The Netherlands' Rabobank confirmed its interest in acquiring a majority stake in state-owned Romanian savings bank Casa de Economii si Consemnatiuni, or CEC.

Romania, which is privatizing its entire banking sector, has asked foreign investors to express formal interest in CEC before August 31 and will then form a shortlist by September 9.

CEC has EUR1.3 billion of assets under management and a network of 1,400 branches - the largest in Romania.

Apart from Rabobank, French-Belgian bank Dexia SA and France's Societe Generale have expressed a formal interest in CEC.

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