Its foundation dates back to September 26, 1837, when a hundred private citizens of Bologna created the Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna, conceived as a credit company serving the "popular classes". From this constitution to private initiative, but strongly directed towards the social, came the line of operations remained constant over the years: the bank remained strongly anchored to the territory and always maintained a beneficial and cultural activity.
The bank, in its long life, had to change its nature several times. During the nineteenth century the tendency was to transform the private associations that operated in the social sphere into a body governed by public law and this situation remained until 1991. In that year the tendency to favor a process of privatization of public banks prevailed and therefore also of the savings banks. With the Amato law, lending activities were transferred to a joint-stock company while a special Foundation was set up with the task of taking on the social activities and remaining the owner of the assets: the Cassa di Risparmio Foundation in Bologna.
Subsequently the Dini Directive intervened in 1994 and the Ciampi Reform in 1997/98 to accelerate the separation of the bank and the foundation. Meanwhile, the Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna proceeded with an amalgamation with other savings banks in the North-East:
Savings Bank of Padua and Rovigo
Group Casse Venete S.p.A.
It later merged into Sanpaolo IMI and finally into Intesa Sanpaolo. The bank is no longer operational since February 25, 2019, when it is incorporated into the parent company.