This press release contains forward-looking statements of expected future developments.  The Bank wishes to ensure that such statements are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements pursuant to the safe harbor established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The forward-looking statements in this press release refer to the growth of the trade portfolio, the increase in the number of the Bank’s clients, the increase in activities engaged in by the Bank that are derived from the Bank’s trade finance client base, anticipated operating income in future periods, the improvement in the financial strength of the Bank and the progress the Bank is making.  These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations of the Bank’s management and are based on currently available data; however, actual experience with respect to these factors is subject to future events and uncertainties, which could materially impact the Bank’s expectations.  Among the factors that can cause actual performance and results to differ materially are as follows: the possibility that the Bank will need to renegotiate, restructure or write-off certain of its Argentine loans; the possibility of pre-payments; the anticipated growth of the Bank’s trade finance portfolio; the continuation of the Bank’s preferred creditor status; the effects of increased interest rates on the Bank’s financial condition; the implementation of the Bank’s strategies and initiatives, including its revenue diversification strategy; the pending applications in the United States to open a representative office in Miami, Florida; the adequacy of the Bank’s allowance for credit losses to address the likely impact of the Argentine crisis and other credit risks on the Bank’s loan portfolio; the necessity of making additional provisions for credit losses; the Bank’s ability to achieve future growth, to reduce its liquidity levels and increase its leverage; the Bank’s ability to maintain its investment-grade credit ratings; the availability and mix of future sources of funding for the Bank’s lending operations; and the adequacy of the Bank’s sources of liquidity to cover large deposit withdrawals.