(ANSA) - Rome, February 12 - A senior official at the Bank
of Italy said Thursday that even if the country's smallest
credit coop banks are excluded from new reforms, they should
still remodel themselves "quickly" and consider integration.
Carmelo Barbagallo, supervisory head, said the smallest mutual
coop banks, known as BCC lenders, "need greater cohesion".
Premier Matteo Renzi last month announced reforms to the
ownership structures of the 10 largest 'popolari' or cooperative
banks which could open them to mergers and takeovers.