The very existence of European savings banks is rooted in the notion of assistance and support to the poor and the contribution to social progress. Savings banks foundations were indeed originally created specifically to combat poverty and social exclusion and its direct negative impacts. Savings banks’ actions in the social field now focus on providing means to encourage autonomy and initiative, rather than the simple provision of aid. They target people in fragile situations or who are seeking to attain self-reliance and benefit from long-term programmes with a specific mentoring along the various steps. A number of savings banks’ projects.
