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UniCredit's Plan to Flatten Commerzbank's Hierarchy: What It Means

Published July 25, 2026 at 7:02 AM UTC

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UniCredit, the Italian banking giant, has outlined plans to reduce the number of management layers at Commerzbank, the German lender in which it holds a major stake. The proposal, reported by German newspaper Die Welt, aims to create a leaner organization that can make decisions faster and cut costs. The restructuring would eliminate some middle-management positions, potentially affecting dozens of staff. UniCredit argues that the current structure has too many hierarchy levels, slowing down the bank's response to market changes. Commerzbank's works council and labor unions are expected to scrutinize the plans closely, as job cuts may be involved. Shareholders, meanwhile, may benefit from improved efficiency if the restructuring proceeds. The move is part of a broader trend among European banks to streamline operations after years of low interest rates and rising competition. What remains uncertain is how quickly UniCredit can implement the changes and whether resistance from employee representatives will lead to modifications.