The original members of the Group have roots dating back to the first Sforzesco Duchy of Milan (15th Century) in the case of the Monti di Pietà banks and include the Casse di Risparmio banks and the first "Popular" banks in modern unified Italy to give them a history of corporate social responsibility that goes back well over one hundred years. They are banks in the community and for the community which have developed over the years contributing, sometimes in a determining manner, to the well-being and social and economic development of the local communities in which they were born. By their actions they anticipated the implementation of those corporate social responsibility principles, initiatives and objectives which are considered of major importance today to strengthen corporate reputation, manage risk properly and guarantee the sustainability of competitive financial and operating performance. Some of them were among the first in Italy to implement forms of supplementary pensions for their employees, to undertake initiatives which today are termed ethical financial products (current accounts and bonds where the remuneration is donated to charity) and to conduct cause-related marketing campaigns.