Italy's Popolare Bari studying combination with other southern banks - sources

MILAN (Reuters) - Troubled Italian lender Popolare di Bari is studying a possible tie-up with other southern mutual banks, two sources familiar with the matter said.

Popolare di Bari is under pressure to clean up its balance sheet and boost its financial strength but it has said it has difficulties raising capital on the market.

(Reporting by Valentina Za, writing by Giulio Piovaccari)