AIB has been given official approval to purchase 20 per cent of Polish bank Wielkopolski Bank Kredytowy. AIB won the Polish finance ministry's tender for the stake in WBK but the deal needed approval from the central bank and the interior ministry. After the deal, AIB will hold 36.3 per cent of WBK. It also has a call option for an additional 23.9 per cent stake held by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.