Erste Group Bank has bought a 49% stake in Santander's Polish bank for around 6.8 billion euros ($7.7 billion), turning Austria's largest lender into one of the most important banks in Poland and freeing up billions for Santander .

Erste Group Bank AG agreed to buy much of Banco Santander SA’s operations in Poland for about €7 billion ($7.9 billion), marking its largest deal ever.

Banco Santander agreed to sell most of its Polish assets to Austria’s Erste Group Bank for 7 billion euros ($7.91 billion), continuing a wave of dealmaking among European lenders.The deal means Spain’s Santander,