Cyprus Pop Bank

HSBC Holdings PLC
02 February 2006




                            THE CYPRUS POPULAR BANK

Further to the announcement of 11 January 2006, HSBC Holdings plc has reached
agreement for the sale of its 21.16 per cent shareholding in The Cyprus Popular 
Bank Public Company Limited, for a consideration of approximately US$235 million 
in cash.

The purchasers are: Marfin Financial Group, Tosca Fund and Laiki Bank (Nominees)
Ltd.

HSBC Holdings plc has been advised by its investment banking arm and Investment
Bank of Greece S.A. acted for the purchasers on the transaction.

Note to editors:

HSBC Holdings plc
HSBC Holdings plc is headquartered in the UK. The HSBC Group serves over 110
million customers worldwide from more than 9,700 offices in 77 countries and
territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East
and Africa. With assets of US$1,467 billion at 30 June 2005, HSBC is one of the
world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed
worldwide as 'the world's local bank'.





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