MONDAY, MAY 17, 1999

NEW YORK--The Federal Reserve Bank of New York Monday approved the application by W Holding, Inc., Mayagüez, PR to become a bank holding company with respect to Westernbank Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR.

According to standard procedure, the proposal cannot be completed for 15 days.

The Reserve Bank acted under authority delegated by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.