# BPER Banca / SMART MOBILE

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bper
> research date 2026-05-30 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [BPER Banca — official](https://group.bper.it/)

## Overview

**BPER Banca** is **Italy's 3rd largest banking entity by deposits + branch network** + **post-Jun 3 2022 Banca Carige €1B 80% acquisition** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [Italy report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IT)</sup>. **Sep 30 2025 baseline**: BPER ~2,000 Italian branches + ~23,000 staff + 6M+ Italian customers; **distinctive SMART MOBILE Italian banking app + SMART WEB internet banking platform** (Reply + BPER Banca digital channels transformation); **2022 BPER Banca Group + IBM partnership** to modernize core banking systems + accelerate digital transformation plan.

**Distinctive BPER Banca positioning** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Italy's 3rd largest banking entity by deposits + branch network** (Banco BPM is Italy #3 by some other rankings; BPER also strong)
- **~2,000 Italian branches + ~23,000 staff + 6M+ Italian customers Sep 30 2025**
- **Distinctive SMART MOBILE Italian banking app + SMART WEB internet banking platform** (Reply + BPER Banca digital channels transformation)
- **Feb 14 2022 BPER signs agreement to acquire ~80% Banca Carige for €1B in consideration** (following Carige's 2019-2020 resolution)
- **Jun 3 2022 BPER closes Banca Carige acquisition** → BPER assumes control of Carige operations + enhances footprint in Liguria + Sardinia
- **1867 Banca Popolare dell'Emilia founding** (BPER Banca's ultimate predecessor; Modena Italian cooperative bank heritage)
- **2022 BPER Banca Group + IBM partnership** to modernize core banking systems + accelerate digital transformation plan

## History

**Jun 1867 — Banca Popolare dell'Emilia founded** in Modena, Italy → distinctive Modena Italian cooperative bank heritage.

**1992 — Banca Popolare dell'Emilia + Banca Popolare di Cesena merger → Banca Popolare dell'Emilia Romagna (BPER)**.

**2011 — BPER mobile banking app launches**.

**2016 — BPER Banca rebrand from Banca Popolare dell'Emilia Romagna**.

**Oct 2022 — BPER Banca Group + IBM partnership** to modernize core banking systems + accelerate digital transformation plan <sup>[4][4]</sup>.

**Feb 14 2022 — BPER signs agreement to acquire ~80% Banca Carige for €1B in consideration** (following Carige's 2019-2020 resolution) <sup>[3][3]</sup>.

**Jun 3 2022 — BPER closes Banca Carige acquisition** → BPER assumes control of Carige operations + enhances footprint in Liguria + Sardinia through Carige's established network.

**Sep 30 2025 — BPER ~2,000 Italian branches + ~23,000 staff + 6M+ Italian customers** <sup>[1][1], [2][2]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **BPER Banca S.p.A.** (BIT: BPER).

**Major shareholders**: **Unipol Gruppo (Italian insurance group) ~24.7% controlling + Italian institutional + Italian retail public float + foreign institutional**.

**Regulators**: **Banca d'Italia + ECB**.

## Technical integration

**SMART MOBILE distinctive Italian banking app** (iOS + Android; Reply + BPER Banca digital channels transformation; faster + easier + more intuitive interactions) + **SMART WEB internet banking platform** + bper.it online + BPER Banca cards (Visa + Mastercard + Bancomat) + BPER Banca Italian branch network (~2,000); SEPA Instant + Bancomat Pay; **Banca Carige (post-Jun 3 2022 €1B 80% acquisition; integrated; Liguria + Sardinia footprint enhancement)**.

## Users & growth

**Sep 30 2025**: BPER ~2,000 Italian branches + ~23,000 staff + 6M+ Italian customers.

## Use cases

Italian retail + private + corporate + SME + investment + insurance banking via SMART MOBILE + SMART WEB internet banking + bper.it online + cards + branches; SEPA Instant + Bancomat Pay; **Banca Carige (post-Jun 3 2022 €1B 80% acquisition; integrated; Liguria + Sardinia footprint enhancement)**.

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: BPER Banca S.p.A. (BIT: BPER); Unipol Gruppo (Italian insurance group) ~24.7% controlling + Italian institutional + Italian retail public float + foreign institutional.

**Subsidiaries**: **Banca Carige (post-Jun 3 2022 €1B 80% acquisition; integrated; Liguria + Sardinia footprint enhancement)** + **BPER Group additional subsidiaries**.

**Strategic partnerships**: **2022 BPER Banca Group + IBM partnership** (modernize core banking systems + accelerate digital transformation plan) + **Reply + BPER Banca SMART MOBILE + SMART WEB transformation**.

**Major Italian banking competitors**: [Intesa Sanpaolo + isybank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/intesa-isybank) (Italy #1; Isybank digital subsidiary) + [UniCredit + buddybank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/unicredit) (Italy #2; HypoVereinsbank Germany + UniCredit CEE 13-country footprint) + [Banco BPM](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/banco-bpm) (Italy #3 + survived 2025 UniCredit ~€10-15B takeover bid + Italian government Golden Power intervention + Jul 23 2025 UniCredit bid withdrawal) + Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS; world's oldest bank in operation since 1472) + [Fineco Bank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/fineco-bank) (Italian challenger digital broker + bank) + [Banca Mediolanum](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mediolanum) (Italian private bank + life insurance + 1.2M+ customers + Mediolanum app 1M+ installs) + Mediobanca (Italian investment bank) + Credito Emiliano (Credem).

**Regulators**: Banca d'Italia + ECB.

## Fun facts

- **Italy's 3rd largest banking entity by deposits + branch network**.
- **~2,000 Italian branches + ~23,000 staff + 6M+ Italian customers Sep 30 2025**.
- **Distinctive SMART MOBILE Italian banking app + SMART WEB internet banking platform** (Reply + BPER Banca digital channels transformation).
- **Feb 14 2022 BPER signs agreement to acquire ~80% Banca Carige for €1B in consideration** (following Carige's 2019-2020 resolution).
- **Jun 3 2022 BPER closes Banca Carige acquisition** → BPER assumes control of Carige operations + enhances footprint in Liguria + Sardinia.
- **Jun 1867 Banca Popolare dell'Emilia founding** (BPER Banca's ultimate predecessor; Modena Italian cooperative bank heritage).
- **2022 BPER Banca Group + IBM partnership** to modernize core banking systems + accelerate digital transformation plan.

## Comparison

| Feature | BPER Banca / SMART MOBILE | [Banco BPM](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/banco-bpm) (Italy #3 rival + survived 2025 UniCredit ~€10-15B takeover bid + Italian Golden Power + Jul 23 2025 UniCredit bid withdrawal) | [Intesa Sanpaolo + isybank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/intesa-isybank) (Italy #1 rival; Isybank digital subsidiary) | [UniCredit + buddybank](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/unicredit) (Italy #2 rival; HypoVereinsbank Germany + UniCredit CEE 13-country footprint) | [Banca Mediolanum](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mediolanum) (Italian private bank + life insurance + 1.2M+ customers rival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **BPER Banca S.p.A. (BIT: BPER)** | Banco BPM S.p.A. (BIT: BAMI) | Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. (BIT: ISP) | UniCredit S.p.A. (BIT: UCG) | Banca Mediolanum S.p.A. (BIT: BMED) |
| Type | **Italy's 3rd largest banking entity by deposits + branch network + ~2,000 Italian branches + ~23,000 staff + 6M+ Italian customers + SMART MOBILE + SMART WEB + Jun 3 2022 Banca Carige €1B 80% acquisition + 2022 IBM partnership + Unipol Gruppo ~24.7% controlling** | Italy #3 + survived 2025 UniCredit ~€10-15B takeover bid + Italian government Golden Power intervention + Jul 23 2025 UniCredit bid withdrawal + YouApp + Banco BPM Anima Holding SpA asset manager 2025 acquisition | Italy #1 + Isybank digital subsidiary + Eurizon asset management + 7M+ Isybank target | Italy #2 + HypoVereinsbank Germany + UniCredit CEE 13-country footprint + 2025 Banco BPM ~€10-15B takeover bid attempt + Andrea Orcel CEO | Italian private bank + life insurance + 1.2M+ customers + Mediolanum app 1M+ Android installs + Italian 14th largest bank with 1.26% market share 2024 |
| Country | IT | IT | IT + 7+ countries | IT + 13 European countries (Germany + Austria + CEE) | IT |
| Distinctive | **Jun 1867 Banca Popolare dell'Emilia founding in Modena (Modena Italian cooperative bank heritage); 1992 BPER formation via Banca Popolare dell'Emilia + Banca Popolare di Cesena merger; 2011 mobile app launch; 2016 BPER Banca rebrand; Oct 2022 BPER + IBM core banking modernization partnership; Feb 14 2022 BPER + Banca Carige €1B 80% agreement; Jun 3 2022 BPER Banca Carige acquisition closure (Liguria + Sardinia footprint enhancement)** | 1865 Banca Popolare di Milano (BPM) founding in Milan; 1867 Banco Popolare predecessor founding; Jan 1 2017 Banco Popolare + BPM merger → Banco BPM | 2007 Banca Intesa + Sanpaolo IMI merger; 2020 UBI Banca €4.86B acquisition | 1998 Credito Italiano + Banca Commerciale Italiana merger; 2005 HypoVereinsbank Germany acquisition | 1982 Programma Italia founding (Mediolanum predecessor); 1997 Banca Mediolanum founding; Doris family controlling |

## Status

**Active, Italy's 3rd largest banking entity by deposits + branch network + post-Jun 3 2022 Banca Carige €1B 80% acquisition** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **BPER Banca S.p.A. (BIT: BPER)** since Jun 1867 Banca Popolare dell'Emilia founding in Modena + 1992 BPER formation via Banca Popolare dell'Emilia + Banca Popolare di Cesena merger + 2016 BPER Banca rebrand.
- **~2,000 Italian branches + ~23,000 staff + 6M+ Italian customers + Banca Carige (post-Jun 3 2022 €1B 80% acquisition; integrated)**.
- **SMART MOBILE + SMART WEB + 2022 IBM partnership**.
- **Unipol Gruppo ~24.7% controlling**.
- **Banca d'Italia + ECB regulated**.

## Sources

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BPER_Banca "BPER Banca — Wikipedia"
[2]: https://grokipedia.com/page/BPER_Banca "BPER Banca — Grokipedia"
[3]: https://group.bper.it/en/-/sottoscritto-il-contratto-di-acquisizione-della-partecipazione-di-controllo-di-carige-detenuta-dal-fondo-interbancario-di-tutela-dei-depositi-e-dallo- "BPER signs Banca Carige acquisition agreement — BPER Banca"
[4]: https://newsroom.ibm.com/2022-10-27-BPER-Banca-Group-Collaborates-with-IBM-to-Modernize-Core-Banking-Systems-and-Accelerate-Digital-Transformation-Plan "BPER Banca Group Collaborates with IBM to Modernize Core Banking Systems — IBM Newsroom"
[it-cro]: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IT

- [1] [BPER Banca — Wikipedia][1]
- [2] [BPER Banca — Grokipedia][2]
- [3] [BPER signs Banca Carige acquisition agreement — BPER Banca][3]
- [4] [BPER Banca Group Collaborates with IBM to Modernize Core Banking Systems — IBM Newsroom][4]
- <sup>[Italy report](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/payments/IT)</sup> In-corpus: `reports/countries/IT-italy.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [bper.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/bper). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.