What Banca Etica does

Banca Etica is an Italian cooperative bank (Banca Popolare Etica Società Cooperativa per Azioni) headquartered in Padua, founded in 1999. It is the first and only Italian bank entirely dedicated to ethical finance, operating under a 'one head, one vote' cooperative governance model with over 50,000 member-owners. It serves three primary segments — individuals and families, enterprises and SMEs, and Third Sector organizations — plus international development projects through its subsidiary Cresud. The bank's core offering covers current accounts, mortgages, personal and business loans (including microcredit), ethical investment funds, pension products, life and property insurance, corporate welfare, and a proprietary Carbon Footprint Calculation service. Distribution combines physical branches across Italy with full digital banking (web and iOS/Android apps), 84 Ethical Finance Advisors registered with the Financial Consultants Register, and Spanish operations via Fiare Banca Etica in Bilbao, Madrid, and Barcelona.

The proprietary technological backbone centers on the Valutazione Socio-Ambientale (VSA) methodology — a social-environmental assessment executed through the digital 'Metrica' platform by trained volunteer Social Evaluators, integrated alongside creditworthiness analysis. Banca Etica is the only Italian bank that publishes all its loans online and produces an annual public Impact Report. Solid capital adequacy is demonstrated by a CET1 ratio of 13.83% and a Total Capital ratio of 16.31%, with a non-performing loan rate three times lower than the Italian banking system average. The Group structure includes wholly-owned subsidiaries Etica SGR (ethical mutual funds, AUM ~€5.8B as of January 2025), Cresud (microfinance in Latin America, Africa, Asia — joined 2019), and Fundaci\u00f3n Finanzas \u00c9ticas (Spain, 2018), plus a 70% stake acquired in IMPact SGR (listed impact investing, €400M AUM) in March 2026.

Revenue is generated through net interest income from deposits and lending, recurring fee/commission income from distribution of ethical investment funds (Etica SGR, IMPact SGR, PensPlan Profi via Euregio Plus SGR), ethical insurance products (Assimoco, Cooperazione Salute, Insieme Salute, Consorzio CAES), welfare services through the welfareX platform, and partnership-linked services such as Carbon Footprint (Up2You) and renewable energy (ènostra). The bank's mission is to channel depositors' savings exclusively toward projects with positive social and environmental impact, with explicit zero-euro financing to fossil fuels, weapons, intensive farming, gambling, and countries violating human rights. Membership in GABV, FEBEA, European Microfinance Network, and Microfinance Centre provides international peer networks.

Name

Banca Etica

Legal name

Banca Popolare Etica Società Cooperativa per Azioni

Website

https://bancaetica.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Banca Etica is an Italian cooperative bank founded in 1999, the first and only Italian bank entirely dedicated to ethical finance, serving individuals, SMEs, and Third Sector organizations through deposits, ethical lending, impact investment funds, and welfare services across Italy and Spain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Padova

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Banking Operations (Deposits, Lending, Payments): Core banking services including current accounts (Conto in Rete, Conto Etica Completo, etc.), mortgage lending (mutui), personal loans, and payment services. Deposits from retail and institutional customers are used to fund credit operations for ethical projects. Interest income from loans and credit facilities constitutes a primary revenue stream.
2. Asset Management and Investment Products Distribution: Distribution of ethical investment funds managed by Etica SGR and IMPact SGR, pension funds (PensPlan Profi via Euregio Plus SGR), ethical insurance products (Multiramo Etica Assimoco, Assolo Virtuoso), bonds, and wealth management services. Commission income from distribution of third-party and group-managed investment and insurance products.
3. Insurance Products: Distribution of insurance products including health plans (Cooperazione Salute, Insieme Salute), motor insurance (RC Auto, Eticar), property insurance, accident coverage, and life insurance through partners Assimoco and Consorzio CAES.
4. Welfare and Supplementary Services: Corporate welfare services (welfareX platform), supplementary pension contributions, supplementary health coverage, and carbon footprint measurement services for businesses and organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Banca Etica is a cooperative bank that provides a full suite of ethical banking services—including current accounts, mortgages, personal and business loans, payment cards, ethical investment funds, pension plans, insurance, and wealth management advisory—to individuals, enterprises, and third-sector organizations. Lending and investment decisions are governed by a proprietary Social-Environmental Assessment (VSA) methodology that excludes financing for fossil fuels, weapons, intensive farming, gambling, and human-rights-violating activities. Deposits are channeled exclusively into projects with measurable positive social and environmental impact, with all loans published online and reported through an annual Impact Report.

Product overview

Banca Etica is a cooperative bank offering a comprehensive suite of ethical banking products and services across three main segments: individuals and families, businesses, and organizations. The core banking products include multiple current account variants (Conto In Rete, Conto Etica, Conto per GAS, Conto Startup, etc.) designed for different customer needs including online banking, youth accounts, and specialized accounts for energy communities and condominiums. Lending products encompass mortgages (Mutuo Prima Casa, Mutuo Casa Verde, Mutuo Energia Efficiente) and personal loans (Prestito Personale, Prestito Personale Online) with ethical finance principles, plus business financing including microcredit, agricultural loans, and EU-funded programs. The card portfolio includes credit cards (Nexi Affinity, Nexi Aziendale), debit cards, and prepaid accounts with IBAN, all processing through Nexi payment infrastructure. Investment products feature ethical mutual funds through Etica Sgr, IMPact Sgr (listed impact investing), pension plans (PensPlan Profi), ethical life insurance, time deposits, and bonds. Insurance offerings cover auto (Eticar), home, health plans (via Cooperazione Salute and Insieme Salute), business multi-risk, natural disasters, and professional liability. Supplementary services include wealth management advisory, corporate welfare via welfareX platform, carbon footprint calculation (partnered with Up2You), renewable energy via ènostra, and Social-Environmental Assessment (VSA) methodology. The Group operates through subsidiaries Etica Sgr, IMPact Sgr (70% acquired 2026), Cresud (microfinance in developing countries), and Fiare Banca Etica (Spain branch), with digital services provided through mobile app and online banking portals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Current Accounts for Individuals and Families A portfolio of current accounts for private customers (Conto In Rete, Conto In Rete Soci, Conto In Rete Under 35, Conto In Rete per MSF, Conto Completo Plus, Conto Sinergia per Energy Communities, Conto Estero, Conto Base) offering debit cards, online payments, transfers, and direct debit. Variants include youth pricing, energy-community terms, and a dedicated MSF supporter account.
• Business and Organization Current Accounts Current accounts designed for businesses, freelancers, startups, and organizations (Conto Etica Completo, Conto Etica Più, Conto Etica Semplice, Conto Light Soci, Conto Startup, Conto Condomini, Conto Intermediari Assicurativi) with account services tailored to operational complexity.
• Third-Sector Organization Accounts Accounts targeted at nonprofits, associations, solidarity purchasing groups (GAS), and energy communities (Conto Raccolta, Conto per GAS, Conto Sinergia Organizzazioni) for fundraising and project-based financial management.
• Residential Mortgages Mortgage products for individuals (Mutuo Prima Casa, Mutuo Casa Verde for energy-efficient homes, Mutuo Casa 50 e 50 financing 50% of property value, Mutuo Consapevole up to 100% via primo casa fund) supporting first-home purchase and energy-efficient renovation.
• Business and Organization Mortgages Mortgages for businesses and organizations (Mutuo Energia Efficiente, Mutuo Energia Corporate for photovoltaics, Mutuo Fondiario/Ipotecario Economia Sociale, Mutuo Chirografario Economia Sociale, Mutuo Chirografario Nuova Sabatini) targeting energy efficiency, renewable installations, and social-economy enterprises.
• Personal Loans Fixed or variable rate personal loans (Prestito Personale, Prestito Personale Bene Comune, Prestito Personale Online, Prestito Personale Online Under 35) for renovation, medical expenses, hybrid car purchase, training, and common-good projects.
• Business Lending Products Working-capital and project-financing products for businesses and organizations (Anticipi, Affidamento in Conto Corrente, Crediti di Firma, Microcredito, Bonus Fiscale Edilizio, Prestito Condomini GreenEtica, Tax Credit Cinema, Sofigreen, Finanziamenti BEI, Finanziamenti FEI, Fondi di Garanzia) covering advances, credit lines, guarantees, microcredit, and EU-funded programs.
• Payment Cards Card products including Carta di Credito Nexi Affinity, Carta Conto Banca Etica International (with IBAN), Carta Conto Under 18, and Carta di Debito International for retail customers, plus Carta di Credito Nexi Aziendale and Carta di Versamento for businesses. Includes Apple Pay and Google Pay compatibility.
• Ethical Investment Funds Mutual funds selecting securities based on social and environmental responsibility criteria, distributed by Banca Etica through Etica Sgr and IMPact Sgr, with non-speculative management. PAC promotional pricing waives the €12 first-payment fixed fee until 10/07/2026.
• Ethical Wealth Management and Asset Services Gestioni Patrimoniali Etiche (for individuals and businesses), Multiramo Etica Assimoco, Polizza Vita Assolo Virtuoso, Prestiti Obbligazionari, Time Deposits (12-60 months), Time Deposit Progetto TAPPA, and Deposito Titoli for custody of securities.
• Pension Plans Open pension fund PensPlan Profi by Euregio Plus SGR in collaboration with Etica SGR, including Ethical Life compartments (High Growth, Growth, Balanced Growth, Conservative, Short Term). No mandatory minimum contribution; €3 annual solidarity contribution funds microfinance.
• Personal Insurance Products Ethical personal insurance offerings (Polizza RCA e Eticar, Tutela Multirischi Abitazione, Protezione Finanziamenti, Protezione Infortuni, RC verso Terzi, Protezione Impianti Fotovoltaici, Polizza Vita) distributed via partners Assimoco and Consorzio CAES, with member discounts.
• Health Plans Supplemental health plans (Piano Salute Under 35, Piano Salute Individuale/Familiare, ETICARE PRO) provided through Cooperazione Salute partnership, offering reimbursable healthcare services without health questionnaires or pre-existing condition exclusions.
• Business Insurance Products Business and organization insurance coverage (Polizza Multirischi Danni ai Beni, Multirischi per l'Agricoltura, Polizza Catastrofi Naturali, Polizza RC Auto, Kasco Aziendale, RC Amministratori e Sindaci, Tutela Assicurativa Botteghe Commercio Equo, Polizze Fideiussorie, Infortuni Dipendenti, RC verso Terzi, Multirischi Danni ai Beni, Tutela Multirischi per il Volontariato).
• Corporate Welfare Service Welfare Aziendale service using the welfareX platform (via CGMoving) to manage employee benefits across 9 areas (pension, health, childcare, family assistance, insurance, loans, mobility, culture, fringe benefits) for SMEs and third-sector organizations. 1% of mutual revenues committed to a solidarity fund.
• Carbon Footprint Calculation Service Service measuring Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions per GHG Protocol for organizations, in partnership with Up2You. Normally valued at €940, offered free to Banca Etica clients. Includes decarbonization consulting and access to preferential lending rates via decarbonization covenant subscription.
• Wealth Advisory Services Personalized advisory services: Consulenza Patrimoniale Privati for individuals and families, and Consulenza Patrimoniale Imprese e Organizzazioni for third-sector entities, NGOs, religious institutions, and institutional subjects. Delivered by 84 Ethical Finance Advisors across Italy.
• Social-Environmental Assessment (VSA) Proprietary social-environmental assessment methodology integrating ESG criteria into credit analysis, conducted via the digital 'Metrica' platform by trained volunteer Social Evaluators, with supplementary ESG Intelligence analysis for complex cases. The only methodology of its kind used by an Italian bank.
• Supplemental Health for Businesses Sanità Integrativa supplemental health insurance for businesses through Cooperazione Salute and Insieme Salute partnerships, with no risk selection and preventive campaigns included.
• Microfinance for International Development Microfinance products and development finance delivered through Cresud (subsidiary since 2019) to microfinance institutions, fair trade producers, cooperatives, networks, associations, and NGOs in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Quantifiable outcome

• Credit disbursed: €485.1 million to positive-impact organizations (2025)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IMPact SGRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Banca Etica acquired a 70% stake in Impact SGR (the asset management company founded by Fausto Artoni, Stefano Gelatti Mach de Palmstein, and Gherardo Spinola) after Bankitalia regulatory authorization, with definitive transfer in mid-March 2026. Impact SGR manages €400 million in assets and will be led by new board chair Anna Fasano. The acquisition transitions away from Anima SGR as delegated manager and expands distribution relationships for Banca Etica's savings products including online sales.
• CresudcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Cresud joined the Banca Etica Group in 2019 and offers financial resources and assistance services to microfinance organizations, fair trade producers, cooperatives, networks, associations and NGOs in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Founded in 1999, Cresud operates through a network of shareholders including individuals, cooperatives and associations active in sustainable development and fair trade.
• Fiare Banca EticacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2014Fiare Banca Etica is the Spanish branch of Banca Etica, established in 2014 through merger with Fiare, a Basque foundation for ethical finance promotion. Operates from Bilbao (branch headquarters) with offices in Madrid and Barcelona, serving Spanish customers across the Iberian Peninsula.
• Etica SGRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEtica SGR is the asset management company of the Banca Etica Group, and the first and only Italian SGR that selects and establishes exclusively ethical mutual funds. Represents the values of ethical finance in financial markets. Its assets under management declined from €7.4 billion in January 2025 to €5.8 billion due to Trump's policies on sustainable finance and internal corporate changes.
• Fondazione Finanza EticaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 2003, Fondazione Finanza Etica promotes and disseminates ethical finance, social economy, and sustainability values at national and international levels. Operates the specialist media outlet valori.it.
• Fundación Finanzas ÉticasminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in Spain in 2018 to strengthen critical shareholding activities and financial literacy education in Spanish-speaking markets.
• Cooperazione SaluteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Cooperazione Salute (mutual health society) to offer supplementary health plans for individuals, families, and professionals (ETICARE PRO). Provides reimbursable health services through public and private facilities.
• Insieme SaluteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Insieme Salute (mutual health society) to offer supplementary health coverage as part of Banca Etica's corporate welfare and insurance offerings.
• AssimocominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership with Assimoco for ethical insurance products including Multiramo Etica (investment-linked insurance) and other life and property insurance products distributed through Banca Etica.
• Euregio Plus SGR (PensPlan Profi)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Euregio Plus SGR for PensPlan Profi pension fund, offered in collaboration with Etica SGR and Banca Etica. Features ethical investment selection by Etica SGR and a €3 annual solidarity contribution supporting microfinance and Banca Etica crowdfunding projects.
• Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)minorOthersBanca Etica is a member of GABV, an independent network founded in 2009 of credit institutions operating worldwide inspired by ethical finance principles. Membership provides peer learning, shared best practices, and international visibility.
• Febea (Federazione Europea delle Banche Etiche e Alternative)minorOthersFounded by Banca Etica in 2001, FEBEA is a non-profit organization based in Brussels for the development of ethical and solidarity finance in Europe.
• European Microfinance NetworkminorOthersNon-profit organization established in 2001 by Banca Etica together with Credit Coopératif, Caisse Solidaire du Nord Pas-de-Calais, Crédal, Hefboom, and TISE for the development of ethical and solidarity finance in Europe.
• Microfinance CentreminorOthersEuropean network for social finance bringing together 115 organizations including 77 microfinance institutions in 36 countries in Europe and Central Asia, collectively serving over 2 million people.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• La Nef: French ethical cooperative bank focused on ecological and social lending, with full deposit and lending offerings restricted to projects aligned with its ethics charter. Operates an identical cooperative-values-based banking model to Banca Etica, primarily in France.
• Triodos Bank: Dutch-headquartered European ethical and sustainable bank offering deposits, lending, and impact investing across multiple countries. Closest like-for-like peer to Banca Etica: similar values-based proposition, transparent loan publication, and cooperative/values-aligned governance.
• Alternative Bank Schweiz (ABS): Swiss ethical bank offering deposit accounts, mortgages, and investment funds with ecological and social screening. Comparable Swiss-market ethical bank with similar cooperative/shareholder structure and transparency practices to Banca Etica.
• Cooperative Bank (UK): UK customer-owned bank offering ethical banking, savings, mortgages, and business banking under an Ethical Policy. Broader scale than Banca Etica but structurally similar cooperative, values-led retail and SME bank operating in Europe.
• Crédit Coopératif: French cooperative bank dedicated to the social and solidarity economy, offering deposit, lending, and asset management services to NGOs, cooperatives, and ethical investors. Closest French counterpart to Banca Etica's Third-Sector and ethical-finance positioning, also co-founder of FEBEA.
• Merkur Cooperative Bank: Danish cooperative bank dedicated to sustainable and ethical banking, providing deposits, lending, and impact investment products. Direct peer in the European ethical-banking cooperative ecosystem that includes Banca Etica via FEBEA and GABV memberships.
• GLS Bank: Germany's leading ethical bank, operating as a cooperative bank serving private, business, and institutional clients with values-screened lending and investments. Directly comparable cooperative ethical-bank model serving the DACH market alongside Banca Etica's Italy/Spain footprint.
• Cultura Bank: Norwegian ethical bank providing savings and lending products screened against sustainability criteria, with a member-owned ownership model. Direct European ethical-bank peer with comparable cooperative-style governance and impact-focused lending.

Broad incumbents

• Eurizon Capital: Large Italian asset manager (part of Intesa Sanpaolo Group) distributing a broad range of mutual funds including ESG-screened strategies. Broad incumbent comparable to Etica SGR / Impact SGR for Italian ethical-fund distribution scale and product breadth.
• Banca Mediolanum: Major Italian retail bank with a nationwide advisor network offering deposits, lending, and asset management products. Comparable distribution model (large advisor network for retail wealth and pension products) to Banca Etica's 84 Ethical Finance Advisors, though at much larger scale and without the ethical mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bancaetica
• Facebookfacebook.com/bancaetica

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Banca Etica