BANK French bank Société Générale, which controls Komerční banka, plans to buy Slovakia's biggest bank, Všeobecná úverová banka (VÚB), according to news server Aktualne.cz. The bank is currently owned by the Italian group Intesa, which bought the bank in 2001, after the Slovak government cleared it of bad loans and claims. Société Générale was the runner-up in that tender.

CARDS Czech banks issued nearly 7.6 million payment cards in the first half of 2006, an increase of 7 percent, the Association for Banking Cards announced Sept. 24. The amount of payment cards with chips rose 250,000 on the year to 2.8 million. There were 2,927 ATMs in the Czech Republic at end of June.

PILSNER Miller Brands UK will invest more than 83.5 million Kč to promote Pilsner Urquell in the United Kingdom, company officials said Oct. 4. The company will hold a series of marketing activities in an effort to lure potential new customers to the beer. Pilsner Urquell is part of SABMiller's global portfolio, which includes Miller Genuine Draft.

INFLATION Analysts say inflation fell below 3 percent in September, due to drops in fuel prices and the cost of travel tours, ČTK reported Oct. 6. Lower inflation is likely to continue through November, but price growth will accelerate next year, analysts said.