European banks interested in Postbank: sources

DUESSELDORF, Germany (Reuters) - European lenders ING (ING.AS), Santander (SAN.MC), Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) and Lloyds TSB (LLOY.L) are among the parties interested in buying Deutsche Postbank (DPBGn.DE), sources familiar with the situation told Reuters on Wednesday.

German mail and logistics company Deutsche Post (DPWGn.DE), which owns a stake of 50 percent plus one share in Postbank, was expected to make a statement on the possible sale of the lender later on Wednesday, the sources said.

One source familiar with the matter said it was too early to speak of a front-runner in the bidding.

All parties declined to comment.

Shares in Postbank, Germany's biggest retail lender with nearly 15 million customers, rose 3.5 percent to 56.09 euros by 3:40 a.m. EDT, while European banking shares .SX7P rose 1 percent.

Reuters had reported on Tuesday that Post was in advanced talks with potential buyers from Germany and abroad, denting earlier market talk that the auction may be postponed.

A source with direct knowledge of the matter had said that Post wanted to "step on the gas" in the sale of its stake, which is seen as a chance for a would-be buyer to grab a big chunk of Germany's fragmented retail banking market.

Reuters has also reported that German insurer Allianz (ALVG.DE) and Commerzbank (CBKG.DE) were pitching together and hoped to absorb Postbank into a newly created group that would include Allianz's Dresdner Bank.

The source on Tuesday said such a three-way deal was "not a must" and noted that a deal between Commerzbank and Dresdner would have to come first.

Labour has also made clear it would fight the tens of thousands of job cuts a three-way deal would bring.

A Deutsche Post spokesman had said on Tuesday only that the process of exploring a Postbank sale was still under way. Allianz and Commerzbank have declined comment.

Signals pointed to a quick sale of Postbank after sources earlier told Reuters that owner Post had received expressions of interest for Postbank well above its market value of nearly 10 billion euros ($15.6 billion).

Although foreign banks are interested, government sources have said that Berlin is keen on a bank merger that would create a new national champion capable of holding its own on the international stage next to the country's biggest lender, Deutsche Bank.

Berlin is the top shareholder in Postbank's owner and has the right to veto any sale until the end of this year.

Deutsche Post stock rose 0.8 percent to 17.53 euros, in line with the German blue-chip DAX index .GDAXI.

(Writing by Jonathan Gould; editing by Rory Channing)