By 2019, according to an analysis of the business plans of five of the main Italian banks (Intesa, Unicredit, Mps, Banco Popolare and Ubi), released by the Fabi union (Autonomous Italian Banking Federation), about three thousand bank branches in the country will be closed. A trend that is consolidating, given that from 2009 to 2016 3.972 branches have already been cut in the area, of which 1.697 in the last three years.
Not only that: in the next four years, Lando Sileoni of Fabi announces, “about 25 workers will leave voluntarily, as a result of agreements signed between trade unions and banking groups”, which will add to the other 40 already out. Banks today employ around 300 people, plus another 37 who work in cooperative credit banks. What will become of many of them in the long run?
The positive note, always explains the union, is that “we managed these 65, also obtaining 18 hirings of young people on permanent contracts. But once we have exhausted this pool of early retirements, when new aggregations arrive, the alternative will be to switch to layoffs”. According to Sileoni, the solution is managed flexibility and not suffered: “We made the new hires with a mixed contract, both as a financial advisor and as a bank employee. In short, we need to provide for new professional figures. For example, with Intesa and Banco Bpm we have agreed on smart working at company level, i.e. working from home. It is an alternative form that can give results, if managed well”.
