A recovery necessarily entails an increase in efficiency, a curbing of costs, and a diversification of income sources; targeted consolidations, according to sound business projects, can stimulate and abet this process. In 2015 banks’ operating costs – net of extraordinary contributions to the National Resolution Fund – remained stable.
The cost-income ratio is 64 per cent, slightly above the average for European groups and below that of the main French and German banks. Nevertheless, given their specific situation, for many Italian banks it remains imperative to take steps to contain costs, including staff costs, by adapting the quality and quantity of personnel to technological and market developments.