Last two state banks to be sold in 2003

The head of the FNM state privatisation agency has said the sale of the last two banks in state hands – the tiny Banka Slovakia and Poštová Banka – will likely not go through until next year.The FNM is in final negotiations with the Austrian Meinl Bank on a 60 per cent stake in Banka Slovakia, while a majority stake in Poštová is being fought over by the domestic Tatra Bank and Ceská Poisťovňa, both of whom have been asked to increase their bids.