The cost of current accounts has gone up 23% in 10 years.

The cost of managing current accounts in Italy has risen by 23% over the past decade, according to a study conducted by Adusbef, the Association for the Defense of Banking Services Users. This increase comes despite a rise in the value of family deposits held in banks, which reached nearly 1.163 trillion euros by May 31, 2026. However, there are significant regional disparities in both account management costs and the amount of money deposited in banks across the country. According to the latest data from the Bank of Italy, the average cost of maintaining a current account increased from 82.2 euros to 101.1 euros over ten years, representing an increase of 18.9 euros. The rise is primarily driven by variable expenses such as transfers, payments, and withdrawals, which have grown by 34.2%, rising from an average of 26.6 euros to 35.7 euros. Variable costs related to transactions alone saw a 62.6% increase during this period. Fixed costs, including fees and card charges, rose more modestly by 17.6%, increasing from 55.6 euros to 65.4 euros. Adusbef’s analysis highlights the disparity in bank deposits among different regions. As of May 31, 2026, Italian households hold a total of 1.163 trillion euros in their current accounts, excluding remunerable or restricted liquidity forms. Regional differences are pronounced, with Lombardy holding nearly 239 billion euros in deposits, accounting for 20% of all money stored in Italian current accounts. Lazio follows with 122 billion euros, and Veneto with 105 billion euros. At the bottom of the list is Aosta Valley, with approximately 2.8 billion euros in deposits. When considering the value of current accounts relative to population size, Bolzano province emerges as the richest area, with an average of almost 30,400 euros per resident. Milan follows with 27,900 euros per resident, while Piacenza, Sondrio, and Belluno rank third through fifth, averaging 26,800, 26,000, and 25,650 euros respectively. Conversely, Crotone province holds the lowest average, with just 9,679 euros per resident, followed by Sassari with 9,741 euros and Nuoro with around 10,600 euros. Nominal growth in the value of current account deposits has been 28.3% over the past decade, rising from approximately 906 billion euros in May 2016 to the current 1.163 trillion euros. However, adjusting for inflation, which amounted to 23.6% over the same period, the actual increase in wealth is only 4.7%. Regions such as Trentino-Alto Adige, Sardinia, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia recorded the highest nominal increases of 43.2%, 42.7%, and 39.7% respectively. In contrast, Marche and Liguria showed much lower growth rates of 10.6% and 14.5% respectively. The study notes that the increase in household bank deposits reflects families’ desire to protect themselves amid ongoing economic uncertainty. However, this trend does not necessarily indicate widespread prosperity, as savings often result from reduced consumption and cautious behavior. Adusbef President Antonio Tanza emphasized the importance of the banking system recognizing these savings with transparent conditions and adequate returns, protecting consumers while supporting confidence in the economy. Regional variations in the growth of current account deposits highlight differing economic dynamics across Italy. While some areas have seen substantial increases, others have lagged behind, underscoring the need for policies that address these imbalances and ensure equitable financial services for all citizens. The findings underscore the complexity of the relationship between consumer behavior, economic stability, and the evolving landscape of banking services in Italy.