The PIRAEUS BANK (net profits of EUR 142.5 million in 2004), fifth banking grouped in Greece, intends to acquire the ECB in June, the Cairo merchant bank, with the agreement of the Central Bank of Egypt. ECB is a private bank possessing a network of 18 branches and had a total assets base of EUR 410 million at the end of last year, total loans of 184 million and deposits of 374 million.