The National Commercial Bank, the largest bank in Saudi Arabia in terms of asset size, is holding merger talks at an early stage with its smaller rival, the Samba Financial Group.

According to Reuters, informed sources said that the merger is expected to result in the establishment of one of the largest banks in the region.

The Saudi Stock Exchange said on Thursday that it was suspending trading on the National Commercial Bank and Samba at the request of the two banks until June 28, before the two banks announced a major event.

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