In the unexpected and very complex scenario of the Covid emergency, which characterized the year 2020, Banca Ifis promptly implemented a series of activities and measures to protect the health and safety of employees and customers, without any interruption to its business .

The health emergency had 360 ° repercussions on the organization of work and a consequent impact, also on an emotional level, for all Italians. Banca Ifis is constantly committed to preserving the health of employees and supporting them through projects and engagement activities, even remotely.

To address and overcome the crisis triggered by the pandemic, the Bank has accelerated its digital evolution projects, focusing on increasingly personalized services also from a technological point of view, with particular attention to the needs of the ecosystem of small and medium-sized enterprises and speed for the provision of short-term credit.

• At the end of February, Banca Ifis set up a Crisis Committee for rapid and responsible adoption of decisions/measures regarding the protection of the health of colleagues and the workplace, in compliance with the decrees and ministerial indications, MDG and of the Italian Banking Association (ABI).
• Remote work was immediately encouraged and promoted, with immediate application to situations of greater “fragility”: Law 104, immunosuppressed, pregnant women, colleagues with previous pathologies. In a second step, including parental leave, up to, in three weeks, full application of smart working for 93% of the Group’s workforce and a progressive extension in March and April to approximately 95% of employees.
  According to a recent survey conducted by SWG, 88% of the Bank’s employees assessed the remote working experience positively: 6 out of 10 employees believe that smart working is a form of inclusion for those with specific or family needs in order to be able to manage their work more flexibly. It is also perceived as a good way to overcome distances, facilitate sharing and increase productivity.
• The closure of branches in the most critical areas was arranged immediately, with the simultaneous launch of all procedures to manage the customer portfolio remotely.
• The Bank has activated, for all its employees, the extension of health insurance coverage to Covid-19 in the event of hospitalization following a positive Covid-19 diagnosis.
• For correct information for its employees and constant updating, an internal newsletter was launched, “Good Morning Ifis”. The newsletter, which is daily, arrives by email every morning at 8:30 and provides Ifis People with the main national and international news.
• To stimulate a sense of community and belonging even remotely, contests dedicated to Ifis People and bi-weekly meetings with management were launched to remain up to date on projects launched by the Bank.
• In addition, a partnership has been launched with Gymapass, a wellness platform that allows you to do activities anywhere, even at home, and to take care of your health with many digital, customizable options.

• Full compliance with the provisions of the Cura Italia decree, the Liquidity decree and the ABI credit agreement.
• Constant contact and dialogue with customers: the Bank entered “remote” mode, following requests and finalizing new contracts, thanks to the digital signature and the exchange of documents via certified e-mail.
• In just a few weeks, a digital platform was set up to make the process of disbursement of new loans guaranteed by the State, envisaged by the Cura Italia decree, more efficient.
• Over 17,000 requests¹ for moratoriums were received and over 97% were approved, of which 80% lease loans.
• The Bank assessed the possibility of granting deferred payments for assigned debtor factoring, on an average of 30 days (maximum 60 days); for customers, the possibility to reach up to 100% of the advance on existing receivables was evaluated.
• Banca Ifis opened credit lines dedicated to client companies that have converted or upgraded part of their processing chains to produce masks, sanitizing gels, technical material for Civil Protection, machine components for patient oxygenation, plasma treatment and of blood products.
• Immediate liquidity was granted to pharmacies, if the business was closed due to Covid-19, equal to the blocked days and up to a maximum of 30 days.
• In phase 2, Banca Ifis structured leasing and rental financial solutions to manage new types of assets related to the Covid-19 emergency: equipment for monitoring body temperature, Thermoscanner and equipment for air purification and filtration.
• On 5 June 2020, an agreement was signed with Veneto Sviluppo and the Veneto Region to grant subsidized loans to support the liquidity of local companies affected by the Covid-19 emergency.
• On 20 July 2020, the Bank signed an agreement with the EIB for € 50 million of new loans in order to support small and medium-sized Italian enterprises. The agreement is part of the pan-European “Covid-19” project.

¹ Data as of November 2020

Banca Ifis plays an active role in the development and promotion of the communities in which it operates, thanks to various initiatives, ranging from participation in national projects to the support of national and local non-profit organizations and bodies, up to the promotion of social solidarity initiatives.

In 2020, the Bank’s commitment took concrete form in partnerships, agreements and donations involving non-profit associations, social cooperative companies and charities, with a particular focus on children and those in difficulty, in whose regard the Bank chose to intervene actively with various projects.

Activities have intensified in recent months of the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, an emergency to which the Bank has actively responded with support for the “Italy Called” project, with a donation to the Civil Protection for the purchase of an intensive care station.

Among other activities, please note the Bank’s support for the “One night in Portofino” event, an initiative dedicated to responding to the serious emergencies generated by the Covid-19 epidemic, the proceeds of which will be donated to the San Martino Polyclinic Hospital in Genoa.