Stmt re Grupo Fin.Bitel

Banco Santander Central Hispano SA
19 July 2002

 
                SANTANDER CENTRAL HISPANO DECIDES NOT TO 
               MAKE AN OFFER FOR ADDITIONAL BITAL SHARES

Madrid, July 19, 2002 - Santander Central Hispano has today notified the 
relevant authorities and the controlling shareholders of Grupo Financiero Bital 
that, for the time being, and in view of the price expectations indicated by 
those shareholders, it has decided to make no offer to purchase shares in Bital.

Santander Central Hispano has a minority shareholding in Grupo Financiero Bital, 
and as such it will extend all the cooperation needed to complete the 
capitalization process that Grupo Financiero Bital is currently undertaking.


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