1483- Il Monte di Pietà di Genova
The concept of bank in the modern sense of the word developed in Genoa and Tuscany in the 15th century. It was during this period that the Franciscan Beato Angelo da Chivasso founded Monte di Pietà di Genova, the historical origins of what today is Banca Carige.
1846- La Cassa di Risparmio di Genova
A decree issued by King Charles Albert (Carlo Alberto) brought into existence Cassa di Risparmio di Genova, which extended the financial basis and services of Monte di Pietà with the purpose of encouraging and protecting small savers and their savings. A driving force of Liguria's economy going back to the 19th century, it expanded into western Liguria and in 1967 took on the name of Cassa di Risparmio di Genova e Imperia.
1991- Banca Carige
On 1st December 1991 the banking business was separated from the activities of social and public interest typically associated with the Cassa di Risparmio. Banking affairs were transferred to the newly established Banca Carige Spa.
1992- Gruppo Banca Carige
At the end of the 1980s Carige created three companies in the parabanking sector: Columbus Leasing, Factoring and Domestic, which in 1992 went on to make up Gruppo Polifunzionale Banca Carige.
1994- Universal Bank
Carige transformed its organisational model into a "universal bank": in other words, one which operates in the short, medium and long term.
1995- Listing on the stock exchange
Carige was the first savings bank in Italy to be listed on the stock exchange, in January 1995.
1997-2004 - The Group grows
In 1997, after taking over a number of insurance firms, Carige oversaw their reorganisation. In 2000 Carige Vita Nuova Assicurazioni was created from Basilese Vita Nuova, while in 2002 Levante Norditalia took the name of Carige Assicurazioni.
Starting from the early 1990s, Carige began to consolidate its market positions, culminating in 2000 with the acquisition of Cassa di Risparmio di Savona Spa and Banca del Monte di Lucca Spa.
Between 2000 and 2002, Carige concluded three operations to acquire branches from other banks: 21 branches from Banco di Sicilia, 61 from Gruppo Banca Intesa and 42 from Gruppo Capitalia, in Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto, Emilia Romagna, Toscana, Lazio, Marche, Umbria, Puglia and Sicilia.
In January 2004, it consolidated its presence in the Toscana area with the acquisition of Cassa di Risparmio di Carrara Spa. In the same year, management of financial products was assigned to the newly established Carige Asset Management Sgr.
At the end of 2004 a historical private banking institute, Banca Cesare Ponti, joined the group.
Recent development
In 2008 two significant acquisitions were completed: 79 Gruppo Intesa Sanpaolo branches in the Aosta Valley, Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto and Sardegna, and 40 Gruppo Unicredit branches in Lazio, Sicilia, Emilia Romagna, Veneto and Umbria. The most recent expansion was in 2010 with the acquisition of 22 Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena branches.
