The Board of Directors of Fortis Bank has today changed its composition so as to reflect its new ownership structure and strengthen its governance. Effective immediately, following directors representing the Belgian State have been appointed by cooptation: Emiel Van Broekhoven (Chairman), Wim Coumans, Jean-Paul Pruvot, and Serge Wibaut. Following directors appointed by the previous shareholder have resigned: Herman Verwilst, Jos Clijsters, Jozef De Mey, Alain Deschênes, Jean Meyer and Peer van Harten.

The Fortis Bank Board of Directors, which is responsible for defining general policy and supervising the activities of the Executive Board, is now made up of 16 directors of which 4 non-executive directors appointed by the Belgian State, 5 independent directors and 7 executive directors.

The composition of the Board of Directors is now as follows:

Non-executive directors representing the Belgian state

Emiel Van Broekhoven (Chairman)

Wim Coumans

Jean-Paul Pruvot

Serge Wibaut

Independent non-executive directors

Lode Beckers

Joop Feilzer

Jean Stéphenne

Robert van Oordt

Luc Vansteenkiste

Executive directors

Filip Dierckx (CEO)

Lars Machenil (Finance)

Camille Fohl (Retail Luxembourg & International, Private Banking and Asset Management)

Lieve Mostrey (Operations, IT & Facility)

Brigitte Boone (Merchant Banking)

Peter Vandekerckhove (Retail Belgium)

Michel Deboeck (Human Resources)

The newly composed Board of Directors has decided to reaffirm the mission of the Audit Committee and to create a Remuneration & Nomination Committee as well as a Risk & Finance Committee.

The Board of Directors, recognizing the continuing difficult environment, will immediately take up its responsibility in dealing with the challenges ahead for Fortis Bank. The Board would like to thank the Fortis Bank staff for their strength and commitment in the past period and it expresses its understanding for the questions and uncertainties they might have.

The Board of Directors would like to thank the outgoing members of the Board of Directors for their contributions during the past years.

Press contacts:

Brussels: +32 (0)2 565 35 84

Fortis Bank provides a total package of banking services to personal, business and institutional customers through its own channels and via other partners. The bank has built up a strong presence in the European retail banking market, operating through a variety of distribution channels. It offers financial services to companies, institutional clients and high net worth individuals and provides integrated solutions to enterprise and entrepreneur. Fortis Bank employs 38,000 people.

At present, the Belgian State has through the "Société Fédérale de Participations et Investissements" (SFPI) a shareholding of 99,93% in the bank. On 10 October 2008, an agreement has been signed between SFPI, Fortis holding and BNP Paribas. According to the terms of this agreement, BNP Paribas will take a participation of 75% in Fortis Bank whereas the SFPI will keep a shareholding of 25%. However, this transaction still needs to be closed and implemented.