Consumer Credit
The ABI carries out various activities to facilitate consumer access to credit, contributing, also in cooperation with consumer associations, to make loans and financing more accessible, transparent and sustainable.
First home loan guarantee fund
The so-called Fondo di garanzia mutui per la prima casa (first home loan guarantee fund), set up at the Ministry of the Economy and Finance and managed by Consap, grants a public guarantee for the taking out of mortgage loans for the purchase and possible renovation and energy efficiency enhancement of real estate units to be used as main homes.
The Fund issues a guarantee of up to 50% of the principal amount of the requested loan, thus facilitating access to credit for the following categories of borrowers:
- young couple: a family unit consisting of spouses or cohabiting partners who have been living together for at least two years, in which at least one of the two members has not exceeded the age of 35 at the date of submission of the application (the requirement is met if they have not reached the age of 36);
- single-parent household with minor children: single person neither married nor cohabiting with the other parent of any of their minor children living with them; separated, divorced or widowed person cohabiting with at least one of their minor children;
- young person who has not attained the age of 36;
- tenants of dwellings owned by autonomous institutes for social housing however denominated.
Until 31 December 2027:
- Borrowers who have an indicator of the equivalent economic situation (ISEE) of no more than EUR 40,000 per year can obtain a guarantee of up to 80% of the principal amount of the loans applied for;
- The categories of borrowers who can access the Fund also include so-called 'large families' for whom, under certain conditions, the maximum coverage percentage can be up to 90%;
- the increase in the guarantee coverage percentage is only recognised if the ratio of the loan amount requested to the purchase price of the property exceeds 80%
Applications for access to the Fund can be submitted directly to the participating bank.
For more information, downloadre the Fund access form e to viewe the list of participating banks to the initiative you can consultrand the site of the Consap.
Solidarity fund for first home loans
The Fondo di solidarietà dei mutui per l'acquisto della prima casa (Solidarity Fund for mortgages for the purchase of one's first home) allows borrowers to apply to the bank that issued the mortgage for the purchase of their main home to suspend the payment of the entire instalment, for a total of 18 months, upon the occurrence of the following events three years preceding the submission of the suspension request:
- perdita del posto di lavoro a tempo determinato o indeterminato o dei rapporti lavorativi di cui all’art. 409 del cpc;
- morte;
- handicap grave o condizione di non autosufficienza;
- sospensione del lavoro per un periodo di almeno 30 giorni;
- riduzione dell’orario di lavoro per un periodo di almeno 30 giorni.
For the events referred to in (d) and e), the maximum duration of the suspension of the payment of mortgage instalments is commensurate with the duration of the suspension or reduction of working time:
- 6 months if the suspension or reduction of working time lasts between 30 days and 150 days;
- 12 months, if the suspension or reduction in working time lasts between 151 and 302 days;
- 18 months, if the suspension or reduction in working time lasts longer than 303 days.
The main requirements for access are, among others, an ISEE income of no more than EUR 30,000 and a mortgage amount of no more than EUR 250,000 for the purchase of a non-luxury property used as a main home.
First Home Loans Solidarity Fund Guide 2024
Home ceiling
ABI e CDP hanno sottoscritto il 20 novembre 2013 la convenzione “Plafond Casa” che disciplina le regole per l’utilizzo da parte delle banche di una linea di provvista finanziaria messa a disposizione da CDP da destinare alla concessione di mutui ipotecari a condizioni di mercato a persone fisiche, per l’acquisto di immobili residenziali destinati a privata abitazione e/o per interventi di ristrutturazione con accrescimento dell’efficienza energetica.
Occorre precisare che la misura non ha natura “agevolativa pubblica”: non è infatti previsto un contributo pubblico che riduca il tasso di interesse applicato dalle banche sui finanziamenti erogati alla clientela né una garanzia da parte dello Stato (direttamente o per il tramite di CDP) a copertura del mancato rimborso del finanziamento da parte del mutuatario.
Le banche che su base volontaria aderiscono alla convenzione possono decidere tempo per tempo se attingere o meno alle risorse del “Plafond Casa” sulla base delle proprie autonome valutazioni, anche tenendo conto della convenienza economica della provvista CDP. In questo senso si precisa che l’elenco delle banche aderenti riportato sul sito di CDP fornisce esclusivamente una indicazione aggiornata delle banche che hanno aderito all’iniziativa, non specificando l’eventuale attuale effettivo utilizzo delle risorse.
Le banche che intendono utilizzare le risorse del Plafond Casa devono istruire con priorità le domande presentate da giovani coppie, nuclei familiari di cui fa parte almeno un soggetto disabile e famiglie numerose, rispetto a tutte le richieste di mutuo eventualmente ricevute. La concessione del mutuo da parte della banca è in ogni caso sempre subordinata alla valutazione del merito di credito del richiedente, in ottemperanza delle vigenti disposizioni legislative nazionali ed europee.
On the site of CDP contains further information and the list of participating banks.
Policies on mortgages and other financing
On 30 November 2013, a memorandum of understanding was signed between ABI, Assofin and 14 consumer associations (Acu, Adiconsum, Adoc, Assoutenti, Casa del mercato, Cittadinanzattiva, Codacons, Codici, Confconsumatori, Federconsumatori, Lega consumatori, Movimento consumatori, Movimento difesa del cittadino, Unione nazionale consumatori) aimed at promoting the dissemination of good practices in the offer to consumers of optional insurance policies, life or mixed - i.e. providing both life and non-life insurance - ancillary to mortgages and other financing.
Video pills on 'home loans
Video pills to provide 'simple and direct' information on home mortgages. This is the training and information path launched by the ABI for those who want to buy a house and for those who already have a mortgage.
The awareness-raising initiative is part of the 'Trasparenza Semplice' (Simple Transparency) Project, launched by ABI with the Consumer Associations to promote activities aimed at fostering a more effective simplification and accessibility of information, supporting the dialogue between banks and customers.
Fondo per il credito ai giovani (c.d. “Fondo per lo studio”)
Il “Fondo per il credito ai giovani” (c.d. “Fondo per lo studio”), istituito presso il Dipartimento per le politiche giovanili e il servizio civile universale della Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri e gestito da Consap, ha l’obiettivo di offrire le garanzie necessarie per favorire l’accesso al credito da parte degli studenti meritevoli regolarmente iscritti ad un corso di Laurea/Master/Scuola di specializzazione, dottorato, corso di lingue o ad un percorso degli Istituti Tecnologici Superiori (ITS Academy).
Possono presentare domanda di accesso al finanziamento i soggetti che abbiano un’età compresa tra i 18 e i 40 anni. La garanzia del Fondo – controgarantito dallo Stato – è concessa nella misura del 70% del prestito che viene erogato in tranche annuali di pari importo non superiori a 15.000 euro, per un ammontare massimo di 50.000 euro, che può arrivare fino a 70.000 euro nel caso di percorsi di studio all’estero, fermo restando i requisiti previsti dalla normativa stessa.
In attuazione di quanto previsto dal Decreto interministeriale del 17 novembre 2025 recante la nuova disciplina del Fondo, il Ministro per lo sport e i giovani e l’ABI hanno sottoscritto un Protocollo d’Intesa, in data 11 febbraio 2026, che riporta in allegato lo schema di Convenzione tra il Dipartimento per le politiche giovanili e il servizio civile universale e i soggetti finanziatori che intendono volontariamente aderire all’iniziativa.
Natural disasters
Interventions aimed at supporting credit to households affected by earthquakes, other natural disasters or health emergencies.
Agreement with Civil Defence
With the aim of supporting the families affected by calamitous events, on 26 October 2015 ABI signed with the Civil Protection Department at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and 14 Consumer Associations a Memorandum of Understanding to encourage the suspension of mortgage instalment payments with the following objectives:
- to avoid interpretative and operational uncertainties in the implementation of the measures to be taken, while ensuring maximum effectiveness, speed and transparency in the suspension of financing;
- clarify the requirements for banks and consumers;
- ensure fair treatment for populations affected by natural disasters;
- engage lenders and consumer associations in promoting information campaigns on the possibility of suspending financing as well as on the modalities, terms and costs of suspension.
Flood Plafond May 2023
ABI and CDP signed the "Plafond Alluvione Maggio 2023" (Flood Plafond May 2023) agreement, which governs the rules for the granting of subsidised loans, guaranteed by the State, for the reconstruction of the territories in the Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany and Marche regions damaged by the floods that occurred on or after 1 May 2023, in implementation of Article 1, paragraphs 436 et seq. of Law No. 213/2023 (Budget Law 2024).
LThe public facilitation consists in the recognition of a tax credit to the beneficiary, which is used by the latter to pay the bank the repayment instalments of the loan (for principal and interest) and the expenses strictly necessary for its management.
Entities wishing to access the subsidised financing must be authorised by the competent public authorities by means of specific measures.
Text of the CDP-ABI Convention 24 June 2024
coordinated with the changes introduced by the Communication of 21 October 2024
21 October 2024
2012 Earthquake Reconstruction Plafond
ABI and CDP signed the "Plafond Ricostruzione Sisma 2012" (2012 Earthquake Reconstruction Plafond) agreement, which governs the rules for the granting of subsidised loans, guaranteed by the State, for the reconstruction of the territories in the regions of Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto damaged by the 2012 earthquakes, in implementation of Article 3-bis of Decree-Law No. 95/2012.
LThe public facilitation consists in the recognition of a tax credit to the beneficiary, which is used by the latter to pay the bank the repayment instalments of the loan (for principal and interest) and the expenses strictly necessary for its management.
Entities wishing to access the subsidised financing must be authorised by the competent public authorities by means of specific measures.
Earthquake Plafond Central Italy
ABI and CDP signed the "Plafond Sisma Centro Italia" convention, which governs the rules for the granting of subsidised loans, guaranteed by the State, for the reconstruction of the territories in the regions of Abruzzo, Lazio, Marche and Umbria damaged by the earthquake events of 2016, in implementation of Article 5 of Decree-Law No. 189/2016
LThe public facilitation consists in the recognition of a tax credit to the beneficiary, which is used by the latter to pay the bank the repayment instalments of the loan (for principal and interest) and the expenses strictly necessary for its management.
Entities wishing to access the subsidised financing must be authorised by the competent public authorities by means of specific measures.
Central Italy earthquake ceiling agreement
Calamitous Events Plafond
ABI and CDP signed the "Plafond Eventi Calamitosi" convention, which governs the rules for the granting of subsidised loans, guaranteed by the State, to deal with the damage occurred to private property and to economic and production activities, following a series of calamitous events occurring in Italy as from March 2013, in implementation of Article 1, paragraphs 422 et seq. of Law No. 208/2015 (Budget Law 2016).
LThe public facilitation consists in the recognition of a tax credit to the beneficiary, which is used by the latter to pay the bank the repayment instalments of the loan (for principal and interest) and the expenses strictly necessary for its management.
Entities wishing to access the subsidised financing must be authorised by the competent public authorities by means of specific measures.
ABI-Cdp Convention of 1 April 2025
2 April 2025Addendum to the 'Disaster Plafond' Agreement of 1 April 2025
2 April 2025Property Valuation Guidelines
The Guidelines for the Valuation of Real Estate Pledged as Collateral for Credit Exposures set out a series of principles, rules and procedures for the valuation of real estate pledged as collateral for credit exposures with a view to promoting transparency and fairness in the property valuation procedures.
They were developed in agreement with the Association of Real Estate Valuation Societies - Assovibthe National College of Agro-Technicians and Graduate Agro-Technicians, the National College of Surveyors and Graduate Agro-Technicians, the National Council of Architects, Planners, Landscapers and Conservators, the National Council of Agronomists and Foresters, the National Council of Surveyors and Graduate Surveyors, the National Council of Engineers the National Council of Industrial Technicians and Graduate Industrial Technicians and Tecnoborsa (Organisation of the Chambers of Commerce System for the Development and Regulation of the Real Estate Economy) - signatories of the Memorandum of Understanding for the Development of the Property Valuations Market, signed in Rome on 25 November 2010 - with the collaboration of Assoimmobiliare, Confedilizia, Fiabci-Italy (International Real Estate Federation), the Italian Institute of Real Estate Valuation - Isivithe Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - Rics and theEuropean Group of Valuers' Associations -Tegova
Guidelines for valuations of real estate securing bad debts
ABI, Assovib, Assilea, T6 Association, Assoimmobiliare, National College of Agro-Technicians, National College of Land Surveyors, CONFEDILIZIA, National Council of Agronomists, National Council of Architects, National Council of Engineers, National Council of Chartered Accountants, National Council of Industrial Surveyors, National Council of Surveyors, E-Valuations, FIABCI-ITALIA, FIAIP, ISIVI, RICS, Tecnoborsa, TEGoVA Parties to a Protocol of 26 October 2016 have developed Guidelines for the Valuation of Real Estate Securing Bad Debts in Consistency with European and International Real Estate Valuation Standards.
The document, intended for judges, valuers, and all those involved in the processes of real estate credit management and recovery, is aimed at fostering transparency, fairness and reliability in the valuation of real estate as collateral for bad debts.
Real estate valuation of bad debts
Guidelines
24 August 2018Lifetime mortgage loan
An annuity mortgage loan is a special type of loan reserved for those over 60 years old, secured by a mortgage on a residential property whose term, in general, coincides with the life of the subscriber.
Ownership of the property remains with the borrower; upon his death, the heirs may decide whether to pay the debt by redeeming the property or have the property sold by the lender, who will then be able to cover the debt with the proceeds.
Advances on TFS/TFR
Article 23, of Decree-Law No. 4 of 28 January 2019, converted, with amendments, by Law No. 26 of 28 March 2019, introduced the advance payment of severance pay (Anticipation TFR/TFS) into national law.
The implementation of the rules was delegated to Prime Ministerial Decree No. 51 of 22 April 2020 and by the Framework Agreement signed on 7 August 2020 between the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, the Ministry of Public Administration and ABI, after hearing INPS, the Data Protection Authority and the Competition and Market Authority, which was renewed several times, most recently by Decree of the Minister of Public Administration of 23 September 2024, for 24 months from 8 November 2024.
In particular, it is envisaged that on the basis of appropriate certifications issued by INPS - or by the other disbursing bodies empowered by law to issue the TFS/TFR - civil servants reaching retirement age may submit, to banks and intermediaries participating in the initiative, a request for financing, at subsidised terms, for the advance payment of the accrued severance indemnity, which will be paid in the timeframe envisaged by law.
The financing is guaranteed, inter alia, by the assignment with recourse, up to the amount financed, of claims arising from accrued severance pay, as well as by a guarantee fund - managed by INPS - which in turn is counter-guaranteed by the State.
For more information and to see the participating banks, please consult the dedicated page on the website of the Civil Service Department.
Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers 22 April 2020- No. 51.
5 October 2020Default information
The ABI has drawn up a guide with the aim of bringing to the attention of individuals accessing credit for private and family needs, the new rules on the definition of default, which banks are required to apply from 2021.
Loans more attention to maturities and repayments
Infographic
29 January 2021Technical Guide for Individuals
30 December 2020