Dubai

NATIONAL Bank of Abu Dhabi PJSC (NBAD) and First Gulf Bank PJSC (FGB) said they're in talks to merge in a deal that would create the largest lender by assets in the Middle East.

A group of senior executives from each of the banks is reviewing the commercial, structural and legal aspects of a potential transaction, according to a filing to the Abu Dhabi stock exchange on Sunday. Bloomberg News was first to report the two lenders were considering a merger on June 16.