SPANISH banking giant Santander has emerged as the latest ‘favourite’ to land AIB’s 70% stake in Poland’s Bank Zachodni and could end up taking over most of the Irish banks’ international assets.

POLAND’s Bank Zachodni has said it has held four meetings with potential buyers of AIB’s controlling interest in the company, but declined to say if the sale process was close to conclusion.

THREE of the bigger international names linked with a potential bid for AIB’s €2 billion stake in its Polish bank have withdrawn their interest, reports suggest.

AIB moved quickly yesterday to rubbish speculation that it is on the verge of disposing of its 70% stake in Polish Bank Zachodni WBK.