Cassa di Risparmio di Ascoli Piceno

Cassa di Risparmio di Ascoli Piceno, commonly known as Carisap, was a regional Italian savings bank headquartered in Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region. Its origins dated to 1842, when it was established in Ascoli Piceno within the Papal States. For much of its existence, the institution served households, businesses and local organizations in the Ascoli Piceno area, combining conventional savings-bank activities with a strong regional identity. The bank's legal and ownership structure changed substantially during the Italian banking reforms of the late twentieth century. In 1992, in the context of the Amato banking law, Carisap was converted into a joint-stock company. The associated Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ascoli Piceno, generally called Fondazione Carisap, became a separate philanthropic institution and retained a role as a shareholder and local institutional stakeholder. During the 1990s, Cariplo acquired an initial minority interest in Carisap from Fondazione Carisap. Carisap subsequently followed Cariplo into the formation of Banca Intesa through the merger of Cariplo and Banco Ambrosiano Veneto, completed in 1998. Banca Intesa increased its ownership of Carisap during that year. The bank was later placed within Intesa's regional savings-bank structures, including Holding IntesaBCI Centro, and ultimately became part of the broader Intesa Sanpaolo Group following the 2007 merger between Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI. The ownership consolidation continued after the formation of Intesa Sanpaolo. In 2008, the group transferred a number of regional savings banks, including Carisap, to Banca CR Firenze as an intermediate holding company. In 2012, Banca CR Firenze acquired the remaining minority interest in Carisap from Fondazione Carisap and subsequently transferred the bank to Intesa Sanpaolo. These transactions removed the foundation's direct controlling role in the operating bank while preserving its independent charitable mission. Carisap ceased to exist as a separate banking institution in 2013, when it was merged with Banca dell'Adriatico, another Intesa Sanpaolo subsidiary serving parts of central and eastern Italy. The merger reflected the group's effort to simplify its regional banking structure and consolidate overlapping operations. Carisap's banking activities therefore continued within the Intesa Sanpaolo network rather than under the independent Carisap name. The former banking brand also had a visible community presence. Carisap sponsored Ascoli Calcio 1898 and supported the annual San Benedetto Tennis Cup, linking the institution to local football and tennis activities. Its former foundation continued independently as a nonprofit organization focused on social utility in the Ascoli Piceno area, including cultural heritage, social services, education, health and sustainable development. The foundation's continuing work represents the principal institutional legacy of the former savings bank.

Cassa di Risparmio di Ascoli Piceno was founded in 1842 in Ascoli Piceno, then within the Papal States. It developed as a local savings institution serving the financial needs of households, businesses and civic organizations in the Ascoli Piceno area. Its regional character remained central to its identity even as Italy's banking sector became increasingly consolidated. A major structural change occurred in 1992, when the bank became a joint-stock company under the reforms associated with the Amato law. The reform separated the banking business from the philanthropic role historically associated with savings banks. Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Ascoli Piceno, or Fondazione Carisap, emerged as an independent nonprofit foundation and remained connected to the bank through its shareholding. In the 1990s, Cariplo acquired 25 percent of Carisap from Fondazione Carisap. Carisap then followed Cariplo into Banca Intesa, created by the merger of Cariplo and Banco Ambrosiano Veneto on 1 January 1998. Banca Intesa increased its ownership of Carisap to a majority position during 1998. The bank was subsequently included in Intesa's intermediate regional holding arrangements, including Holding IntesaBCI Centro, alongside other Italian savings banks. The next major stage came in 2007, when Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI combined to create Intesa Sanpaolo. Carisap became part of that group. In 2008, the group transferred seven savings banks to Banca CR Firenze, a newly acquired Intesa Sanpaolo subsidiary that served as an intermediate holding company for the regional institutions. In 2012, Banca CR Firenze acquired the remaining 34 percent of Carisap from Fondazione Carisap and then sold Carisap to Intesa Sanpaolo. The transactions completed the operating bank's integration into the Intesa Sanpaolo ownership structure. They also marked a further separation between the former bank and the foundation, which continued as an autonomous charitable organization in the local area. Carisap's independent banking existence ended in 2013, when it was merged with Banca dell'Adriatico. That subsidiary operated across Marche, Abruzzo and Molise and was also controlled by Intesa Sanpaolo. The merger consolidated regional banking operations and removed Carisap as a separate legal and commercial banking entity. Its former customers and activities became part of the successor banking structure rather than continuing under the Carisap name. The bank maintained links with local civic life through sponsorships. Carisap was a shirt sponsor of Ascoli Calcio 1898 and supported the annual San Benedetto Tennis Cup. The former foundation remains the principal continuing institution associated with the Carisap name. It supports projects in cultural heritage, social services, education, health and sustainable development in the Ascoli Piceno area. Its activities illustrate the traditional community-oriented role historically associated with Italian savings-bank foundations.

1. 2013Merger into Banca dell'Adriatico

   Carisap merged with Banca dell'Adriatico and ceased to operate as a separate bank.

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2. 2012Final ownership consolidation

   Banca CR Firenze acquired the remaining minority interest held by Fondazione Carisap and subsequently transferred Carisap to Intesa Sanpaolo.

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3. 2008Transfer to Banca CR Firenze holding structure

   Carisap was among the regional savings banks transferred to Banca CR Firenze as an intermediate holding company within Intesa Sanpaolo.

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4. 2007Entry into Intesa Sanpaolo

   Carisap became part of Intesa Sanpaolo after the formation of the group through the combination of Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI.

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5. 1998Integration into Banca Intesa

   Carisap followed Cariplo into Banca Intesa after the merger of Cariplo and Banco Ambrosiano Veneto. Banca Intesa also increased its ownership of Carisap.

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6. 1992Conversion into a joint-stock company

   The bank became a Società per azioni in connection with Italy's Amato banking reforms, while the associated foundation became a separate nonprofit institution.

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7. 1842Foundation in Ascoli Piceno

   Cassa di Risparmio di Ascoli Piceno was established in Ascoli Piceno, then part of the Papal States.

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A locally rooted savings bank serving households, enterprises and community institutions in the Ascoli Piceno area before its integration into the Intesa Sanpaolo Group.

• Retail savings and current accountsRetail banking

  As a regional savings bank, Carisap's core activity was the collection of deposits and provision of everyday banking services to households and local organizations. These activities included savings products, current-account relationships and branch-based payments and account administration. Specific historical product names are not identified in the available reference material.

• Loans and mortgagesLending

  Carisap provided conventional lending associated with a regional retail bank, including credit for households and property-related borrowing. The bank also supported local economic activity through lending to enterprises. The available references do not document individual loan products or their terms.

• Small-business and local-enterprise bankingCommercial banking

  The bank's regional mandate placed it in a position to serve businesses and institutions in the Ascoli Piceno area. Its commercial banking role complemented its retail savings activities, although detailed historical product information is not available in the supplied sources.

• Ascoli Calcio 1898 shirt sponsorship

  Ascoli Piceno · Italy

  Carisap served as a shirt sponsor of Ascoli Calcio 1898, giving the regional bank visibility through a prominent local football institution.

  Outcome. The sponsorship reinforced the bank's association with the Ascoli Piceno community. The source does not specify the sponsorship's start or end date.

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• San Benedetto Tennis Cup sponsorship

  San Benedetto del Tronto · Marche · Italy

  Carisap sponsored the annual San Benedetto Tennis Cup as part of its community and sports-support activities.

  Outcome. The sponsorship connected the bank with a recurring regional sporting event; the supplied source does not provide dates or contractual details.

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• 2013Merge with Banca dell'AdriaticoM&A

  Intesa Sanpaolo operated multiple regional banking subsidiaries serving overlapping areas of central and eastern Italy.

  What changed. Carisap was merged with Banca dell'Adriatico, another Intesa Sanpaolo subsidiary.

  Aftermath. Carisap ceased to exist as a separate bank, with its banking business continuing within the successor organization.

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• 2012Consolidate ownership under Intesa SanpaoloM&A

  Banca CR Firenze held Carisap within Intesa Sanpaolo's intermediate regional structure, while Fondazione Carisap still held a minority interest.

  What changed. Banca CR Firenze acquired the remaining 34 percent stake from Fondazione Carisap and then sold Carisap to Intesa Sanpaolo.

  Aftermath. The operating bank became fully integrated into the Intesa Sanpaolo ownership chain, while the foundation continued its separate charitable work.

  Transaction consideration. Fondazione Carisap held a 34% minority stake (2012)

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• 1998Integration into Banca IntesaM&A

  Cariplo, which had acquired a minority interest in Carisap, merged with Banco Ambrosiano Veneto to create Banca Intesa.

  What changed. Carisap followed Cariplo into the new group, while Banca Intesa increased its ownership of the regional bank.

  Aftermath. Carisap became part of a larger national banking group and later participated in Intesa's regional holding structures.

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• 1992Adopt joint-stock company structureStrategy

  Italian banking reform associated with the Amato law required changes to the traditional structure of savings banks.

  What changed. Carisap was converted into a Società per azioni, separating the operating bank from the related philanthropic foundation.

  Aftermath. Fondazione Carisap continued as an independent nonprofit body and remained a shareholder during the subsequent ownership changes.

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• 2013Carisap merges with Banca dell'Adriatico

  Carisap was merged with Banca dell'Adriatico, another Intesa Sanpaolo subsidiary, and stopped operating as a separate bank.

  M&A
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• 2012Ownership of Carisap is consolidated

  Banca CR Firenze acquired the remaining minority stake in Carisap from Fondazione Carisap and later transferred the bank to Intesa Sanpaolo, completing the consolidation of ownership.

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• 2007Carisap joins the Intesa Sanpaolo Group

  Following the creation of Intesa Sanpaolo through the combination of Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI, Carisap became part of the new banking group.

  M&A
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• 1998Carisap becomes part of Banca Intesa

  Carisap followed Cariplo into Banca Intesa after the merger of Cariplo and Banco Ambrosiano Veneto. Banca Intesa increased its ownership of the regional bank during the same year.

  M&A
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1. Cassa di Risparmio di Ascoli Piceno