National Australia Bank is assessing an offer for HBOS' Australian businesses,
Bloomberg reported.
NAB hasn't approached HBOS, however. The status of NAB's interest is that it met with advisory firms in London this month to discuss the prospects for a bid, according to Bloomberg's sources.
Whether the NAB interest relates to BankWest only, or to the wider corporate banking activities as well, the report does not make clear.
NAB also has other takeover options in the domestic market to think through, including the GE Money mortgage business and potentially a competing offer for St George Bank.