Dividend Declaration

Banco Santander Central Hispano SA
20 December 2005



                                 MATERIAL FACT

Banco Santander Central Hispano, S.A. hereby advises that as of 1st February
next it will pay a dividend on account of the earnings for the 2005 financial
year for a gross amount per share of 0.09296 euros. This dividend is 12% higher
than that paid in February 2005 as a third interim dividend on account of the
earnings for 2004. On the aforementioned date, Wednesday 1st February, the
Bank's share will already trade ex-dividend.

                                 Boadilla del Monte (Madrid), 20th December 2005





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