Intesa Sanpaolo is allocating 20 billion for small businesses

A 20 billion euro boost for businesses in the service sector. This is the essence of the plan presented by Intesa Sanpaolo through its Banca dei Territori division, a project that will accelerate innovation, digitalisation and upskilling, as well as promoting the uptake of digital payments by waiving fees for transactions of up to 20 euros made via physical POS terminals, compared with the previous limit of 10 euros. This initiative aims to support SMEs and micro-enterprises in the retail, craft and tourism sectors by addressing the real needs of the business community, offering tangible support to entrepreneurs who, over time, have redefined their priorities and requirements, transforming their cultural approach to doing business. This involves the renewal of agreements with Confcommercio, Federalberghi and Confartigianato, and the consolidation of a new sector-wide pact to strengthen competitiveness and tackle some of the current challenges, ranging from energy costs and digital tools to specialised training and the protection of jobs. Between 2020 and June 2026, Intesa Sanpaolo had allocated over 20 billion to companies in the sector.

In particular, for retail businesses, commission on physical POS terminals will be waived for amounts up to 20 euros, for the craft sector, there will be dedicated financing solutions for investments in digital technology and energy, preferential terms on invoice advance facilities to support cash flow management, and special conditions on POS solutions to facilitate the acceptance of digital payments, including on-the-go transactions. For the tourism sector: supporting investments in energy efficiency upgrades for accommodation facilities; facilitating the financial management of seasonal fluctuations through new tools such as ‘Hotel Booking Advances’, which allow seasonal peaks to be managed with greater flexibility and on more favourable terms, as well as a dedicated offering for accepting digital payments.

“Our country is brought to life by small business owners who pass on Italian know-how from one generation to the next and enrich our production chains. We must safeguard this heritage, and we must do so in partnership with the voluntary sector, which has always been a key partner in our initiatives. Our strategic partnership with Confcommercio, Federalberghi and Confartigianato aims to promote development, competitiveness and innovation: we will achieve this through 20 billion in new credit and the new measures announced today,” said Carlo Messina, Managing Director and CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo, “ The Bank will, in fact, cover the interest on the first instalment of the new loans and on those due at the end of 2027 and the end of 2028, with an estimated saving of 600 euros for each business, whilst the abolition of fees for POS payments under 20 euros will enable each merchant to save 450 euros. In this way, we will contribute to the local economy by returning around 100 million euros in cost savings over a period of 14 months. Our commitment and our widespread presence are thus intended to help boost small businesses in the retail, tourism and craft sectors, enabling them to tackle the most challenging phases of the economic landscape with a long-term vision.”

To promote the new measures, Intesa Sanpaolo and the trade associations have launched the roadshow ‘Supporting those who run businesses every day’, with the first events – focusing on the retail sector – having already taken place in Padua, Florence and Naples. The initiative will continue over the coming months with new meetings organised in collaboration with other associations to strengthen direct dialogue with local businesses and turn local needs into opportunities for development. There are over 4.4 million micro-enterprises operating in Italia, accounting for 95 per cent of the country’s businesses; they employ around 7.5 million people (41 per cent of the Italian workforce) and generate around 25 per cent of the country’s gross value added. Confidence remains stable compared with December 2025 and is up on previous periods, but energy costs, inflation and the price of raw materials remain the main concerns for businesses, with potential implications for investment and profitability.

“Small businesses are facing a challenging period which, despite the difficulties, requires them to step up investment in order to remain competitive and maintain their capacity for growth,” says Marco Granelli, president of Confartigianato. “This is why we now need a credit system that is more attuned to entrepreneurs, one capable of understanding their projects, skills, potential and local characteristics. It is on this basis that our collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo is founded, to strengthen a bank-business dialogue based on understanding and trust. Meeting the credit needs of craftspeople and small businesses means supporting the productive strength of ‘Made in Italy’. It means creating the conditions so that those who generate value in local communities can continue to grow, innovate, create jobs and tackle the major transitions of our time with greater vigour.”