BANCO SANTANDER OUTSOURCES COLLECTION SERVICES.

Banco Santander Puerto Rico, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Santander BanCorp (NYSE: SBBP; LATIBEX: XSBP), announced January 12 that in order to improve efficiency it will contract an outside firm to provide debt collection services in the area of consumer banking, effective February 1. Until now, an internal unit has been performing this function for the Bank. Jorge Charlan, Exec. V.P. in charge of credit administration, said the subcontracting of these services entails the elimination of about 30 positions. Details: Iris Rivera, Banco Santander Puerto Rico, 787-250-3043; or Ana Calvo de Luis, New York, 212-350-3903.