Pre-Close Period Update

Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC
18 January 2006


ARBUTHNOT BANKING GROUP PLC


Pre-Close Period Update


Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC ('the Group') is today issuing a trading update
ahead of the close period relating to the year ended 31 December 2005.


Building on the turnaround indicated at the time of the publication of the
Group's interim results in September 2005, the performance of the Group's
investment banking subsidiary, Arbuthnot Securities, has been particularly
encouraging during the final months of 2005.  At the same time, the retail
banking division, Secure Trust Bank, has continued to face a challenging
consumer lending market.


Taking these factors into account, and particularly the positive results in
Arbuthnot Securities, the Board now expects on balance that the Group's profit
on continuing activities before tax and exceptional gains for the year ended 31
December 2005 will exceed brokers' current forecasts.


However, the higher than expected proportionate contribution from Arbuthnot
Securities to the overall result also means that there will now be a minority
interest relating to the proportion of the share capital of Arbuthnot Securities
held by that company's employees via a Long Term Incentive Plan.  Allowing for
this, the Board expects earnings per share on continuing activities before
exceptional gains to be broadly in line with market expectations.



                                                                 18 January 2006

Enquiries

Arbuthnot Banking Group PLC:

Henry Angest, Chairman and Chief Executive                   Tel:  [phone]
Stephen Lockley, Group Finance Director                      Tel:  [phone]
Andrew Salmon, Chief Operating Officer                       Tel:  [phone]

College Hill:

Tony Friend                                                  Tel:  [phone]
Richard Pearson                                              Tel:  [phone]


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