[7][8] Mediobanca was set up to provide medium-term financing for manufacturers and establish a direct relationship between the banking sector and the investment needs of the reorganization of industry after the devastation caused by World War II.
In addition to granting consolidated loans against certificates of deposit and savings books, Mediobanca developed its activity of placement of bonds and shares issued by Italian companies.
In the mid-1950s, Mediobanca entered into agreements with important foreign partners (Lazard Group, Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft, Lehman Brothers, Sofina) that enabled the bank to play a role on the international market and obtained a Stock Exchange listing in 1956.
The placement of securities of Italian companies on the domestic market and abroad led to the acquisition of small holdings which have increased over time reinvesting part of the profits.
On that occasion the position of CEO went to Vincenzo Maranghi and Cuccia accepted his appointment as Honorary President maintaining a symbolic presence in the bank and performing strategic consultancy.
[11] Under Cuccia's leadership, which lasted until his death in 2000, the bank was widely described as "secretive"[12][13][14] despite being publicly traded: meetings with analysts or interviews with the media were not granted.
[12] Mediobanca's business structure today consists of four specialized areas: Wealth Management, Corporate & Investment Banking, Consumer Finance and Insurance.
The Wealth Management division (25% of Group revenues) is segmented as follows: Mediobanca is active in Corporate & Investment Banking (22% of revenues), directly and through subsidiaries (in particular Messier & Associès, based in Paris and Arma Partners, based in London and offices in the Principality of Monaco), covering the following areas: financial services for companies and in particular in M&A, Capital Market, Corporate Lending and Trading services.
in 2008, operations in the retail banking segment expanded creating a model of multi-channel distribution (Internet, call centers, branches) capable of providing substantial deposit flows.
[20] The ambition of this division was precisely the one imagined by Nagel at the end of the 1990s: to become the first Private & Investment Bank in Italy, a model that is now also highly regarded by the financial community.
created and leveraged on a model of multi-channel distribution (Internet, call centers, branches) for providing Wealth Management services to Italian households.
[23] Starting with the 2016-19 strategic plan, Mediobanca outlined a new growth path for CheBanca!, with an increasing focus on managing Italian’s savings and investments.
[27][28] Since 2006 Mediobanca has embarked on an internationalization process with the aim of expanding its market base, diversifying counterparty risk and assisting its clients in their cross-border transactions.
[29] Mediobanca's international activities are characterized by the cross-market presence in the European market of the Corporate & Investment Banking division, which has also been consolidated through several acquisitions abroad.
[37] Mediobanca also started the geographical diversification of the Group's Consumer Finance division in 2023, taking over 100% stake in HeidiPay Switzerland AG, fintech firm specializing in Buy Now Pay Later.