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Abstract:  MONEY LAUNDERING, JEWS AND THE MONTE DI PIETÀ LOAN BANK IN ROME BETWEEN THE 1400’S AND THE 1500’S The Jews were already forbidden to give money loans at any interests as far back as the 1300’2, in contrast with the widespread custom of most Italian medieval cities to make use of Pawn Banks. In addition to this, moneylendering was vastly common among the Christian population that would secretly exercise such business, adopting more often than not sly counter measures to conceal their activities, and profiteering on high interest rates. In order to bring this situation to a close, Leone X – as it is no coincidence that this Pope descended from a family of bankers – finally authorized in 1521 the creation of twenty Jewish-managed pawn banks that could lend money at the rates established by the Holy See. The reaction to this act on behalf of the anti-Jewish establishment in the Vatican clergy was immediate. In 1539, urged by Fra’ Giovanni da Calvi, a gathering of rich people comprised of clergy and members of the laity gave life to the first pawn bank known as the Monte di pietà di Roma.