Banks’ sovereign exposures in Italy: critical reflections between public financial needs and banks’ management equilibrium

Authors

  • Franco Tutino Professore emerito di Economia degli intermediari finanziari
  • Diego Mosca Cassa Depositi e Prestiti

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13133/2037-3651/19120

Keywords:

banks, public debt, sovereign exposures, sovereign risk

Abstract

The paper analyzes changes and composition of sovereign portfolios of major Italian banks, focusing on several aspects: size and impact on balance sheet, geographical distribution, accounting and evaluation criteria adopted. This is carried out through the examination of data covering the period from 2018 to 2024, a time frame marked by events that significantly affected State’s financial needs and banks’ strategic decisions. The data analysis enables new insights and critical considerations on the relationship between banks and sovereigns, while consistently acknowledging the close interconnection between the real economy, public debt and the functioning of the banking system.

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Published

2025-10-15