FOUNDATIONS OF BANKING ORIGIN. GOVERNANCE AND NORMATIVE PROFILES IN THE ITALIAN CONTEXT

Nowadays Corporate Governance is one of the most interesting and controversial matters of research and study. Undoubtedly, the economic developments of the last decade have made the need for detailed analysis about the processes of Governance and its impact on corporate choices even more fascinating and relevant. This should be done through an interdisciplinary approach, because in fact, the term Governance cannot and must not be exclusively linked to economic and company aspects only. Indeed, the present economic conditions demonstrate the large correlation between social, economic and political factors. Because of this interconnectedness, the importance of the Italian Credit Institutions is highlighted because of their active and decisive part in private and corporate choices. Over the centuries, Italian Savings Banks in particular have been a clear example of such interdependence amongst the public and the private. They were first simple Charity Institutions and then they evolved to play an increasingly important role amongst the Credit Institutions. Their quickness in spreading across the Italian territory and their need to take care of their own clients’ several necessities, induced the Banking Foundations to adopt a precise and rigorous Governance structure which we intend to analyse in this work. It is necessary, therefore, for a complete comprehension, to address the issues concerning the Credit and Savings Institutions’ regularity, current nature and goals. Here, it is also relevant to mention perhaps the most controversial issue about the Banking Foundations, that is, their dual public and private goals and, consequently, the different interests which follow.In conclusion, through this work, we want to give a framework in order to comprehend the Italian Institution of Savings Banks, and particularly, their metamorphosis into Foundations of Banking origin, their role and their particular importance for enterprises development.