Abbey International Scoops Top International Banking Award

ST HELIER, Jersey, March 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbey International is currently celebrating twice over having won the coveted Best International Bank award in this year's Investment International Finance Awards and this week secured a "Best Buy" listing for its popular 18 month fixed rate deposit currently paying 3.57% AER with Moneyfacts, the independent industry monitor (source: Moneyfacts.co.uk).

The Investment International awards are amongst the oldest in the offshore banking industry, having been running for some 20 years. Awarded solely from reader votes, over 800 magazine subscribers and website users took took part in the voting which started at the end of November 2009 and ran up until 31st December.

Commenting on the award, Jane Matthews, Head of Client Experience at Abbey International said, "This is an important award for us - we realise that international banking is a fiercely competitive market, so to win an overall award like this, we have had to both offer consistently attractive products and back these up with excellent client service. Now ultimately part of Banco Santander, the largest bank in the euro zone by market capitalization and third in the world by profit, we believe our client offering based around strength, stability and service is a winning combination. Looking to the future in 2010, we are anticipating being able to offer clients an increasingly diverse range of products, reflecting the changing demands of the market, but all built with the same objectives of wealth preservation and wealth creation - supported by our relationship managed service".

In 2009, Abbey International became the first major offshore bank to launch its range of Visa Infinite and Visa Platinum deferred-debit cards which offer a range of lifestyle services and enhanced levels of cover. The bank's product range is evolving as it move towards offering a range of accounts and services which are designed to appeal to a more discerning high net worth client.

The Abbey International 18 Month Limited Offer Fixed Rate Deposit Contract has a minimum opening balance of GBP100,000 and is available in sterling only to new and existing clients.

Abbey International is part of the highly regarded Santander Group, which has more than 150 years experience in banking and clients all over the world.

For further information on banking with Abbey International in Jersey call +44(0)1534-828-828 or log onto http://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
    [email protected]

    Jane Matthews, Abbey International, Head of Client Experience
    +44(0)1534-828137
    [email protected]

SOURCE Abbey International