130 Years of the "G. Toniolo" Cooperative Credit Bank and St. Michael of San Cataldo

In the wake of the historic, heartfelt and engaging encyclical Rerum Novarum by Leo XIII (1891) and on the initiative of Monsignor Carletta, Don Alberto Vassallo (later Apostolic Nuncio to Munich and Brussels), Monsignor Cammarata and the young notary Luigi Fascianella, in 1895 the «Toniolo» was founded in S. Cataldo as a non-profit credit cooperative.

The bank's purpose was to stem the rampant loan sharking of the time, to provide financial support to the most vulnerable social groups, and to foster the moral, civic, religious, and cultural growth of the San Cataldese community. Its
initial headquarters were in the rectory of the Church of Santo Stefano, and it later moved to the ground floor of its current headquarters.

In 1911 he purchased a significant amount of land to build the "M. Ausiliatrice" Institute, work on which began in 1925 and was completed in 1927.
In 1933, he built a large silo on Via Misteri, where farmers could store their grain and receive a deposit.

On April 3, 1969, Toniolo opened its city branch.
On December 17, 1978, it incorporated Cassa Rurale ed Artigiana S. Giuseppe di Campofranco.
Since 1995, it has acquired a significant number of assets from various rural banks and mutual banks in Sicily, expanding its operations throughout Sicily (six out of nine provinces).
On November 14, 2022, it incorporated BCC San Michele di Caltanissetta e Pietraperzia, changing its name to Banca di Credito Cooperativo “G. Toniolo e San Michele” di San Cataldo.

BCC G. Toniolo e San Michele di San Cataldo is the most representative branch of the Iccrea Banking Group in Sicily, where it operates in the provinces of Caltanissetta, Palermo, Enna, Trapani, Ragusa, and Agrigento.
It operates throughout the region with 34 bank branches serving 135 municipalities. As of June 30, 2025, net equity stood at €259.8 million; total assets exceeded €1.983 billion; and customer loans reached €562.9 million. Gross banking income stood at €2.294 billion.
The CET 1 ratio, which certifies capital strength, stood at 60.8%, significantly above the minimum limits required by law.

Plan

Saturday, October 18 – 7:00 PM
Awards Ceremony for the “Versi in versi 2025” Poetry Competition.
Sala Formazione (in Piazza Crispi).
Evening featuring masters Raimondo Capizzi, Amerigo Speziano, and Alberto Speziano.

Sunday, October 19 – 8:30 PM
Musical evening with Mario Incudine
Corso Vittorio Emanuele (near Piazza Crispi)

From Monday 20 October 2025
(inauguration at 6:00 pm)
to Sunday 26 October 2025
(from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm)
Holy Week in San Cataldese.

Exhibition of representative elements of Holy Week in San Cataldo:
Sampaoloni, curated by the "Amico Medico" cultural association.
Small statuary groups of the "Piccoli Misteri" (Little Mysteries), curated by the "Santissima Passione di Cristo" cultural association.
Photos and videos of the monuments and events of San Cataldo Sancataldese, curated by Giovanni Mammano and Carlo Falzone.

Saturday, October 18 – 7:00 PM
Awards Ceremony for the “Versi in versi 2025” Poetry Competition.
Sala Formazione (in Piazza Crispi).
Evening featuring masters Raimondo Capizzi, Amerigo Speziano, and Alberto Speziano.

Sunday, October 19 – 8:30 PM
Musical evening with Mario Incudine
Corso Vittorio Emanuele (near Piazza Crispi)

From Monday 20 October 2025
(inauguration at 6:00 pm)
to Sunday 26 October 2025
(from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm)
Holy Week in San Cataldese.

Exhibition of representative elements of Holy Week in San Cataldo:
Sampaoloni, curated by the "Amico Medico" cultural association.
Small statuary groups of the "Piccoli Misteri" (Little Mysteries), curated by the "Santissima Passione di Cristo" cultural association.
Photos and videos of the monuments and events of San Cataldo Sancataldese, curated by Giovanni Mammano and Carlo Falzone.

Saturday 25 October
Corso Vittorio Emanuele (near Piazza Crispi)
9:30 am – Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Caltanissetta Monsignor Mario Russotto

11:00 AM – 130 YEARS OF COOPERATION AT THE SERVICE OF THE TERRITORY: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

Greetings:
Salvatore Saporito , President of the BCC “G. Toniolo” and San Michele di San Cataldo;
Gioacchino Comparato , Mayor of San Cataldo
; Concetto Costa , President of the Sicilian BCC Federation;
Franco Tamburini , President of the BCC of Garda.

Speakers:
Salvatore Saporito , President of BCC “G. Toniolo” and San Michele di San Cataldo;
Augusto Dell'Erba , President of the Italian BCC Federation;
Mauro Pastore , General Manager of Iccrea Banca
; Alessandro
Azzi , President of the Lombardy BCC Federation.

Followed by: Tasting of typical local products (also available for celiacs) and an evening of dancing by the San Cataldo Dance Schools.

Sunday 26 October – 8:30 pm
Corso Vittorio Emanuele (near Piazza Crispi)
Cabaret show:
“Work Weakens Man” with the “Three and a Quarter”.