Giovanni Benci

Giovanni Benci was an Italian banker and the closest associate of Cosimo Medici.

Giovanni started his career as a 15 years old boy working for the Medici banking office in Rome. There he served as a company clerk and deliverer. Gaining some experience, in 1424 Benci was sent in Geneva where he was supposed to make preparations for the establishment of the new branch. Ten years later, in 1433 Benci was responsible for proper functioning of a temporary office in Basel which was operating during the famous ecclesiastical council.

In 1435 Benci was invited to Florence and promoted to the position of the General Governor. During his management of the bank in Florence, the Medici banking house had the largest revenues and reached the heights of its power. Balance from 1451 demonstrates that at that time, besides the central bank in Florence the Medici had three branch offices in Italy (Pisa, Rome and Venice), and four abroad (Avignon, Brugges, Geneve and London). In addition, they also had three shops – two for wool and one for silk manufacture.