Which Italian bank, founded in 1472, is the world's oldest bank still operating?

Monte dei Paschi di Siena, founded in 1472, is the world's oldest bank still operating.

It began in Siena as the Monte di Pietà, a charitable lending institution established by the city's government. Its original purpose was to provide relatively affordable credit and reduce dependence on moneylenders.

The institution developed into a modern bank over several centuries. In 1624, it was given the name Monte dei Paschi, referring to the pasture lands whose revenues helped support it. The bank expanded beyond charitable lending and became a major Italian financial institution.

It is often confused with older banks that no longer survive, including the Medici Bank, which operated in Renaissance Florence. Monte dei Paschi's distinction is continuous operation, not simply an early founding date. Its headquarters remain in Siena, in Tuscany, where its long history is closely connected with the city.