Fifth VIRTUS recognition for Banca Intesa

Banca Intesa and Intesa Foundation Philanthropic Organization have won the VIRTUS award for corporate philanthropy for 2025, awarded by the Trag Foundation.

This is the fifth VIRTUS award for Banca Intesa, after the special VIRTUS volunteering award in 2018 for the corporate volunteering program "Intesa from the Heart", a certificate of appreciation for the contribution to the development of philanthropy in Serbia in 2016, an award in the category of employee volunteering in 2014, as well as an award for supporting the most innovative project for the initiative for the protection of cultural and historical heritage "The Place I Love" in 2013.

Banca Intesa established Intesa Foundation in 2024 with its parent group Intesa Sanpaolo with the aim of systematically and strategically directing its philanthropic activities and contributing to the development of the community through long-term, sustainable initiatives in key areas of activity: empowering women and combating social inequalities, supporting education, children and youth, health and social protection, climate change mitigation and environmental protection, as well as local community projects. In the two years since its establishment, the foundation has channelled 2 million euros towards numerous social initiatives.

In 2025, donations in the amount of 1.1 million euros were allocated to as many as 19 support programs. Through these activities, 350 children suffering from the most serious diseases received better quality hospital care, more than 250 children from vulnerable groups were re-included in the education system, while 100 children without parental care received mentoring support. Part of the funds was also earmarked for environmental protection, as well as for women's empowerment programs, within which 130 victims of human trafficking and gender-based violence are provided with safe accommodation and psychosocial support. Banca Intesa employees also participated in volunteering actions carried out as part of projects supported by the Foundation, giving personal contribution to initiatives of wider social importance.

The VIRTUS awards, which have been awarded by the Trag Foundation since 2007, are intended to promote philanthropy and innovative socially responsible practices in Serbia, as well as to affirm organizations that support non-profit initiatives and organizations in the most comprehensive and effective way and motivate others to socially responsible engagement.