Finance

Bank of Italy selects 4 systemic risk countries for lenders, including Russia

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on July 4, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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Bank of Italy selects 4 systemic risk countries for lenders, including Russia
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MILAN (Reuters) -The Bank of Italy said on Friday it had selected the United States, Great Britain, Switzerland and Russia as countries outside the European Union that its banks have significant

Bank of Italy Identifies Four Key Countries for Banking Risks

MILAN (Reuters) -The Bank of Italy said on Friday it had selected the United States, Great Britain, Switzerland and Russia as countries outside the European Union that its banks have significant exposure to, under rules designed to govern systemic risks.

The Bank of Italy used end-2024 data to measure banks' exposure to those countries in relation to their overall exposure.

Top Italian lenders Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit are both present in Russia, the former serving only corporate clients while the latter owns a retail bank.

UniCredit said in an update of the investor document relating to its takeover bid for Banco BPM that its Russian unit had increased its holdings of local government bonds in the first quarter to 754 million euros ($888.06 million) from 574 million in December.

($1 = 0.8490 euros)

(Reporting by Valentina Za, editing by Gavin Jones)

Key Takeaways

  • Bank of Italy identifies US, UK, Switzerland, and Russia as systemic risk countries.
  • Italian banks have significant exposure to these non-EU countries.
  • Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit have operations in Russia.
  • UniCredit's Russian unit increased local government bond holdings.
  • Exposure measured using end-2024 data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries did the Bank of Italy select for systemic risk?
The Bank of Italy selected the United States, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Russia as countries outside the European Union that its banks have significant exposure to.
What data did the Bank of Italy use for its assessment?
The Bank of Italy used end-2024 data to measure banks' exposure to the selected countries in relation to their overall exposure.
How are Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit involved in Russia?
Intesa Sanpaolo serves only corporate clients in Russia, while UniCredit owns a retail bank there.
What recent action did UniCredit take regarding its Russian unit?
UniCredit reported that its Russian unit increased its holdings of local government bonds in the first quarter to 754 million euros.
What is the exchange rate mentioned in the article?
The article mentions that $1 is equivalent to 0.8490 euros.

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