After the trials and tribulations of the Banca Monte Paschi... my patience and my membership cut short after just a few months and moved to the Casa di Risparmio... a little better.. a least a cheery face.. but why is it as soon a queue starts to form out the door, a teller dissappears into the next room ??
But my newest bank... what a joy The Banca Populare.. an account opened in minutes, a very helpful teller who enthused about the UK and all things in it! And to top it off a set of beautiful spumante glasses.. Maybe the fact that its a small mountain town and she probably only see two people a day... I dont care.. Im never living in a city again!! I cant wait to visit the post office!!

There is only one Monte Paschi (Siena); but Cassa di Risparmio and Banca Popolare are generic names (each hinting to a predefined governance structure), so if you do not say which Cassa di Risparmio and which Banca Popolare you are referring to, it is difficult to understand your message.

An helpful teller is always a treasure, probably more important than the branch ownership in itself. Often, when a good teller migrates to a different job, his/her clients migrate as well...

Yes ..true.. was getting carried away with it all.. My nice new bank is Banca Populare di Verona & Novara..

I don't mean to be negative, but I will be just a bit .... My first bank here was opened quickly by a super nice person who later turned out to be not so super nice. Cue arguments then closure of account.

Are the costs good Sally & Bill? I am extremely dubious with old style banks here.

Can't wait to hear about the post office!

I believe Sally's experience will continue to be positive. I've been with my bank 13 years and they've always treated me right.

I hope so Bill.

I think that you have a better chance of being treated well in smaller towns.

The costs are not bad really.. Something like 6€ a month. After years of free banking in the UK though I still find it crazy you have to pay them for an account....
Mind you UK bank are now considering charging to! HSBC are already charging I think??
I do think being in a small town.. well hamlet will be better.. I was in Orvieto for nearly 2 years, and beautiful though it is I was always considered a tourist!

I am sorry to report that Banca Popolare di Verona e novara has recently merged with Banca Popolare Italiana (ex Banca Popolare di Lodi). It will soon change names to Banco Popolare. Likely costs and other "features" will change as well.

Banking in Italy all depends on your relationship the individual branch. And even then the workers are only around for a couple of years until they get transferred.

All the San Paolo Group banks, such as Cassa di Risparmio di Venezia, now have a so-called "Zero Tondo" account. You don't have to pay any bank fees so long as you limit your in-bank deposits to once a month and perform all other transactions by ATM or internet. You also pay no fees for your ATM card and credit card.