The reform must be seen through to the end so that the remaining large popolari banks can make the necessary improvements regarding the transparency of their governance structure, the ability to access the market, and the possibility to participate in mergers.
Italy’s smaller popolari banks, whose transformation into joint-stock companies was not mandatory under the reform, could also benefit from increased integration in some areas such as the pooling of production processes and marketing of their products. Some headway is being made in this direction and must continue.