Question 1

What is Bibanca?

Accepted Answer

Bibanca is an Italian credit institution headquartered in Sassari, Sardinia, operating as a specialized product company within the BPER Banca Group. Originally established as a territorial retail bank in 1888, Bibanca transformed in 2016 into a specialized financial services provider focusing on consumer credit, payment solutions, and personal loans. The bank operates nationwide through the distribution network of over 1,700 branches of BPER Group banks, including BPER Banca, Banco di Sardegna, and Banca Cesare Ponti.

With approximately 217 employees and total assets of 4.16 billion EUR as of 2023, Bibanca ranks as the 55th largest bank in Italy by assets.

Question 2

When was Bibanca founded?

Accepted Answer

Bibanca traces its origins to March 15, 1888, when it was founded as Banca Cooperativa fra Commercianti Società Anonima (Cooperative Bank among Merchants) by 58 founding members in Sassari, Sardinia. The institution was established to serve the commercial and financial needs of local merchants and businesses in northern Sardinia.

Over its history, the bank underwent several name changes: it became Banca Popolare Cooperativa Anonima di Sassari and then Banca Popolare di Sassari on May 2, 1948, operating as a cooperative bank. Following financial difficulties and a period of administration in the early 1990s, the bank was restructured on June 3, 1993, as Banca di Sassari S.p.A., a joint-stock company controlled by Banco di Sardegna. It joined the BPER Banca Group in 2001.

On April 16, 2020, the bank adopted its current name, Bibanca S.p.A., reflecting its evolution from a territorial bank to a national product company specializing in consumer credit and payment solutions.

Question 3

Where is Bibanca headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Bibanca is headquartered in Sassari, located in the northern part of Sardinia, Italy. Sassari is the second-largest city in Sardinia and has been the bank's home since its founding in 1888.

Question 4

Where does Bibanca operate?

Accepted Answer

Bibanca operates nationwide throughout Italy. While the bank's headquarters remain in Sassari, Sardinia, it no longer operates its own branch network. Since May 13, 2016, when its physical branches merged into the Banco di Sardegna network, Bibanca has functioned as a product company distributing its services through the extensive network of BPER Group banks.

This network includes over 1,700 branches across Italy operated by BPER Banca, Banco di Sardegna, and Banca Cesare Ponti. Additionally, Bibanca promotes its salary assignment loans (cessione del quinto) through a dedicated network of exclusive agents operating throughout the country.

Question 5

What services does Bibanca offer?

Accepted Answer

Bibanca specializes in three main service areas as a product company within the BPER Group:

Consumer Credit and Personal Loans: The bank's flagship product is QuiTu, a salary assignment loan (cessione del quinto dello stipendio) available to public and private sector employees and pensioners. These loans allow borrowers to finance up to 75,000 EUR over a maximum period of 10 years, with monthly installments capped at one-fifth of net monthly income. The loans are guaranteed by mandatory life and employment insurance policies, with premiums paid entirely by the bank.

Payment Card Solutions: Bibanca manages the BPER Card payment card business for the entire BPER Group. This includes issuing and managing debit, credit, and prepaid cards for distribution through group branches. The bank developed the Smart BPER Card mobile app, which allows customers to control their payment cards, set spending limits, receive transaction notifications, and enable mobile payment services including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.

Personal Loans and Credit Products: The bank offers PagaPoi, an installment payment solution that allows customers to split expenses charged to their current accounts into smaller monthly installments. This service enables customers to retroactively finance purchases, bills, medical expenses, and other costs with a minimum amount of 250 EUR.

Bibanca also provides money transfer services and digital banking capabilities through the BPER Group's mobile and online banking platforms.

Question 6

What makes Bibanca unique?

Accepted Answer

Bibanca's uniqueness lies in its transformation from a traditional territorial bank with 130+ years of history into a modern, specialized product company. Several distinctive features set it apart:

Specialized Business Model: Unlike traditional retail banks, Bibanca operates without its own branch network, functioning exclusively as a product factory within the BPER Group. This allows the bank to focus entirely on product development and management while leveraging the group's extensive distribution network.

Salary Assignment Expertise: Bibanca has developed particular expertise in cessione del quinto (salary assignment loans), a specialized form of lending where loan repayments are automatically deducted from borrowers' salaries or pensions. The bank obtained quality certification for its salary assignment and payment delegation operations, demonstrating its commitment to excellence in this niche market.

Payment Solutions Leadership: As the payment card hub for the entire BPER Group, Bibanca manages card issuance and services for millions of customers across multiple banks, providing economies of scale and specialized expertise in payment technologies and mobile payment integration.

Historical Legacy: With origins dating back to 1888, Bibanca carries over 130 years of banking tradition from Sardinia while embracing digital innovation and modern financial services, creating a unique blend of heritage and contemporary financial technology.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Bibanca?

Accepted Answer

Bibanca is classified as a Banca di Credito (Credit Institution) under Italian banking regulations, registered with the European Banking Authority as entity type CRDCREINS. Within the Italian banking system, it functions as a specialized banca prodotto (product bank) or product company.

This designation reflects its role within the BPER Banca Group as a specialized entity focused on specific product lines—consumer credit, salary assignment loans, and payment card services—rather than operating as a full-service retail or commercial bank. As a credit institution, Bibanca is authorized by the European Central Bank (competent authority: EU_ECB) and is a member of Italy's deposit guarantee scheme, FITD (Fondo Interbancario di Tutela dei Depositi), which protects deposits up to 100,000 EUR per depositor.

This specialized structure allows Bibanca to concentrate on product innovation and operational excellence in its chosen segments while relying on sister companies within the BPER Group for customer acquisition and distribution.

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