PostePay Spa is born and Matteo Del Fante concentrates electronic money and digital payments in a single space. As announced, the Poste group has integrated Poste Mobile Spa (where telecommunications services are contracted) with the e-money business and payment systems. The largest Imel (Institute of Electronic Money) in Italy was born with 4,08 million PosteMobile SIMs, 26,5 million payment cards (19 million are prepaid) and 2,2 million digital wallets ).
“From today (yesterday for the reader, ed) the largest digital payment platform is operational - says Poste CEO Matteo Del Fante - which, in synergy with the most widespread distribution network in Italy, that of post offices, allows our company to consolidate its role as engine of development and innovation for the country. Thanks to the solutions offered by PostePay SpA, millions of families, businesses and the Public Administration will be able to benefit from quality services and simple, safe products suited to their every need".
Del Fante therefore takes another step forward in the Deliver 2022 process, the plan presented on February 27, 2018. Poste Italiane's emphasis on the Imel operation is not accidental: after the authorization requested and obtained from the Bank of Italy, the new PostePay Spa not only enhances the distribution channels represented by the thousands of post office branches distributed throughout Italy but combines them with the digital network. With the authorization obtained, Imel PostePay can in perspective issue new payment cards without going through banking circuits or competing with banks on POS, the payment machines in shops via Bancomat.
Also for this reason, the possible acquisition of Sia is around the corner: in recent months, Poste has given an exploratory mandate to JP Morgan to verify the convenience of the operation. Sia is the group controlled by CDP, banks and F2i which operates at a European level ensuring the management of infrastructures and technological services dedicated to credit institutions, central banks, companies and the PA for their digital payments. The operation is ambitious and perhaps arouses some concern in the banks that see the growth of a "dangerous" competitor. Furthermore, the growth of the spread could be sideways: if it continued to rise, it would force Poste Italiane to put its liquidity in Poste Vita, to strengthen its capital. It is still early, however, to raise the white flag.
