Spanish gov't says to boost deposit guarantees

MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Monday told senior bank executives the government would take immediate steps to boost deposit guarantees, an official statement said.

"Zapatero informed the heads of the leading banks and savings banks of the measures the government will adopt immediately to increase deposit guarantees to reinforce the confidence among citizens, savers and businesses," a statement from the prime minister's office said.

Represented at the meeting were the euro zone's largest bank Santander, as well as BBVA, Banco Popular and unlisted savings banks La Caixa, Unicaja and Caja Madrid.

(Reporting by Martin Roberts, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)