Lasalle Bank Introduces Two New Index Linked CDs.

Business Editors

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 27, 1999

New Nikkei 225(sm)(1) and Nasdaq 100(R)(2) CDs are LaSalle's latest

Market Index Linked CDs (MILCs) joining the bank's S&P 500(R) CD(3)

LaSalle Bank's Broker-Dealer Services Division introduced the "Nikkei 225(sm)(1)" and the "Nasdaq 100(R)(2)" Market Index Linked CDs (MILCs) that offer the long-term growth potential of the two indexes with the security of a traditional Certificate of Deposit (CD).

LaSalle's new Nikkei 225(sm) MILC(1) is a six-year, non-callable CD with 100 percent capital protection and 100 percent participation of the Nikkei 225(sm) Index at maturity (note that the Final Index value is the average of closing values at each of the last four quarters). The Nasdaq 100(R) MILC(2) is a six-year, callable CD with 100 percent capital protection and 100 percent participation in the Nasdaq 100 Index at maturity (note that the Final Index value is the average of closing values at each of the last four quarters).

Both CDs are FDIC insured, up to the maximum (currently $100,000) and within the limitations imposed by law. Each CD has a special "put" feature allowing the estate to redeem at par in the event an owner dies prior to maturity. Investors also have the option of quarterly redemption at bank provided prices after one year. Pricing information can be obtained on Bloomberg.

"These new Market Index Linked CDs are consistent with our goal of bringing innovative and diverse products to the fixed-income market," said Gary Peters, senior vice president and division manager of LaSalle Bank's Broker-Dealer Services Division. "The new CDs join our S&P 500(R) linked CD(3) as an option for the more conservative investor to employ equity asset allocation without risking the value of their investment."

The new Nikkei 225(sm) MILC and Nasdaq 100(R) MILC become the second and third MILCs, respectively, that LaSalle now offers. In July, LaSalle introduced their callable S&P 500(R) Linked CD that offered 100 percent participation in the S&P 500(R) after five years.

LaSalle Bank Broker-Dealer Services Division is a leading educator and distributor of taxable fixed-income products and services to the broker-dealer community. LaSalle offers a complete fixed-income marketing program featuring videos, cassettes, brochures, computer presentations and additional marketing support designed to help traders and sales representatives market fixed-income securities.

LaSalle Bank N.A. is one of the Midwest's largest commercial banks and Chicago's second largest bank with assets of nearly $30 billion. Together with its affiliate LaSalle Bank FSB, they have 120 locations and 675 ATMs. LaSalle is a subsidiary of Netherlands-based ABN AMRO Bank N.V., the world's sixth(4) largest bank with total assets of $480 billion and more than 3,500 locations in 76 countries and territories. To date, LaSalle has sold over $12 billion worth of callable CD's to over 600 broker-dealers across the country and continues to be the leading distributor of the product for banks nationwide.

In North America, ABN AMRO has $162 billion in assets and more than 18,000 employees. Headquartered in Chicago, ABN AMRO has banking offices in 15 cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Major North American affiliates include ABN AMRO Incorporated, a full-service investment banking, advisory and brokerage firm; ABN AMRO Asset Management (USA) Inc.; as well as Chicago's LaSalle Bank N.A., LaSalle Bank FSB, Standard Federal Bank in Michigan and EAB in New York.

1 -- "Nikkei", the "Nikkei Stock Average", the "Nikkei Average" and
     the "Nikkei 225" are trademarks and have been licensed for use by
     ABN AMRO North America, Inc. and its affiliates (including the
     Bank). The Nikkei 225 Index is the exclusive property of Nihon
     Keizai Shimbun, Inc. (the "Licensor"). All rights, including
     copyrights and rights to use the "Nikkei", the "Nikkei Stock
     Average", the "Nikkei Average" and the Nikkei 225" designation
     are reserved by the Licensor. The Licensor reserves the right to
     cease the compilation of the Index and to change its composition
     and contents. This product is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or
     promoted by the Licensor. The Lincensor makes no representation,
     or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of this security
     or to members of the public regarding the advisability of
     investing in securities generally or in this issue particularly.

2 -- "Standard & Poor's(R)", "S&P(R)", "S&P 500(R)", "Standard &
     Poor's 500" and "500" are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill
     Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by ABN AMRO North
     America Inc. and its affiliates (including the Bank). The CDs are
     not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's
     and Standard & Poor's makes no representation regarding the
     advisability of investing in the CDs.

3 -- The Nasdaq 100 (R), Nasdaq 100 Index (R), and Nasdaq (R) are
     trade or service marks of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. (which
     with its affiliates are the "Nasdaq Corporations") and are
     licensed for use by the Bank. The MILCs have not been passed on
     by the Nasdaq Corporations as to their legality or suitability.
     The MILCs are not issued, endorsed, sold, or promoted by the
     Nasdaq Corporations. THE NASDAQ CORPORATIONS MAKE NO WARRANTIES
     AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE MILCs.

4 -- According to assets as reported in The Banker July 1999

EDITOR'S NOTE: In the text of the release, numbers in parentheses should be superscripted and correspond to the footnotes at the end.