Banca d'Italia refines methodology for branch network statistics

The yearly 'Banks and Financial Institutions: Branch Network' report provides crucial structural data on the Italian banking and financial system.

It includes figures on the number of financial intermediaries, their branches, and employees, broken down by geographical location and type.

This information, previously part of the 'Statistical Bulletin', is now presented in a dedicated report.

The definition of an 'active branch' is legally precise, encompassing all branches operated in Italy by non-liquidated banks listed in the Register of Banks, while excluding representative offices.

The complete time series and additional data are accessible through the BDS database, offering a comprehensive historical perspective on the evolution of the branch network.

Data may be revised over time if reporting intermediaries submit corrections, ensuring accuracy and up-to-date information for users.

The methodological notes highlight several key revisions over time, impacting the classification of banks by type and size, and the inclusion of new financial entities.

Notable changes include the elimination of 'Central credit and refinancing institutions' in 2005, a revised bank size classification in 2007 and 2015, and the incorporation of payment institutions (2011) and electronic money institutions (2013) into financial company tables.

The report also details the transition to a Single Register for financial companies in 2016, discontinuing old specialized registers.

Data confidentiality measures ensure that all published statistics are aggregated from at least three reporting entities, preventing the identification of individual institutions.

These methodological updates are crucial for consistent and accurate interpretation of the long-term data series.