The reorganization of Banca d'Italia's branch network enters its implementation stage

27 June 2025

Banca d'Italia is now rolling out its plan - announced in January - to revise and update the functions and organization of its Branch network.

At the end of the process, there will be 36 branches across Italy: 21 branches will operate at regional level and in the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano, carrying out a wide range of functions; 15 additional branches will be more specialized, focusing primarily on cash operations.

In light of their reduced activity, now largely in support of the regional branches, the Brescia and Livorno branches will be closed. Banca d’Italia will serve these areas through its Milan and Florence branches, in order to continue to support local communities and institutions.

Why these changes are being made

This reorganization is designed to respond effectively to changes in the external environment - including the transformation of the banking and financial system, technological advances, and the increasing public demand for digital services.

The plan involves: further decentralization of prudential supervision; initial steps toward decentralizing anti-money laundering supervision and oversight of customer protection in banking and finance; expansion of financial education initiatives; and enhancement of creditworthiness assessments for non-financial firms to support monetary policy. All branches will continue to play a key role in economic research and analysis at local level, as well as in cash management. These activities will be further strengthened through closer integration between the branch network and the Bank's head office.

To support this transition, the Bank will implement a comprehensive training and professional development programme to equip staff with the skills needed to take on new and expanding responsibilities across the network.

What will change at branch level

Under the new model, customer protection will be provided at all 21 regional and autonomous province branches. Prudential supervision will be concentrated in eight branches: Bologna, Bolzano, Florence, Milan, Naples, Roma Sede, Turin and Venice. These eight branches, along with those in Bari, Catanzaro, and Palermo, will also carry out anti-money laundering activities.

Nine non-regional branches (Agrigento, Catania, Forlì, Lecce, Pescara, Reggio Calabria, Salerno, Sassari and Verona) will focus on cash handling and information services, while continuing to contribute to economic analysis and financial education. Finally, six branches with a longstanding focus on cash operations (Arezzo, Bergamo, Foggia, Padua, Piacenza and Rome CDM) will preserve their operational role.