AIB is still expected to conclude a deal on the disposal of its 23% stake in New York-based lender M&T Bank in the near future despite reports suggesting merger talks between M&T and Spanish group Santander have broken down.

AIB could be close to raising part of its end-of-year capital requirement through the sale of its 22.5% stake in New York-based M&T Bank.

POLAND is set to back a bid by the state-controlled lender PKO to buy the Polish operations of AIB, a government minister said.

A man who allegedly held up banks by claiming he had a bomb in a bag was arrested after police found the bag actually contained books – including a phone book that had a mailing label with the man’s full name and address.