BANCAPERTA TREASURERS FOR THE PAYMENT SYSTEMS

The representatives of the major Italian banks attended a seminar on the payment system organised by Bancaperta S.p.A., which was held on Friday last in Sondrio. The seminar was chaired by Renato Bartesaghi - Credito Valtellinese General Manager who supervises the Group's financial activities. The convention was sponsored by ATIC (Associazione Tesorieri Istituzioni Creditizie). Credito Valtellinese plays a central role within ATIC. In fact, since January, Norberto Gualteroni - Bancaperta vice-chairman - has also been ATIC vice-chairman. The Group run by Bartesaghi has always been in the forefront of both financial and technological activities, first with the implementation of the home payment system during the world ski cup in Bormio in 1985, then with the establishment of Bancaperta S.p.A., which has been the Group's web-bank and specialized reference structure entrusted with bank-insurance and finance since 1996.

Giovanni De Censi, Credito Valtellinese Managing Director, opened the convention focusing on changes that are being made in the fields of finance and technology.

ATIC Chairman Alberto Varisco co-ordinated the seminar.

Renato Bartesaghi made the central speech, focusing on the role of technological innovations within the banking sector, which is radically changing the relationship existing between banking companies, their clientele and suppliers. In fact, the new technologies make the company transparent, "at a mouse click". Customers can easily access their bank in new and different ways. The concept of physical closeness is now replaced by closeness in terms of Internet connection. Realizing the importance of technology, companies have introduced the so-called digital signature, as a result of a computer-based process implementing a personal identification code. ABI vice-chairman Camillo Venesio focused on the organization of EU institutions as for the payment system with particular regard to Italy's role and prospects for the future.

Than, the Bank of Italy Central Manager Carlo Tresoldi spoke about the European challenge in terms of payment system management. His speech focused on how the EU central banks are trying to adopt a common strategy within the decentralized monetary policy defined by the Treaty of Maastricht.

The seminar ended with an interesting debate, which involved the representatives of the participating institutions and banks.