Banco di Santo Spirito

[3] The Bank was founded by Pope Paul V in the Bench of S. Spirit building (which became known as the Palazzo del Banco di S. Spirito) on December 13, 1605.

[2] From February 20, 1606, to 1923, the Bank of the Holy Spirit provided capital for churches and hospitals constructed in Rome, and other commercial purposes.

[6] In 1750, Pope Benedict XIV, known for his condemnation of usury: Vix pervenit (promulgated November 1, 1745), reorganized the Bank and restricted its lending activities.

In 1935, the Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale (IRI) of the fascist Italian government gained a controlling interest in the bank.

In 1992, the resulting entity in turn merged with Banco di Roma (est.