Stmnt.re Private Banking Unit

Banco Santander Central Hispano SA
15 January 2002


SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO BOOSTS ITS PRIVATE BANKING UNIT FOR NETWORK CUSTOMERS

Santander Central Hispano's Private Banking Unit is outperforming expectations 
for the sector and consolidating its leadership in the highest segment of this 
business.

Madrid, January 15th 2002. Santander Central Hispano has given a new boost to 
its Private Banking business, which following the merger of the Banco Santander 
and BCH branch networks, is consolidated as Santander Central Hispano Private 
Banking.

This business unit is aimed at customers with a net worth in excess of one 
million euros. Santander Central Hispano Private Banking has outperformed the 
growth expectations for the sector, set at 10% for 2001. Thus, managed funds 
doubled in the past year, reaching 12,000 million euros, whilst the number of 
customers increased 75%, to 7,000. The average balance per customer is 1.68 
million euros, the highest in the sector.

The boost to this business unit (which includes net worth structuring, tax 
advice and investment management) is consistent with the Bank's decision to 
offer an additional service to its customers through its 2,850 branches. Thus, 
the private banking service is provided from two angles, with the regular 
banking needs of customers being attended to by the respective Branch Manager, 
and their advisory needs, by their respective Private Banking Officer.

Santander Central Hispano Private Banking has 150 professionals offering 
specialised and specific solutions for each customer.
 
The Group is the leader in the Spanish Private Banking sector, combining two 
business models: BSN-Banif, its specialised bank, and Santander Central Hispano 
Private Banking, the private banking arm of the network. In total, it manages 
funds in excess of 30,000 million euros, provides advice to approximately 74,000
customers, holds 370 Simcavs approved by the CNMV and has a market share of 
19.1%.