From UniCredit 2.8 billion to Small and Medium Enterprises
Tuesday 18 March 2025
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Supporting the Italian system-country, productive fabric and families. This is the goal of UniCredit, which in the last two months has disbursed 2.8 billion euros to SMEs and which aims, in 2025, to finance individuals and families for 4 billion euros.
Remo Taricani, Deputy Head of UniCredit Italy, explains the plan to Qn Economia. "In Italy - he specifies - UniCredit is present throughout the country: over 7.2 million customers, approximately 27,000 employees and almost 2,000 branches.
We provide constant support to the Italian business fabric thanks to our seven Regions that provide advice and credit to families and businesses and represent a single point of reference in the territory for our stakeholders, both institutional and non-institutional.
Furthermore, for Wealth Large Corporates clients, we have a well-structured national team that benefits from the support of global specialists who work in all 14 countries of the Group".
And speaking of numbers?
"At the heart of our growth strategy are businesses and in particular SMEs. In the first two months of the year, we disbursed 2.8 billion euros to the latter, with a growth of 47% compared to last year, where we had guaranteed a total disbursement of 12 billion euros. In addition, since 2022, thanks to the "UniCredit per l'Italia" program, we have allocated 35 billion euros to families and businesses and supported the strategic sectors of Made in Italy. The most recent initiative is the agreement signed with Federalberghi, which brings together more than 27,000 hotels out of a total of approximately 32,000 in Italy and brings together 127 territorial associations, with the aim of supporting associated companies, assisting them in their growth path and allocating 2 billion euros of credit to the tourism sector. In addition to the granular presence in the territory, thanks to our size and continuous investments in digitalization, we are now able to pre-authorize credit; this means granting credit in real time, to approximately 300 thousand Italian companies".
And what about families?
"We guarantee constant support to individuals and families and we focus a lot on consumer credit as a support for internal consumption and therefore the country's GDP. It seems obvious, but it is to consumer credit that Italians often turn to buy cars or means of transport, to furnish their home, to finance their children's study plans, to give just a few examples. We have an internal credit machine, which allows us to immediately adapt the dynamics, conditions and disbursements to the needs of our customers. We have a market share in personal loans of 12.5%. We are among the leaders in the sector. In 2025, we aim to increase our share even more, forecasting 4 billion euros of new disbursements. We can afford it because we manage the entire process entirely in-house and pre-authorize the credit facilities".
These days you are out with a promotional campaign on personal loans. Can you explain why?
"Yes, we are on the market with this campaign, through which we want to confirm ourselves as a reliable partner for individuals and families, supporting them in the realization of their projects, with personalized financial solutions. The campaign is aimed at new customers, because today, thanks to technology and an omnichannel experience, we can extend the growth in disbursements we have had on our customers to them. The campaign, dedicated to new customers, is called "Your dreams at your fingertips" and responds to the needs that the people and communities in which we operate have revealed to us".
You are building your product factories in key sectors, such as savings and asset management. Can you explain the underlying logic?
"We have set ourselves the goal of strengthening our product factories, in order to provide the best solutions to customers. We are doing this in the insurance sector where there is great potential connected to a path of continuous financial education for our customers. The same goes for savings and consumer credit. We internalize processes and products and do not rely exclusively on distribution agreements with third-party companies, which independently decide dynamics and flows. We aim to bring savings management back to Italy".
Finally, staying in Italy, you have an ongoing takeover bid on Banco Bpm. What benefits would your aggregation to the Italian entrepreneurial fabric bring?
"This operation would allow us to strengthen our position in Italy, and at the same time further increase the value we can create for our clients and shareholders, thanks to the complementary nature of the two banks' activities, both in terms of geographic areas and client segments. We would offer companies direct access to a highly international network and a complete and digital product offering, but above all an increased credit capacity. Overall, a financial partner that is stronger in terms of capital and investment capacity. In support of individuals, families and businesses. And of Italy".
Interview from QN - Il Giorno, QN ECONOMIA - pg. 26 - 17/03/2025.