The official site of Italy's central bank

Declarations in lieu of protest

Article 45 of Royal Decree 1736 of 21 December 1933 allows the bearer of a bank or postal cheque that has been presented in time but not honoured to take recourse against the endorsers, the drawer and other persons liable, including when non-payment has been ascertained by means of a declaration of the Bank of Italy Clearing House. This declaration is issued by the heads of the Rome and Milan Clearing Houses, in their capacity as public officers, at the request of the drawee.

The heads of the Clearing Houses also notify, on a monthly basis, the protest lists to the presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture, for their publication in the "Registro informatico dei protesti" (Computerised register of protests); they also dispatch to the Prefects the reports ascertaining administrative offences consisting of the issuing of unauthorised or uncovered cheques.

The drawees requesting declarations in lieu of protest to the Clearing Houses are charged fees in order to allow Banca d'Italia to recover the expenses associated with this activity.