Zurich — Credit Suisse’s departing chair, Urs Rohner, gave the strongest indication yet that the bank may consider a combination with its biggest rival, saying a merger with UBS is not “unreasonable” and would bring benefits.
European banks are trying to bulk up in their home markets before long-awaited cross-border consolidation takes hold. While domestic mergers are heating up in countries such as Spain and Italy, the lack of a common deposit plan and banking union makes deals between financial firms in different countries less attractive.
Weber tried to damp speculation about a tie-up with Credit Suisse when he said in October that his bank was not “looking for a bride”.