By Jeff McKinney
Enquirer staff writer

National City Corp. will absorb most of its $80 million to $100 million in merger-related costs in the fourth quarter to cover the two bank acquisitions, including Cincinnati-based Provident Financial Group Inc.

The Cleveland-based banking giant said in a regulatory filing Monday that the costs for Provident and St. Louis-based Allegiant Bancorp Inc. will occur in the current and fourth quarters, with National City paying most of those expenses next quarter.

Those expenses include costs from National City's $2.1 billion stock buyout of the parent of Provident Bank, completed in July.

The deal will make National City Ohio's largest bank and the nation's eighth-largest bank with assets of about $133 billion and more than 1,100 branches in the Midwest.

National City chairman and chief executive David Daberko has said the charges would include the cost of eliminating some positions at Provident and integrating its operations. National City will pick up 500,000 customers, $9.9 billion in deposits and 65 branches from Provident, including 52 in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.

He would not comment on reports that 400 to 800 Provident jobs would be cut. Officials have said more jobs could be added as National City expands its Greater Cincinnati presence. Last month, Provident's high-risk mortgage lending unit said it would cut about 110 jobs from that division.

Overall, the Provident deal will increase National City's third-quarter non-interest expense by $200 million, the bank said. Provident is expected to be converted into National City early next year.

National City stock closed Monday at $38.21, up 18 cents.

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E-mail jmckinney@enquirer.com