Banca Nuova
Banca Nuova was an Italian regional bank headquartered in Palermo that operated mainly in Sicily before being absorbed into Intesa Sanpaolo.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Banca Nuova S.p.A. was an Italian regional banking institution headquartered in Palermo, Sicily. Its business was concentrated on retail and commercial banking in Sicily, with additional activity in Calabria and, at an earlier stage, the province of Rieti in Lazio. The bank became part of the northern Italian Banca Popolare di Vicenza group and ultimately disappeared as a separate banking entity after the 2017 resolution of that group and its subsequent integration into Intesa Sanpaolo. The Banca Nuova name brought together two separate historical strands. The first was a company incorporated in the Province of Treviso in August 2000 by Banca Popolare di Vicenza. That company acquired 20 branches from the Banca Intesa group at the beginning of 2001, including branches formerly operated by Banca Carime and Cassa di Risparmio di Rieti. It subsequently expanded its presence into Sicily. The second strand was Banca del Popolo – Banca Popolare, a cooperative bank founded in Trapani in 1883. Banca Popolare di Vicenza acquired control of Banca del Popolo around 2000 and completed a public offer for the remaining shares in February 2001. The cooperative was converted into a joint-stock company during this period. In July 2002, the legal entity of Banca del Popolo survived a merger with the earlier Banca Nuova company, but it adopted the Banca Nuova name and moved its headquarters from Trapani to Palermo. This transaction created the principal institution known as Banca Nuova during the following years. The bank expanded through a mixture of branch openings and acquisitions. In 2004, it acquired 30 branches from Banca Antoniana Popolare Veneta, strengthening its Sicilian network. Banca Nuova also developed specialist financial activities. In 2005 it established PrestiNuova, a company focused on consumer lending secured by assignments of a portion of the borrower's salary. PrestiNuova was initially held largely by Banca Nuova and Banca Popolare di Vicenza, then became a sister company within the wider group after a 2011 restructuring. Banca Nuova also held a minority interest in FarmaNuova, a business serving pharmacies; FarmaNuova was later absorbed by the group company FarBanca. The bank's regional identity was reinforced through sponsorships, including support for Pallacanestro Trapani and football clubs such as U.S. Città di Palermo and Trapani Calcio. Its market presence was particularly significant in Trapani and material in several other Sicilian provinces. Banca Nuova's final years were shaped by the financial deterioration and governance crisis of its parent, Banca Popolare di Vicenza. The group experienced capital weakness, a failed attempt to list its shares, legal claims concerning the sale of parent-bank shares to customers, and ultimately a finding by the European Central Bank that the group was failing or likely to fail. In 2016, the Atlante banking-sector fund provided support to Banca Popolare di Vicenza. In 2017, an Italian government-supported intervention transferred the viable assets and liabilities of Banca Popolare di Vicenza, including Banca Nuova, to Intesa Sanpaolo. Intesa Sanpaolo announced a plan to absorb Banca Nuova into its branch network, and its board approved the merger plan in February 2018. The Banca Nuova brand and separate corporate identity consequently ceased to operate as an independent bank.
History
Banca Nuova's history combines the expansion of Banca Popolare di Vicenza into southern Italy with the much older history of Banca del Popolo – Banca Popolare of Trapani. The earlier Banca Nuova S.p.A. was incorporated in the Province of Treviso on 25 August 2000 by Banca Popolare di Vicenza. It began building a southern Italian network and, on 1 January 2001, acquired 20 branches from companies in the Banca Intesa group. Nineteen of those branches were in Calabria and one was in Rieti in Lazio. By February 2002, the network had grown to about 30 branches and included Sicily. Banca del Popolo – Banca Popolare had been founded in Trapani in 1883 as a cooperative bank. It developed a particularly strong position in its home province, although it was not among the ten largest banks on the island by branch or deposit presence in the late 1990s. In 1997, it held a substantial share of deposits in the Province of Trapani. Around 2000, Banca Popolare di Vicenza acquired a majority interest and then launched a public offer for the remaining shares, completed in February 2001. The bank was demutualized and converted into a joint-stock company around this period. In July 2002, the earlier Banca Nuova was merged into Banca del Popolo. Banca del Popolo was the surviving legal person, but it changed its name to Banca Nuova and transferred its headquarters from Trapani to Palermo. The resulting bank expanded organically and through acquisitions. A major network transaction took place in 2004, when Banca Antoniana Popolare Veneta sold 30 branches to Banca Nuova. This helped establish the bank as a meaningful regional operator across Sicily. The bank broadened its activities beyond conventional branch banking. In 2005 it created PrestiNuova, a specialist lender offering loans secured by assignment of part of an employee's salary. At the end of 2009, Banca Nuova held the majority of PrestiNuova, with additional ownership held by Banca Popolare di Vicenza and Banca Popolare Sant'Angelo. A 2011 legal restructuring placed PrestiNuova alongside, rather than directly below, Banca Nuova in the group structure. Banca Popolare di Vicenza later increased its ownership of PrestiNuova to full control. Banca Nuova also held 30 percent of FarmaNuova in 2009; that pharmacy-focused associate was absorbed by FarBanca in 2012. Banca Nuova maintained a strong regional profile. It sponsored Pallacanestro Trapani and supported football clubs including U.S. Città di Palermo and Trapani Calcio. Competition authorities later described the Banca Popolare di Vicenza group, operating through Banca Nuova and related companies, as holding notable deposit and household-lending shares in Trapani and smaller but material positions in several other Sicilian provinces. The bank's final period was dominated by the financial and governance problems of its parent. Banca Nuova reported a weak capital position in the mid-2010s, while Banca Popolare di Vicenza struggled to complete a public offering and meet capital requirements. The parent was supported by the Atlante fund in 2016. The crisis also generated litigation and regulatory scrutiny concerning the alleged mis-selling of Banca Popolare di Vicenza shares to customers, including depositors of its banking network. In 2017, the European Central Bank determined that Banca Popolare di Vicenza was failing or likely to fail. An Italian government-supported resolution transferred the viable assets and liabilities of the group to Intesa Sanpaolo, including Banca Nuova. Intesa Sanpaolo announced in October 2017 that Banca Nuova would be absorbed into its branch network. The merger plan received approval from the Intesa Sanpaolo board on 5 February 2018. Banca Nuova therefore ceased to exist as an independent bank and its brand was retired.
- 2018
Absorption into Intesa Sanpaolo is approved
[1]Intesa Sanpaolo's board approves the plan to absorb Banca Nuova, ending its existence as an independent bank.
- 2017
Banca Nuova is transferred to Intesa Sanpaolo
[1]The Italian government-supported resolution of Banca Popolare di Vicenza transfers Banca Nuova and other viable operations to Intesa Sanpaolo.
- 2016
Atlante supports Banca Popolare di Vicenza
[1]The parent bank receives support from the Atlante fund after capital pressures and the failure of its planned share offering.
- 2012
FarmaNuova is absorbed by FarBanca
[1]The pharmacy-focused associate in which Banca Nuova had held an interest is absorbed by the sister company FarBanca.
- 2005
PrestiNuova is established
[1]The group creates a specialist company for salary-backed consumer lending.
- 2004
Branch network expands through Banca Antoniana Popolare Veneta deal
[1]Banca Nuova acquires 30 branches from Banca Antoniana Popolare Veneta.
- 2002
Merger creates the later Banca Nuova
[1]The earlier Banca Nuova is merged into Banca del Popolo. The surviving entity adopts the Banca Nuova name and moves its headquarters to Palermo.
- 2001
Initial branch acquisitions from Banca Intesa group companies
[1]The new Banca Nuova acquires 20 branches in Calabria and Lazio from companies belonging to the Banca Intesa group.
- 2000
Banca Popolare di Vicenza acquires control of Banca del Popolo
[1]Banca Popolare di Vicenza acquires a majority stake and begins the process of purchasing the remaining shares.
- 2000
A new Banca Nuova company is incorporated
[1]A separate Banca Nuova S.p.A. is incorporated in the Province of Treviso as part of Banca Popolare di Vicenza's southern expansion.
Products and positioning
A regionally focused Sicilian bank serving households, local businesses and communities through a branch-led retail and commercial banking model.
Banking services
Retail and commercial banking
Banca Nuova operated a regional branch network serving households, businesses and local communities. Its activities included deposit gathering, current-account services, payment services and lending to families and enterprises, with the strongest concentration in Sicily and additional branches in Calabria.
Consumer finance · 2005
PrestiNuova
PrestiNuova was a specialist group company focused on consumer loans secured through assignment of a portion of the borrower's salary. It began as a subsidiary associated with Banca Nuova and later became a sister company within the Banca Popolare di Vicenza group.
Controversies
2016
Banca Popolare di Vicenza share-sale and capital crisis
Banca Nuova was affected by the parent group's capital shortfall, failed share offering and subsequent allegations that Banca Popolare di Vicenza shares had been mis-sold to bank customers. The crisis led to litigation, regulatory intervention and eventual transfer of the viable business to Intesa Sanpaolo.
1996
Mafia-linked shareholder issue at Banca del Popolo
Before the bank became part of the Banca Nuova story, reports disclosed that shareholder Vincenzo Piazza, whose holding represented approximately 8 percent of Banca del Popolo's capital, had links to organized crime. This concerned the predecessor institution rather than an independently documented action by the later Banca Nuova.
Marketing campaigns
- Regional sports sponsorships
Sicily
Banca Nuova supported regional sports organizations, including Pallacanestro Trapani, U.S. Città di Palermo and Trapani Calcio. These sponsorships reinforced its identity as a locally rooted Sicilian bank.
Outcome. The sponsorships increased the bank's visibility in the communities where it operated; no measured commercial outcome is identified in the reference material.
Brand decisions
2017
Transfer Banca Nuova to Intesa SanpaoloM&ABackground
The European Central Bank determined that Banca Popolare di Vicenza was failing or likely to fail, prompting an Italian government-supported resolution of the group.
Action taken
Intesa Sanpaolo acquired most of the viable assets and liabilities of Banca Popolare di Vicenza, including Banca Nuova, and announced that Banca Nuova would be absorbed into its branch network.
Aftermath
Banca Nuova lost its independent corporate status and brand as its operations were integrated into Intesa Sanpaolo.
2005
Create PrestiNuova for salary-backed lendingProduct launchBackground
The group sought to develop a dedicated platform for consumer finance.
Action taken
Banca Nuova established PrestiNuova, specializing in loans secured by assignment of part of a borrower's salary.
Aftermath
PrestiNuova became a separate group company and later a sister company of Banca Nuova following a 2011 restructuring.
2004
Acquire 30 branches from Banca Antoniana Popolare VenetaM&ABackground
Banca Nuova sought to expand its regional distribution network through acquisitions as well as organic branch openings.
Action taken
The bank acquired 30 branches from Banca Antoniana Popolare Veneta.
Aftermath
The deal expanded Banca Nuova's presence in its core southern Italian market.
2002
Merge the earlier Banca Nuova into Banca del PopoloM&ABackground
Banca Popolare di Vicenza controlled both the newer Banca Nuova company and Banca del Popolo, creating an opportunity to consolidate their southern Italian operations.
Action taken
The companies were merged in July 2002. Banca del Popolo remained the legal survivor, changed its name to Banca Nuova and moved its headquarters to Palermo.
Aftermath
The transaction established the Banca Nuova institution that operated as a regional Sicilian bank until its later absorption into Intesa Sanpaolo.
Sources1 sources
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