Question 1

What is BCC degli Ulivi?

Accepted Answer

BCC degli Ulivi (formally Banca di Credito Cooperativo degli Ulivi - Terra di Bari) is a cooperative credit institution operating in the Puglia region of southern Italy. As a member of the Gruppo Bancario Cooperativo Iccrea, Italy's largest cooperative banking group, BCC degli Ulivi serves approximately 936 members and operates with a focus on local communities in the Bari metropolitan area.

The bank specializes in retail banking services for families, small businesses, and local enterprises, embodying the traditional cooperative banking principles of mutualità (mutuality), localismo (localism), and cooperazione (cooperation).

Question 2

When was BCC degli Ulivi founded?

Accepted Answer

BCC degli Ulivi traces its origins to August 1, 1904, when the Cassa Rurale e Artigiana "S.S. Crocifisso" was founded in Palo del Colle. This original rural and artisan cooperative bank served local farmers and craftsmen who lacked access to traditional banking services.

In 1995, the bank underwent significant transformation through the merger of three historic local credit institutions: the Banca di Palo del Colle, the Banca di Credito Cooperativo di Bitetto, and the Cassa Rurale e Artigiana di Modugno. This integration created the current structure and gave rise to the name "BCC degli Ulivi - Terra di Bari," reflecting the olive-growing heritage of the Bari territory.

With over a century of history, the bank has maintained its cooperative identity while adapting to modern banking regulations and joining the broader Iccrea cooperative banking network.

Question 3

Where is BCC degli Ulivi headquartered?

Accepted Answer

BCC degli Ulivi is headquartered in Palo del Colle, in the Metropolitan City of Bari, Puglia region, Italy. The bank's registered and operational headquarters are located at Corso Garibaldi, 49/51, 70027 Palo del Colle.

Question 4

Where does BCC degli Ulivi operate?

Accepted Answer

BCC degli Ulivi operates throughout the Metropolitan City of Bari in Puglia. The bank's territorial scope includes 16 municipalities in the Bari province, including:

Palo del Colle (headquarters), Bari, Bitetto, Modugno, Bitonto, Giovinazzo, Adelfia, Binetto, Bitritto, Capurso, Mola di Bari, Noicattaro, Sannicandro di Bari, Toritto, Triggiano, and Valenzano.

The bank operates 4 branch offices and maintains 5 ATM locations across this territory, providing localized banking services to communities in the greater Bari area.

Question 5

What services does BCC degli Ulivi offer?

Accepted Answer

BCC degli Ulivi provides a comprehensive range of banking and financial services including:

Retail Banking: Current accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, payment services, and debit cards (CartaBCC).

Lending Services: Consumer credit, mortgages, agricultural loans, and business financing for small and medium enterprises.

Digital Banking: The bank offers RelaxBanking mobile and online banking platforms, enabling customers to check balances, make transfers, pay bills, and manage cards. The RelaxBanking app features Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) for secure transactions, biometric login (TouchID/FaceID), and supports instant bank transfers with beneficiary verification.

Insurance and Investment Products: Investment advisory services, insurance products through BCC Servizi Assicurativi, and wealth management solutions.

Business Services: Commercial banking for enterprises, leasing services through BCC Leasing, factoring through BCC Factoring, and electronic payment solutions through BCC Pos.

As a member of the Iccrea Group, the bank benefits from shared technology infrastructure, including the BCC Sistemi Informatici platform that powers its digital services.

Question 6

What makes BCC degli Ulivi unique?

Accepted Answer

Cooperative Structure: Unlike commercial banks, BCC degli Ulivi operates as a società cooperativa where members are both customers and co-owners. The bank follows a "one member, one vote" principle regardless of capital contribution, ensuring democratic governance.

Local Impact: The bank maintains a strong commitment to social responsibility and reinvests profits into the local community. It supports local families, small businesses, and social initiatives in the Bari territory, prioritizing community development over profit maximization.

Territory-Specific Focus: With over 120 years serving the same geographic area, BCC degli Ulivi possesses deep knowledge of local economic dynamics, particularly in agriculture (olive cultivation), artisan businesses, and small commercial enterprises.

Gruppo Iccrea Membership: As part of Italy's largest cooperative banking group (117 BCC banks, €175 billion in assets as of 2023), the bank combines local autonomy with access to sophisticated banking infrastructure, ESG financing frameworks, and comprehensive product offerings typically available only at larger institutions.

Deposit Protection: Customer deposits up to €100,000 are protected by the Fondo di Garanzia dei Depositanti del Credito Cooperativo (FGD), the specialized deposit guarantee scheme for cooperative credit banks.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is BCC degli Ulivi?

Accepted Answer

BCC degli Ulivi is classified as a Banca di Credito Cooperativo (BCC), which translates to Cooperative Credit Bank. This is a specific category of Italian credit institution regulated as a banca cooperativa a mutualità prevalente (cooperative bank with prevalent mutuality).

In the Italian banking system, BCCs represent the local, territorial banking model based on cooperative principles inherited from the 19th-century Raiffeisen movement. They are distinct from commercial banks (banche commerciali) and popular banks (banche popolari) in their governance structure, profit distribution, and territorial focus.

Under the 2016 Italian banking reform, all BCCs must belong to a gruppo bancario cooperativo (cooperative banking group). BCC degli Ulivi is affiliated with the Gruppo Bancario Cooperativo Iccrea, under the supervision of the European Central Bank (ECB) as a significant institution.

The bank operates as a credit institution (ente creditizio) authorized by the ECB and supervised by both the ECB and Banca d'Italia, participating in the Italian deposit guarantee scheme specific to cooperative credit banks.

Question 8

How does BCC degli Ulivi support sustainability?

Accepted Answer

As a member of the Gruppo BCC Iccrea, BCC degli Ulivi participates in the group's comprehensive ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) sustainability framework. The Iccrea Group received a Morningstar Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating of 8.2, corresponding to a "Negligible" risk level.

The bank supports sustainable finance initiatives including green loans, social bonds, and financing for projects that reduce environmental impact. It promotes the principles of the circular economy and supports the ecological transition of local businesses.

Social commitment includes financial education programs, support for local cooperatives, and investments in community development projects throughout the Bari territory. The bank's governance structure ensures that a significant portion of profits (66% of net income) is directed to reserves and mutualistic funds rather than distributed to shareholders.

The bank also offers ESG investment products and advisory services, helping customers integrate sustainability considerations into their financial decisions, in line with EU SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation) requirements.

Question 9

What is the bank's relationship with technology and innovation?

Accepted Answer

BCC degli Ulivi leverages the technological infrastructure of BCC Sistemi Informatici, the Iccrea Group's IT service company, which develops and maintains the RelaxBanking platform used by cooperative banks across Italy.

Recent technological enhancements include instant payment capabilities (bonifici istantanei) introduced in October 2025, beneficiary verification (VOP - Verification of Payee) for increased transfer security, CO₂ tracking services that calculate the environmental impact of spending, and OCR functionality for automatic form reading (F24 tax forms).

The bank's digital transformation allows it to compete with larger commercial banks while maintaining its cooperative identity and local presence. The RelaxBanking mobile app has over 1 million downloads and provides 24/7 access to core banking services, reducing the need for physical branch visits while preserving the option for in-person service at local branches.

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