Sale of Banco Santa Cruz

Banco Santander Central Hispano SA
14 December 2005


Press Release

                    Grupo Santander agrees to sell its stake
                         in Banco Santa Cruz of Bolivia


Madrid, December 14, 2005 - Grupo Santander has signed an agreement to sell its
96.3% stake in Banco Santa Cruz to the Leon Prado group of Bolivia, the largest
shareholder of BISA, one of the country's leading banks.

The transaction is subject to approval by the appropriate regulatory authorities
and other conditions related to the transaction, which are expected to be
finalized in early 2006.

The price established by the agreement is US$38 million, subject to due
diligence, which will generate capital gains of around $20 million.

Banco Santa Cruz has 20 offices, $240 million in loans and $430 million in
deposits. In 2004, it registered net profit of $3.5 million.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

EN
DISIFFLIFALSLIE