The first credit card that unites four Central American leaders

Latin CEO: Executive Strategies for the Americas, June, 2001

GRUPO FINANCIERO UNO * GRUPO REAL * GRUPO TACA * VISA

Four leading companies have pooled their resources to provide their clients with the Banco Uno Distancia Platinum Card.

In the last decade, there have been significant changes in Central America. As opposed to how it was in the past where every country had solid frontiers and considered itself separate and different from the rest, today the barriers have fallen, and many business groups consider the entire Central American region their home. As a consequence to this regional growth, business people need to be able to hop from country to country with increased ease.

Approximately 8 months ago, and with the primary objective to go hand-in-hand with this regional integration, three companies that have lay their footprint in the region saw an incredible necessity to create a innovative product offering unique benefits to the frequent traveler. These companies are:

* Banco Uno: the largest carrier of Visa credit cards in the region.

* Grupo Real: the largest hotel company in Central America with complete regional coverage.

* GRUPO TACA: the second largest Latin American airline with complete Central American coverage.

It is through the partnership of these three groups that the Banco Uno Distancia Platinum card is born. So what makes this card so exceptional?

1. The Banco Uno Distancia card offers two simultaneous benefits: Distancia Miles and Puntos Reales. With every dollar spent, the cardholder receives one Distancia Mile and one Punto Real. The Distancia Miles can be exchanged for free tickets on any TACA flight, and upgrades to first class. The Puntos Reales can be exchanged for free roomnights, free meals and drinks, and free banquets and other events in any of the 11 hotels operated by Grupo Real.

2. The Banco Uno Distancia card offers immediate benefits. The cardholder doesn't have to wait any time or accumulate anything to obtain these immediate benefits from a card that is free:

* First Class upgrades in any TACA flight

* Unlimited upgrades to rooms better than those paid for in any Grupo Real hotel

* Early check-in (10:00AM) and late check-out (6:00PM) in any hotel operated by Grupo Real.

* 5,000 welcome Distancia Miles and 1,000 welcome Puntos Reales.

* Access to First Class check-in at GRUPO TACA airport counters.

* Access to VIP lounges in airports and Banco Uno offices.

* Free transportation from airport to hotel and viceversa.

* Travel life and medical insurance of $500,000.

* Collision Insurance coverage for car rentals.

* Long-term preferential interest rates.

* Personalized welcome-kit with leather wallet.

* Birthday dinner celebration for two at any hotel operated by Grupo Real.

To launch this unique credit card, Banco Uno is offering a special promotion. All customers who obtain a Banco Uno Distancia Platinum card will participate in a raffle of a BMW series 3. In addition, for every $25 spent, the cardholder will receive and additional raffle number.

Shown: (Left to right) Federico Parker, Director Banco Uno; camilo Bolanos, Manager of Loyalty Programs Distancia GRUPO TACA and Fernando Poma, Managing Director Grupo Real.

To obtain a card, call:

Guatemala: 502-366-9644, El Salvador: 503-245-0055,

Honduras: Tegucigalpa 504-239-4256, San Pedro Sula: 504-558-1244

Nicaragua: 505-268-6818, Costa Rica: 506-293-3642