Banca di Roma Group merges with Bipop Carire to form Capitalia[1]
M&A
The merger created Capitalia and ended Banca di Roma's independent existence as a banking group.
- 1992
Banca di Roma is formed through the merger of Banco di Santo Spirito and Banco di Roma[1]
M&A · Other
The merger created Banca di Roma during the restructuring of Italian savings-bank and banking institutions under the Legge Amato framework.
- 1990
Banca di Roma expands through banking-group acquisitions[1]
M&A
During the late 1990s, the group expanded its scope through interests and acquisitions involving Banca Mediterranea, Banco di Sicilia and Mediocredito Centrale.
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Sources1 sources
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