Spain's La Caixa plans to close 250 branches

MADRID, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Spain's largest savings bank La Caixa (CRIT.MC) is in talks with unions over closing 250 of its branches by 2010, a bank spokeswoman said on Friday.

"The talks which are being held by the savings bank envisage the closure of 150 offices in 2009, and another 100 in 2010," the spokeswoman said, adding that talks had yet to close.

Spanish banks are looking to reduce costs during a steep economic downturn which has followed a decade-long housing boom in which savings banks were big lenders to home buyers.

By the end of September 2008, La Caixa had 5,577 branches. (Reporting by Sarah Morris; Editing by Sharon Lindores)