Slovenia's NKBM Eyes Serbia's Credy Banka - Media

NKBM's supervisory board is expected to take a decision by the end of August, online news outlet Limun (www.limun.hr) reported, quoting Serbian news agency Beta.

Credy Banka, 55%-owned by the state and based in Kragujevac, in central Serbia, was previously the bank of Serbian car maker Zastava.

NKBM first indicated its interest after Italy's Fiat set up a strategic partnership with Zastava and announced plans for investments of 750 million euro ($1.061 billion) in their joint business, Limun said.

In September 2008 Serbia and Fiat formed a joint venture company for the manufacturing of Fiat cars in Kragujevac.

Credy Banka had total assets worth 7.9 billion dinars ($119.1 million/84.2 million euro) at the end of June, ranking it as the 28th largest out of 34 lenders operating in Serbia.

Credy Banka shares gained 12.58% to 5.066 dinars on the Belgrade Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

NKBM shares closed up 1.79% at 11.95 euro on the Ljubljana bourse. 

(1 euro=93.8534 dinars)