Gruppo Banco BPM commences on 1st January 2017 following the merger of two major cooperative banks, Banco Popolare and Banca Popolare di Milano. With 22,000 employees and 1,700 branches, Gruppo Banco BPM is the third-largest banking group in Italy. It serves 4 million customers through an extensive and complementary distribution network and a comprehensive multi-channel model, benefiting from a leadership position in Northern Italy, particularly in Lombardy, Veneto and Piedmont. Its strong local presence has made it a national leader in several high value-added businesses, being in a unique position to take advantage of its widespread network, a portfolio of highly recognisable brands and cross-selling opportunities between product factories. The strong tradition of cooperative banks has inspired the new banking group to pursue a mission to create lasting and stable value for shareholders and local areas through sustainable growth and profitability.