BANCO POPULAR, the third largest Spanish banking group, has announced the launching of a bank operating exclusively by Internet and which should be quoted on the stock exchange next year. Called BANCOPOPULAR-E.COM, this bank will develop its activities in Spain but also in Latin America, and aims to have 500,000 new clients in Spain, i.e. 15% of the market, with assets totalling EUR 3.2 billion. BANCO POPULAR suffered slight losses of EUR 1.6 million in 1999.