Increased stake Shinsei Bank

Banco Santander Central Hispano SA
26 March 2003



                              OTHER COMMUNICATIONS

Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. hereby notifies that its Group has
increased its stake in the capital of the Japanese Shinsei Bank from its present
holding of 6.5% to approximately 11.4%. The price paid for such 4.9% increase
was yen 10,650 million (approximately euros 83.3 million).

Shinsei Bank is Japan's thirteenth bank in terms of assets, although it has the
best equity ratio (17%, of which 10.6% is Tier I) and is in second place with
respect to absolute earnings (yen 61,200 million in 2002).

                                                         Madrid, 26th March 2003


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