The merger is now official.  The press release provides some idea of the size of the combined entity.  The head office of the combined group will be located in Amsterdam, which baffles me, but there must be some reason.

The combination of ABN AMRO and Barclays will benefit from a diversified customer base and geographic mix. The proposed merger will create:

• A leading force in global retail and commercial banking, with world class products:
  • 47 million customers, approximately 90 per cent. of whom are in seven key markets
  • One of the world’s leading transaction banking platforms offering world class payment and trade finance solutions
  • A top five card issuer outside the US with approximately 27m cards.

Source: ABN AMRO Press Room: ABN AMRO and Barclays announce agreement on terms of merger

This chart from the Barclays site provides context to the new entity, alongside the other big banking names.  Only Citi, HSBC, and BofA are larger amongst the retail and commercial Banks.

On the North American side, LaSalle Bank in Chicago is sold to Bank of America for US $21 Bn.  That tips the competitive market in that highly competitive region, and will make the next move by BMO the more interesting, as they were tipped as potential suitors for LaSalle as part of their stated intention to acquire more US presence.