Italian bank branch closures leave 9 in 10 citizens dissatisfied

The Uilca 2025 report on banking desertification shows that nine out of ten Italians are dissatisfied with the reduction or closure of bank branches in their locality. From 2020 to 2025 the number of municipalities served by banks fell 12.4%, from 5,102 to 4,468, and an average of 72 branches have been closed each month. Overall branch count dropped from 23,480 in 2020 to 19,140 in 2025, a decline of 18.5%. Today 4,856,257 citizens live in municipalities without a bank office.

The report links branch closures to higher exposure to online fraud, usury, and territorial depopulation. Elderly residents struggle to receive pensions, small entrepreneurs must travel long distances for banking, and families lose a trusted point of contact. The presence of a branch strongly influences investment decisions, residential choices, and access to savings, loans and financial advice. Uilca’s secretary‑general Fulvio Furlan calls for regional observatories involving political parties, trade unions, ABI and banks to monitor and intervene before further closures occur.