Edward Marchesi The president of the Italian Banking Association (ABI), Antonio Patuelli, has repeatedly argued that Italian banks are in financial difficulty, even complaining of a supposed violation of the Constitution. In response to these claims, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini has responded with a series of concrete data that, according to him, demonstrate the utter contradiction between words and reality.
Antonio Patuelli's statements and Matteo Salvini's response
During a public meeting, Patuelli described bankers as financially "beaten," insinuating the need for support measures. Salvini promptly drew attention to the banks' financial results over the past four financial years, calling the request for aid virtually baseless.
The government's intervention was based on certified numbers, highlighting a steady rise in profits that sharply contrasts with the crisis narrative.
Banking profit figures from 2022 to 2025
In 2022, banks recorded a profit of 25,5 billion euros . The following year, results rose to 40,6 billion , then reached 46,5 billion in 2024 and 47,5 billion in 2025.
Forecasts for the current financial year exceed €50 billion . These figures, published in the consolidated financial statements, show sustained annual growth, fueled primarily by interest income and commissions paid by private customers, families, and businesses.
Branch closures and job losses
Despite soaring profits, the banking sector has undergone significant restructuring. Between 2022 and 2025, banks closed 2.510 branches nationwide, a reduction that impacted the widespread presence of branches. At the same time, 12.900 employees ' contracts were terminated , a fact that raised concerns among trade unions, but which the government interpreted as part of a broader strategy of digitalization and operational cost optimization.
Impact on the banking system
The closures had a two-fold effect: on the one hand, the reduction in the physical network led to a concentration of services in digital channels; on the other, it raised questions about the banks' ability to maintain territorial consistency and accessibility for segments of the population less accustomed to using the internet. However, Salvini emphasized that such transformations do not justify a request for state subsidies, as profit margins remain large.
Taxation and contribution proposal
A further factor supporting the government's position is the effective tax burden borne by banks. In 2025, the real tax rate stood at 19,2% , lower than that of many other Italian companies, including those in the energy and telecommunications sectors. Considering these parameters, Salvini has defined it as perfectly common sense to ask the sector for a minimum contribution of €5 billion to finance welfare policies and public investments.
The proposal was presented as a fiscal justice measure aimed at rebalancing the tax burden of the country's most profitable businesses. The goal, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, is to ensure that those benefiting from enormous profits contribute proportionally to collective well-being, without resorting to measures that, in his view, would be economically unjustified.