Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A., originally founded in 1472 in Siena, Italy, holds the extraordinary and globally verified title of being the oldest running bank in continuous operation in the world. Created initially as a municipal monti di pietà to provide charitable pawn broking services and affordable credit to impoverished citizens struggling against predatory usury, the institution gradually expanded its scope over succeeding centuries to finance international trade, agricultural development, and civic governance. Surviving more than five centuries of sweeping political upheaval, world wars, and modern financial crises, the bank continues to provide full-service commercial banking today.