ALLIED Irish Banks has expressed an interest in making a bid for shares in Weilkopoloski Bank Kredytowy, put on the market by the Polish government.

AIB confirmed yesterday that it has made its interest known, but a spokeswoman said it had not made a bid.

In January, the Polish government invited tender offers for 13,763,200 WBK shares, which would cut its stake from 25 per cent to 5 per cent. AIB would not say if it was interested in the full bloc or a smaller stake. It already has 16.3 per cent of the Polish bank. It also has an option to acquire a 24 per cent stake held by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Shares in WBK fell 2.2 per cent yesterday to 9.1 zlotys, placing a value on the shares on offer of 125.3 million zlotys (about £34 million).