More Interest Rate Rises from Abbey International

ST HELIER, Jersey, July 2, 2010 - Abbey International (www.abbeyinternational.com/) has announced
that sterling interest rates on its popular 18 month fixed rate contracts
(www.abbeyinternational.com/Fixed_Deposit.asp) are to be increased to
3.25% gross (3.22%AER), giving an effective rate of 4.87% over the 18 month
term of the account with immediate effect.

The minimum balance required is GBP100,000, with the account open to both
existing clients and to those with funds not currently invested with Abbey
International. This is a limited offer and may be withdrawn at any time.

Abbey International has also upped the rate on its 2-Year Escalator Bond
(www.abbeyinternational.com/TwoYearEscalatorBond.asp) to 3.50%
gross/AER in year 1 and 4.00% gross/AER in year 2, giving an excellent
combination of return and safety. The minimum balance is again GBP100,000

Abbey International is part of the highly regarded Santander Group, which
has more than 150 years experience in banking and has clients all over the
world. Santander has an AA credit rating from Fitch and Aa2 rating from
Moody's credit rating agencies.

For further information on banking with Abbey International in
Jersey call +44(0)1534-828-828 or log onto
www.abbeyinternational.com

For media use only and not to be relied on by consumers to make
financial decisions.

Notes to Editors:

Abbey International is located in Jersey, a secure,
well-established and politically stable financial centre, which is renowned
internationally for its high standards of regulation. Jersey's unique
constitution and relationship with the British Crown dates back hundreds of
years. This provides for a unique legal and neutral tax system that can
provide significant wealth planning opportunities for the international
investor.

Abbey International has a minimum balance entry requirement of
GBP50,000 (or currency equivalent) across our portfolio of products. The
minimum balance amount can be spread across a range of accounts, subject to
the minimum opening deposit for each account being met.

All deposits carry the full and unconditional guarantee of Santander UK
plc, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of the Santander Group.

Santander has more than 150 years' experience in banking and more
branches worldwide than any other international bank.

About Banco Santander

Banco Santander (SAN.MC, STD.N, BNC.LN) is a retail and
commercial bank, based in Spain, with presence in 10 main markets. At the end
of 2008, Santander was the largest bank in the euro zone by market
capitalization and third in the world by profit. Founded in 1857, Santander
had EUR 1,271 billion in managed funds at the end of 2008. Following the
acquisition of Sovereign Bancorp. of the U.S. in January 2009, Santander had
90 million customers, around 14,000 branches - more than any other
international bank - and over 170,000 employees. It is the largest financial
group in Spain and Latin America, with leading positions in the United
Kingdom and Portugal and a broad presence in Europe through its Santander
Consumer Finance arm. In the first half of 2009, Santander registered
EUR4,519 million in net attributable profit.

In the UK, Santander operates two retail businesses -
Santander, which was formed out of the Abbey and Bradford & Bingley retail
network, and Alliance & Leicester. Together they have over 1300 branches,
around 4,500 cash machines and they provide a full range of retail and
corporate banking services to 25 million customers.

Alliance & Leicester will become known as Santander by the end of 2010.

    Media Contacts:
    Guy Stephenson/Jennifer Duffy
    Nacelle Ltd
    +44(0)20-8333-9125
    gstephenson@nacelle.co.uk

    Jane Matthews, Abbey International, Head of Client Experience
    +44(0)1534-828137
    Jane.matthews@abbeyinternational.com

Media Contacts: Guy Stephenson/Jennifer Duffy, Nacelle Ltd, +44(0)20-8333-9125, gstephenson at nacelle.co.uk ; Jane Matthews, Abbey International, Head of Client Experience, +44(0)1534-828137, Jane.matthews at abbeyinternational.com