Change to Board of Directors

Woolwich PLC
2 May 2000

WOOLWICH PLC BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Woolwich plc announces the appointment of Mr William Tudor John (aged 56),
senior partner of Allen & Overy, one of Europe's largest legal firms, as a
non-executive director with effect from 2 May 2000.

From 1972-1992 he was head of Allen & Overy's Banking Department and is
currently a member of the Financial Law Panel.  He will retire from Allen &
Overy this month, but will remain a consultant to the firm.

It also announces the appointment as an Executive Director of Mr Ian Poston
(aged 44), effective from 2 May 2000.  Mr Poston is currently General Manager,
Production.  He joined the Woolwich in 1986, having previously worked with Sun
Alliance Insurance Group and Midland Bank, Insurance Services.  From 1991-1996
he was managing director of Woolwich Financial Advisory Services Ltd; he then
served as Woolwich's Head of Group Financial Services before becoming General
Manager planning and development (1997-9), where he was largely responsible for
establishing Global Home Loans, the third party mortgage administrator which The
Woolwich owns in conjunction with the US mortgage specialist, Countrywide Credit
Industries Inc., as well as other joint ventures with Littlewoods and
Sedgwick's.