Our history
Founded in 1946 to support the Italian post-WWII reconstruction efforts, Mediobanca has always understood the needs of the country, launching the first Italian consumer credit company, the first multichannel digital bank, and now, the first synergies between corporate banking and private banking.
10 April 1946
Launch of Credito Finanziario S.p.A., or Mediobanca for short: to act as a bridge between the worlds of savings and investments. Mediobanca is launched with the aim of facilitating the reconstruction, development, and international expansion of Italian industries following the end of World War II.
The Bank is set up on the initiative of Raffaele Mattioli (who was Managing Director of Banca Commerciale Italiana) at the time, and Enrico Cuccia, who is appointed General Manager of the new entity, and from 1949 will also be appointed as Managing Director. The three founder banks, all controlled by IRI, are Banca Commerciale Italiana, Credito Italiano and Banco di Roma.
July 1951
Establishment of Compass (Compagnia Sviluppo Iniziative Industriali Agricole e Commerciali), in which Mediobanca holds a 25% stake along with Fiat, Montecatini and SNIA Viscosa.
The objective of the initiative is to promote new ventures of mutual interest to the shareholders. The geographical scope of operations for the projects ranges from Italy to Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea and Liberia), the Middle East (Iraq and Iran), and Canada.
1956
Mediobanca is admitted to trading on the stock market. It is the first bank to be readmitted since 1936.
The first non-Italian investors take stakes in the Bank's share capital: investment banks Lazard New York and Lehman Brothers.
Mediobanca consolidates its international footprint with the opening of a stable representative office in New York.
1960
Compass, which has been transformed into a pioneering consumer credit company, introduces the personal loan product to Italy for the first time, offering finance to households to enable them to realize their life projects and acquire consumer goods.
1961
Various companies are set up within the Group, including: Reconta, the first Italian audit firm, provides services also to Mediobanca clients.
1964
Mediobanca lead-manages the Olivetti restructuring operation, redefining the industrial group's strategic priorities and financial structure.
1970
Launch of Selma, a pioneer company in the Italian leasing industry.
1982
Silvio Salteri takes on the role of Managing Director and General Manager, while Enrico Cuccia remains a Board member and in 1988 is appointed Honorary Chairman.
1988
Vincenzo Maranghi is appointed Managing Director. Mediobanca is privatized, and the three founder banks (Banca Commerciale Italiana, Credito Italiano and Banco di Roma) reduce their share to 25%, with another 25% of the share capital reserved to private investors. Banks and corporates enter into a shareholders’ agreement to ensure stability and consistency of management.
1990
Mediobanca becomes one of the leading players in the privatization of the large Italian public companies, including Telecom Italia, Enel, Banca di Roma and BNL.
23 June 2000
Enrico Cuccia, co-founder and Honorary Chairman of Mediobanca, dies.
2001
Launch of Banca Esperia, a joint venture with Banca Mediolanum. The company operates in the private banking sector.
2003
Alberto Nagel and Renato Pagliaro succeed Vincenzo Maranghi as they take the reins of Mediobanca, launching a strategic plan that will mark a profound change in the Bank's business model. The plan is focused on developing consumer and retail banking activities, enhancing market operations (placements, M&A, trading in financial instruments), entering wealth management, and reducing the Bank's historical equity investments.
2004
The group's international expansion commences. The first international office to be opened is that in Paris in 2004, followed by offices in Moscow, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, Madrid, New York and London.
2008
Launch of CheBanca!, the first native digital bank in Italy, which operates based on a multichannel distribution model (internet, call centres and branches), focusing on retail clients.
Compass acquires Linea to become a leader in the Italian consumer credit market.
2013
The 2014-16 strategic plan is unveiled, including plans to exit all shareholder agreements for the Bank's investee companies, and to dispose of all non-strategic investments. Provision is also made for further international expansion, strengthening of the Corporate and Investment Banking division, and for retail operations to make a growing contribution to the group's revenues.
2016
CheBanca! acquires Barclays’ Italian retail operations, in a deal which enables it to double in size and strengthen its franchise in wealth management. With the new strategic plan's unveiling, Mediobanca is reorganized into three main divisions: Corporate & Investment Banking, Consumer Finance, and the new Wealth Management division, the growth and development of which becomes a strategic priority for the Group. The other 50% of Banca Esperia is bought out, paving the way for Mediobanca Private Banking to be created.
2024
Launch of Mediobanca Premier, a bank specializing in wealth management and investments for Italian families, built on the legacy of CheBanca!.
2025
Monte dei Paschi di Siena acquires control of Mediobanca, via a public exchange and acquisition offer, accepted by shareholders representing 86.3% of the Bank's share capital.