Origind and History

1488 year of foundation
Blessed Bernardino da Feltre, after years of preaching, founded a charitable institution in Parma on January 27, 1488, called "Monte di Pietà di Parma" (the decree confirming it was issued by the Duke of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Sforza) to fight the spreading poverty and aid the poorer classes in the city, by then resigned to the violence of the mercenaries in the pay of Ludovico il Moro who had fought Pier Maria Rossi, accused of betrayal for his loyalty to the widow of Galeazzo Maria Sforza. To combat poverty, revive economic activity and promote works of charity, Brother Bernardino da Feltre, of the order of the Lesser Observing Monks, set up what he called the "denarino", a minimum discount tax that served, above all, to combat the growing problem of usury.

1492-1505 two new banks open
The Monte di Pietà was "a healthy, efficient organization" and in order to continue the economic and social activities for which it was founded, the need was felt to open a second bank near Piazza Grande in 1492, the year of the discovery of America. The financial solidity of the institution enabled it to stimulate business but also to support initiatives in the field of charity. A third bank was opened in 1505. The banking activity would later serve to finance the projects and activities of the Farnese family, first, and the Bourbons, in the centuries to come, enabling them to survive wars and famines, and later the invasion of Napoleon.

1913 birth of the banking section
In 1910 the Council resolved to establish in Parma "a Credit Department of the Monte di Pietà and appoint a Commission to study and propose the ways and means for undertaking its operation", but it was only in 1913 that all the difficulties were overcome and the ancient program of Brother Bernardino da Feltre saw the light with the creation of a banking operation, the Monte di Pietà Bank, with loans at very low interest rates that were, however, sufficient to provide the economic means for continuing to pursue its original humanitarian goals.

1925-1970 sviluppo e nuova denominazione di Banca del Monte di Parma - Monte di Credito su Pegno
The Monte di Pietà of Parma, classified as a first category by Royal Decree dated January 4, 1925, was a member of the Federation of Savings Banks and Loan Institutions in the first category in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, changed its name to Monte di Parma Bank on November 13, 1970. With its new name it continued its role as a credit institution (at that time it had 12 branches in the city and province, in addition to the main office), as well as continuing to pursue its traditional pawnbroking activity in the Pawn Section.

1970-1974 construction of the new headquarters of the Bank
In the years from 1970 to 1974 a new building took the place of the old headquarters, located as before between via Cavour and piazzale Battisti.
Among its architects were Gio Ponti, Gugliemo Lusignoli and Pierluigi Nervi.
Thirty years later, the building is still one of the finest works of modern architecture in Parma.

1978 purchase of Palazzo Sanvitale, current headquarters of the Monte Parma Bank and Monte Parma Foundation
The bank purchased the building, once the home of the Sanvitale family, from the Institute of the Daughters of the Cross. After it was restored, the building became the bank's headquarters. One of the most prestigious buildings in the city, once the site of the city government and a place of culture, Palazzo Sanvitale anchors the roots of the Bank more firmly in the history of the city.

1991 birth of the Monte di Parma Foundation and Monte Parma Bank S.p.A.
On October 12, 1991, the Monte di Parma Foundation was created, pursuant to Law 218/90 (Amato Law), with separation of the banking activity now exercised by the subsidiary Monte Parma Bank S.p.A. The Foundation can be considered the direct continuation of the ancient Monte di Parma.

1994 capital increase and new shareholders
The capital of the bank was increased and now amounts to 140 billion lire, and 2500 new private shareholders became important partners of the bank with 20.5% of its shares.

1999 alliance with Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank
The Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank S.p.A. becomes a shareholder with 41% of the Monte Parma Bank by purchasing 20.5% of the capital of the Foundation Monte di Parma and 20.5% from the previous bank partner
The Monte dei Paschi di Siena Bank also agrees to purchase, for a congruous price, the shares held by private shareholders.

2000 new expansion of the banking activity - new By-Laws of the Foundation
In the sphere of its programmed development activities, the Monte Parma Bank plans to open 10 new branches that will bring the network up to a total of 51 branches.

The Italian government approved the new by-laws of the Foundation by Ministry decree dated July 24, 2000, whereby the Foundation becomes a juridical entity in the form of a non-profit corporation with full statutory and managerial authority.