Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna

Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna S.p.A., commonly known as Cariromagna, was an Italian savings bank based in Forlì, in the Emilia-Romagna region. Its origins dated to 1839, when a savings bank was established in Forlì by decree of Pope Gregory XVI while the city was part of the Papal States. The institution initially served savers and communities in Forlì and the surrounding area, and it later became one of the historic local banks of Romagna. The institution changed its name several times as its role developed. It was known as Cassa di Risparmio di Forlì at its foundation, became Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì in 1859, and eventually adopted the name Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna on 19 March 2007. The final name reflected an effort to use the bank as a broader regional brand across Romagna rather than solely as a Forlì-based savings institution. A major structural change occurred in 1992 as a result of Italy's Amato banking reform. The historic banking institution was divided into a banking foundation, Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì, and a separate joint-stock company responsible for operating the banking business. The foundation retained an ownership and philanthropic role, while the new company conducted commercial banking activities. During the 2000s, the operating bank developed strategic relationships with larger Italian banking groups. Sanpaolo IMI acquired a significant minority interest, and Banca CR Firenze also became a minority shareholder. At the end of 2006, Sanpaolo IMI held 38.25 percent of the voting rights and share capital, while Banca CR Firenze held ordinary and preferred interests. The banking foundation retained a substantial minority stake, and private investors held the remaining shares. The 2007 creation of Intesa Sanpaolo changed the bank's position within the Italian banking system. Sanpaolo IMI and Banca Intesa merged to form Intesa Sanpaolo, and Cariromagna became part of that wider banking group. Intesa Sanpaolo transferred or reorganized branches from other group subsidiaries to strengthen the Cariromagna network in Romagna. In this period, the bank functioned increasingly as a regional operating brand within a national banking group rather than as a fully independent local institution. Intesa Sanpaolo later decided to retire the Cariromagna brand as part of its business-plan and network rationalization. In 2018, the bank's branches became Intesa Sanpaolo branches, and the legal entity of Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna was absorbed by the group. The commercial bank therefore no longer operates as an independent brand. Its former parent foundation, Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì, continued to exist as a banking foundation and charitable organization supporting Forlì and the wider Romagna area. The distinction between the defunct operating bank and the continuing foundation is central to understanding the institution's present legacy.

The institution originated in Forlì in 1839, when Pope Gregory XVI authorized the creation of a savings bank in the Papal States. It was established to collect local savings and provide a formal banking service to residents and businesses in Forlì and neighboring communities. The bank was initially called Cassa di Risparmio di Forlì. In 1859, it adopted the name Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì, under which it operated for much of its traditional history. For many decades, the bank represented the conventional model of an Italian local savings institution: a regionally rooted bank combining deposit-taking, lending, payments, and support for local economic activity. Its identity was closely associated with Forlì and, later, with the broader Romagna area of Emilia-Romagna. Italy's 1992 Amato reform transformed the legal structure of many savings banks. Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì was separated into two entities. Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì became the banking foundation, retaining an ownership interest and a public-benefit and philanthropic mission. Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì S.p.A. became the operating company responsible for commercial banking. The operating company subsequently opened its ownership to larger financial institutions. Sanpaolo IMI acquired a substantial minority position and became a strategic partner. Banca CR Firenze also acquired minority interests. At the end of 2006, Sanpaolo IMI held 38.25 percent of the voting rights and share capital. Banca CR Firenze held ordinary and preferred interests, while the foundation and private investors retained the balance. On 19 March 2007, the bank changed its name to Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna, commonly shortened to Cariromagna. The new name signaled an ambition to serve as a regional brand for Romagna. The same year, Sanpaolo IMI and Banca Intesa merged to form Intesa Sanpaolo. Cariromagna consequently became part of the new group's Italian banking structure. Intesa Sanpaolo also used the brand while reorganizing and expanding its regional branch presence, including the transfer of branches from other group subsidiaries. The bank's independence diminished as it was integrated into the national group. Intesa Sanpaolo ultimately announced the retirement of the Cariromagna identity in connection with its strategic and network plans. In 2018, the former Cariromagna branches became Intesa Sanpaolo branches, and the legal entity was absorbed. The operating bank is therefore defunct as a separate institution and brand. The former banking foundation did not disappear with the bank. Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì continued as an independent foundation and charitable organization, using its resources to support social, cultural, and community initiatives in Forlì and Romagna. It should not be treated as the surviving commercial bank: the foundation is the philanthropic successor to the ownership structure, while the banking business became part of Intesa Sanpaolo.

1. 2018Bank absorbed by Intesa Sanpaolo

   The Cariromagna brand was retired, its branches became Intesa Sanpaolo branches, and its legal entity was absorbed by the group.

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2. 2007Regional Cariromagna brand introduced

   The bank adopted the name Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna and began operating as a broader Romagna-focused brand.

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3. 2000Sanpaolo IMI becomes a strategic minority partner

   Sanpaolo IMI acquired minority rights and established a strategic relationship with the bank.

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4. 1992Banking business separated from foundation

   Under Italy's Amato reform, the historic savings bank was divided into a banking foundation and a joint-stock company operating the commercial bank.

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5. 1859Adopts the Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì name

   The institution changed its name from Cassa di Risparmio di Forlì to Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì.

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6. 1839Savings bank founded in Forlì

   A savings bank was established in Forlì by decree of Pope Gregory XVI while the city was part of the Papal States.

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A traditional local savings bank that evolved into a regional Romagna banking brand within the Intesa Sanpaolo group.

• Retail banking servicesRetail banking

  As a traditional savings bank, the institution provided core retail banking services to households and local customers, including deposit accounts, current accounts, payments, and branch-based customer service. Its historical role was centered on gathering savings and recycling them into lending within Forlì and the surrounding Romagna economy.

• Loans and mortgagesLending

  The bank's commercial banking activities included lending to households and businesses in its regional service area. The available reference material does not identify specific named mortgage or loan products, but lending was part of the ordinary operating scope of the savings-bank business.

• Business bankingCorporate and small-business banking

  Cariromagna served the local and regional economy through banking relationships with businesses and other organizations. Its regional positioning connected the bank to the commercial activities of Forlì and Romagna, although the sources do not provide a detailed catalogue of business products.

• 2012Forlì F.C. sponsorship

  Forlì · Italy

  The bank sponsored local football club Forlì F.C. during the 2012–13 season, linking its regional identity with a prominent local sporting institution.

  Outcome. The sponsorship is documented as a local community and sports-marketing activity; the sources do not report financial or audience results.

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• 2018Retire the Cariromagna brand and absorb the legal entityM&A

  Intesa Sanpaolo's business planning included the rationalization of its banking brands and branch network.

  What changed. Intesa Sanpaolo converted the former Cariromagna branches to its own network and absorbed the separate legal entity.

  Aftermath. Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna ceased to operate as an independent bank, while Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì continued as a foundation and charitable organization.

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• 2007Rebrand as a Romagna regional bankStrategy

  After Sanpaolo IMI and Banca Intesa combined to form Intesa Sanpaolo, the group sought to organize and position its regional banking activities.

  What changed. The bank adopted the name Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna, or Cariromagna, and served as a regional brand in Romagna.

  Aftermath. The institution received branches from other group subsidiaries, strengthening its regional network before the brand was later retired.

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• 1992Separate the foundation from the operating bankStrategy

  Italy's Amato reform required structural changes to the legal form of savings banks.

  What changed. The historic institution was divided into Fondazione Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì, which retained an ownership and philanthropic role, and a joint-stock company responsible for banking operations.

  Aftermath. The separation created the corporate structure through which the bank later formed partnerships with larger banking groups while the foundation continued its charitable activities.

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• 2018Intesa Sanpaolo retires the Cariromagna brand

  Intesa Sanpaolo discontinued the independent Cariromagna identity, converted its branches to the Intesa Sanpaolo network, and absorbed the bank's legal entity.

  M&A
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• 2007Bank renamed Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna

  The institution adopted the Cariromagna name as part of its repositioning as a banking-group brand serving the Romagna region.

  Other
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• 2007Cariromagna becomes part of Intesa Sanpaolo

  The formation of Intesa Sanpaolo through the combination of Banca Intesa and Sanpaolo IMI placed Cariromagna within one of Italy's largest banking groups.

  M&A
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1. Cassa dei Risparmi di Forlì e della Romagna
2. Intesa Sanpaolo official group information
3. Savings bank founded in Forlì