Chartered Trust

Standard Chartered PLC
30 May 2000

STANDARD CHARTERED ANNOUNCES STUDY TO ASSESS FUTURE OPTIONS FOR CHARTERED
TRUST

In the light of the focus of Standard Chartered on expanding its unique
emerging markets franchise, Goldman Sachs International has been appointed to
assess the options for the future of Chartered Trust, Standard Chartered's UK
consumer finance and contract hire business.  The options will include the
possible sale of Chartered Trust.

Commenting on the decision, Rana Talwar, Group Chief Executive, Standard
Chartered said, 'Chartered Trust enjoys a leading position in the UK consumer
finance and contract hire industry.  Over the past thirty years, this
excellently run business has provided profitable growth and good results for
the group.  A recent review demonstrated that the business has excellent
potential for further value creation.  However, following the agreement to
acquire Grindlays and as part of a regular review of Standard Chartered's
strategy, the Board has decided to explore the strategic options available for
the future development of Chartered Trust.  This will include the possible
sale of the business to a group that may be better placed to exploit the
opportunities in the UK market.'  


For further information please contact:

Pamela McGann       Group Head, External Affairs        44 (0)20 7280 7245
Tim Halford         Director, Corporate Affairs         44 (0)20 7280 7159
Steve Seagrove      Group Investor Relations Manager    44 (0)20 7280 7164

www.standardchartered.com

(Not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United States of
America, Canada, Japan or Australia)

Note to Editors:

Chartered Trust

Chartered Trust, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Standard Chartered, is a UK
based consumer finance and contract hire group.  The consumer finance business
is a leading provider of point of sale finance for motor, caravan and
motorcycle dealers, provides point of sale finance for high street retailers
and e-tailers, and has a substantial and fast growing direct personal lending
business.  The contract hire business, operating under the ACLautolease and
Motorent brands, provides contract hire and fleet management services for
corporate customers for cars and light commercial vehicles.  With more than
800,000 consumer finance customers and a fleet of 55,000 vehicles, Chartered
Trust is one of the largest consumer finance and contract hire companies in
the UK.  One in twenty UK households has a product financed by Chartered
Trust.  Chartered Trust reported operating profit before provisions of US$113
million (£70 million) in the year ended 31 December 1999 and has approximately
2,000 employees. Chartered Trust is based in Cardiff and Birmingham, and has
around 80 branches throughout the UK.

Standard Chartered 

Standard Chartered is a leading emerging markets bank with a strong presence
in Asia, the sub-continent, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.  It
employs over 27,000 people in 570 offices in 50 countries.  On April 27
Standard Chartered announced that it was to acquire ANZ's Grindlays businesses
in the Middle East and South Asia, and the associated Grindlays Private
Banking business, for US$1.3 billion (£850 million) in cash. Standard
Chartered reported operating profits before provisions of US$1,623 million
(£1,002 million) in the year ended 31 December 1999.