Friday, August 25, 2006
End of the Dolce Vita?
Just a few years ago, there seemed to be more banks in Italy than coffee shops, which certainly tells you something.
But as the banking system modernised, that came to an end as the smaller banks were bought out by their bigger rivals, among them Unicredit, San Paolo, Banca Intesa and Monte dei Paschi di Siena.
Yesterday, the mergers took another step forward with the merger between San Paolo and Banca Intesa, forming the second largest bank in Italy behind Unicredit.
What that means to me and you is that banking services can only get better as they are finally falling in to line with European Standards.
But the downside is less coffee and chit chat with the bank manager and a more impersonal service. La Dolce Vita is, it seems, slowly losing out to efficiency.
Emma Bird is the co-director of How to Italy.
Ps - don't forget: when you buy Starting a Business in Italy: setting up and running a successful business in the Bel Paese we'll give you bonuses worth hundreds of Euros and the chance to win a free place (worth Eur750) on one of our Business Building Bootcamps. Must buy September 29 to pick up bonuses and enter competition. Details coming soon.
But as the banking system modernised, that came to an end as the smaller banks were bought out by their bigger rivals, among them Unicredit, San Paolo, Banca Intesa and Monte dei Paschi di Siena.
Yesterday, the mergers took another step forward with the merger between San Paolo and Banca Intesa, forming the second largest bank in Italy behind Unicredit.
What that means to me and you is that banking services can only get better as they are finally falling in to line with European Standards.
But the downside is less coffee and chit chat with the bank manager and a more impersonal service. La Dolce Vita is, it seems, slowly losing out to efficiency.
Emma Bird is the co-director of How to Italy.
Ps - don't forget: when you buy Starting a Business in Italy: setting up and running a successful business in the Bel Paese we'll give you bonuses worth hundreds of Euros and the chance to win a free place (worth Eur750) on one of our Business Building Bootcamps. Must buy September 29 to pick up bonuses and enter competition. Details coming soon.
