Gruppo Banco BPM commences on 1 January 2017 following the merger of two major cooperative banks, Banco Popolare and Banca Popolare di Milano, which have created a banking group as a result of their transformation into joint-stock companies. Thereby spawning the third largest banking group in the country: 1,700 branches and 4 million customers concentrated in Lombardy, Veneto and Piedmont, the productive heart of Northern Italy. A widespread and multi-channel network, with strong brands and versatile cross-selling activities are the cornerstone of the Group’s leadership. With customers, shareholders and stakeholders, the Group’s new business model places the central focus on its people and their skills, enhanced by constant training. Deeply rooted in the tradition of cooperative banks, the Banco BPM Group generates growing profitability for its shareholders and sustainable development in the areas it operates in.