Merger Showdown: Union Slams Crédit Agricole–Banco BPM Deal Over Job Cuts and “Deserted” Towns
Italy’s First CISL banking union warned that a Banco BPM–Crédit Agricole Italia merger could trigger hundreds of branch closures and heavy job losses, vowing strong opposition. Italian banks closed 268 branches in the first nine months of 2025, accelerating a trend that has left 3,419 towns without a bank. The government said it will set conditions but not block the deal. Banco BPM shares have risen on merger speculation.
