There’s something special about Turkey’s banks

The country’s banking system breezed through the global financial crisis with an ease few thought possible. Its economy is likely to boom as a trading hub for the region. It is no wonder banks such as HSBC are looking to increase their presence. Nick Lord reports from Istanbul.

TURKISH BANKERS, LIKE their peers around the world, enjoy nothing more than gossiping about their competitors. And for the past few years, one subject has trumped all others: who is going to buy General Electric’s 20.5% stake in Garanti Bank? GE will not confirm that the stake is even up for sale, although JPMorgan is understood to have had the sale mandate for nearly two years.

During that time, rumours have flown around Istanbul, from the gleaming towers of Levent to the breezy bistros on the Bosporus.

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