Among the various issues addressed by Saint Bernardino, there are some financial ones which have been gathered in the Trattato sui Contratti e sull’Usura (Treatise on Contracts and Usury), where he tackles the issues of private property, trade and social problems associated with loans, interest rates and, of course, usury. The saint openly disapproved of usury, and in his sermons he often defined moneylenders as “killers of the poor”. Through theoretical meditation and public sermons, Bernardino created the conditions for the foundation of the Monti di Pietà (Mounts of Piety) which were non-profit financial institutions created out of solidarity, aimed at contrasting usury on loans. They were devised by the Franciscan Friars Minor and provided for the loan of small amounts of money in exchange for items of personal property. Some of the Monti di Pietà asked for an expenses refund, but many were concerned that this would eventually make them similar to some form of usury. Bernardino da Feltre, a Franciscan Friar Minor of the Observance, did not share this view: he established several Monti di Pietà in Italy throughout the fifteenth century and advocated the need to operate without damaging the original capital, therefore asking for a small reimbursement of expenses. From 1515, all Monti di Pietà conformed to this conduct. Money was lent only to customers residing in the . . .