AIB has been named as a possible takeover target for the acquisitive Spanish bank Santander in media reports this morning.
According to a report in today's Financial Times, Santander, Spain's largest bank, is ready to return to the acquisition trail less than two years after acquiring Abbey National, the UK mortgage bank.
The FTarticle claims Emilio Botín, Santander's chairman, is looking for a new acquisition in the United Kingdom. However, he is also thought to want to lengthen the bank's reach in continental Europe and the United States.
Although analysts were at first sceptical of a deal - as AIB would not be a neat fit with Abbey National - Ireland's booming economy and AIB's Polish interests would give Santander an initial foray into central Europe.