The Effectiveness of a Network System in Improving the Financial Innovation of the Cooperative Banks

The paper intends to highlight how the network theory can allow the cooperative banks to become more effective in improving financial innovation in order to sustain the Italian small-medium enterprises (SMEs). In this context, the work investigates different clusters of Italian cooperative banks for verifying if and to which extent they promote or guarantee a strong relationship with customers with particular reference to innovative financial services. Taking into account the cultural, managerial and organizational requirements of local banks, the research intends to verify if a structure – such as the cooperative banks’ network – is able to enhance the degree of financial and strategic services such as private equity.