On Saturday, The Australian reported "talk in the market" late on Friday of a "re-engagement between Bank of Queensland and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank".The report, by columnist John Durie, did not elaborate but noted "there was nothing in terms of market trade" that would suggest the shares of either bank were reacting to the rumour.In May 2007, the board of Bendigo turned down a public cash and shares offer from BOQ. This followed less public overtures from the latter to the former suggesting a merger. Bendigo turned down an undisclosed all-cash offer from BOQ the following month, according to a report in the Courier Mail.Rumours of a revival of interest by BOQ, but not by Bendigo, have surfaced over the last year.In September 2010, The Australian reported that Bendigo and BOQ held preliminary talks over the merit of a merger between the two banks.In November 2010, Robert Johansen, chair of the board of Bendigo, told the Business Spectator that a merger between Bendigo and BOQ would offer no strategic solution to the funding challenge faced by the two banks.