Corporate Unit

The corporate unit supports the two strategic business areas: Investment Banking and Investment Services. It performs essential support tasks for the Group's main activities:

	The General Technical Secretariat is in charge of internal auditing, risk control, compliance and legal affairs, among others.
	Corporate and Financial Administration is in charge of the group's economic activities (administration and accounting), as well as the Personnel and Human Resources departments.
	Maintenance and Ancillary Services.

The Corporate Unit is also in charge of Services for Institutions. Established in January 2008, Ahorro Corporación Sistemas de Tesorería manages all resources directly related to services and the development and maintenance of applications for financial institutions in the areas of administration, management, accounting and control of trading in securities and other financial instruments.

The following services are available via Ahorro Corporación Sistemas de Tesorería:

	SGT: Sistema Global de Tesorería
	NAP: Nueva Administración de Patrimonios
	SDD: Sistema de Distribución de Derivados
	SGT Emisiones Propias

Despite the difficult situation in 2008, the group increased not only the number of customers using our applications and services but also the sectors targeted by SGT, adding segments such as farmers' savings banks (Cajas Rurales) and insurance companies. The department also launched its website (www.sistemasdetesoreria.com), providing clients with access to up-to-date information on the available applications and services.

Once development was completed on the system to manage own securities (SGT Emisiones Propias), it was implemented in three banks and one official institution. The Derivatives Distribution System was fully rolled out in 2008, enabling the sale of OTC derivatives through the branch network.

At year-end, the client portfolio comprised 41 entities, including financial, insurance and brokerage firms.