Italian bank stocks fall amid news of extra budget contributions

Shares of Italian banks are declining following reports that Giorgia Meloni’s government plans to raise about €2.8 billion from banks to help fund the next state budget, ANSA reported, citing banking sources.

According to the report, the government is discussing various options for banks’ participation, including the possibility of unlocking around €6.2 billion that financial institutions had previously set aside to avoid paying a special levy introduced by the government in 2023. One option under consideration would allow banks to access those funds by paying a tax of about 26–27 percent.

Meanwhile, the Executive Committee of the Italian Banking Association (ABI), chaired by Antonio Patuelli, unanimously reaffirmed its two-year solidarity commitment to the state budget for 2025–2026, and authorized ABI’s Director General Marco Elio Rottigni to handle any necessary contacts on the matter.

The market reacted with a drop in banking shares:

1. BPM – 3%
2. UniCredit – 2.3%
3. Intesa Sanpaolo – 1.9%
4. BPER Banca – 1.78%
5. Popolare di Sondrio – 1.77%
6. Mediobanca – 1.77%
7. Monte dei Paschi di Siena – 1.52%