Banca Popolare di Modena was founded in 1867 on the initiative of Società Operaia di Mutuo Soccorso. In 1973, it began a long process of growth in which the Bank aggregated several banks in the Emilia-Romagna area, until it achieved a significant size in the region and, in 1992, took on the name of Banca Popolare dell’Emilia Romagna.


 

The BPER Group was created in 1994 on the initiative of Banca Popolare dell’Emilia Romagna, with the objective of creating a federal entity in which each bank could take advantage of the synergies of a large group, while maintaining its operating autonomy and deep roots in the local areas.


 

The following banks were acquired or incorporated between 1994 and 2000: Banca Popolare di Ravenna, Cassa Rurale di Sicignano negli Alburni, Banca Popolare del Materano, Banca Popolare di Lanciano e Sulmona, Banca CRV – Cassa di Risparmio di Vignola, Banca Popolare di Crotone, Credito Commerciale Tirreno, Banca Popolare della Val d’Agri, Banca Del Monte di Foggia, Banca Popolare del Sinni, Banca Popolare di Aprilia, Banca Popolare di Castrovillari e Corigliano Calabro, Banca Popolare di Salerno, Carispaq – Cassa di Risparmio della provincia dell’Aquila, Banca Popolare dell’Irpinia.
In the following years, the major acquisition of Banco di Sardegna and other acquisitions were completed and the Group operations rationalized.


 

Today, the Group’s federal organization includes nine local banks with approximately 1,300 branches, covering almost all of the Italian regions. 
 

The sixth largest banking group in Italy in terms of number of branches, and the third largest cooperative bank, it operates in all the main market segments, through investee companies or joint ventures: Corporate & Investment Banking, Wealth Management & Insurance, Leasing, Factoring and Consumer Credit. The Group provides assistance to its customers on foreign markets, also via its branches in South-East Asia.