Greece’s Alpha, Eurobank holding talks on merger

ATHENS, Greece — The Athens stock exchange has temporarily suspended trading in the shares of Alpha Bank and Eurobank pending official announcements on a planned merger, which would create Greece’s biggest bank.

A stock exchange announcement says the two private lenders told market authorities that their boards would be meeting later Monday to discuss the merger, as well as a capital boost for the new bank.

The announcement said the trading suspension would last until investors learn the outcome of the meetings and the terms of the agreement.

If the deal goes ahead it will create Greece’s largest bank by assets — some (euro) 150 billion ($216 billion) — with (euro) 80 billion ($115 billion) in deposits.