AMSTERDAM (AFP) - Dutch bank ABN Amro, at the centre of the biggest takeover in the banking industry, on Sunday confirmed its neutral stance on the rival bids of British bank Barclays and the three-bank consortium led by Royal Bank of Scotland.

'The ABN Amro managing board and the ABN Amro supervisory board refrain from recommending either offer for acceptance to ABN Amro shareholders,' said the bank in an advice to shareholders four days before ABN Amro's extraordinary general shareholders' meeting to discuss the bids.

'ABN Amro will continue to engage with both Barclays and the consortium to facilitate removal of uncertainties and conditions where possible and the ABN Amro Boards have offered to support the transition of ABN Amro under both offers,' it added.