Spanish banks BBVA and Santander Central Hispano also have significant exposure to Argentina.

BBC: Foreign firms weigh Argentina fall-out

Remaining bidders reportedly include Deutsche Bank and Spain's Banco Santander Central Hispano.

FORBES: Magazine Article

But Barclays has the advantage of easy maneuverability in this bid battle, something which the three-way consortium of RBS, Banco Santander Central Hispano and Fortis lacks.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The New York Stock Exchange ruled that the proposed acquisition of a 19.8% stake in Sovereign Bancorp by Banco Santander Central Hispano did not need the approval of Sovereign's shareholders.

ECONOMIST: The X-factor

Although her economic programme and Mr Toledo's are quite alike both emphasise job-creation and help for farmers and small businesses Pablo Secada, an analyst with Santander Central Hispano Investment, thinks Miss Flores has better economic advisers.

ECONOMIST: Peru

The Santander Central Hispano bank has forecast the economy could contract by 40% in the first quarter of 2003 and the central bank has put annual inflation at 33.8% in January, the highest in five years.

BBC: Venezuelan bank

The RBS group wants to break up the lender into three parts, so that Belgian-Dutch bank Fortis would get ABN's Dutch operations, Spanish bank Banco Santander Central Hispano SA, acquires ABN's Brazilian and Italian arms, and RBS getting Chicago-based LaSalle.

FORBES: Magazine Article

But Barclays has the advantage of easy maneuverability in this bid battle, something which the three-way consortium of RBS, Banco Santander Central Hispano (nyse: STD - news - people ) and Fortis (other-otc: FORSY - news - people ) lacks.

FORBES: Barclays Wins A Round In ABN Battle

The RBS group wants to break up the lender into three parts, so that Belgian-Dutch bank Fortis would get ABN's Dutch operations, Spanish bank Banco Santander Central Hispano SA (nyse: STD - news - people ), acquires ABN's Brazilian and Italian arms, and RBS getting Chicago-based LaSalle.

FORBES: ABN's CFO Bolts