Document:

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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                                     between

                      SEGURO DE DEPOSITOS SOCIEDAD ANONIMA

                                       and

                      BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A.

                                 March 21, 2002.

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                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

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                                                                                               PAGES.
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Parties and Antecedents.                                                                         1

                                              SECTION I
                                    DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

Article 1.1        General Definitions                                                           2
Article 1.2        Interpretation                                                                5

                                              SECTION II
                                                LOAN

Article 2.1        Loan                                                                          6
Article 2.2        Disbursement of the Loan                                                      6
Article 2.3        Repayment of the Loan                                                         6
Article 2.4        Interest                                                                      6
Article 2.5        Default Interest.                                                             8
Article 2.6        Automatic Default                                                             8
Article 2.7        Commitment Fee                                                                8
Article 2.8        Currency and Place of Payment. Waiver to the Doctrine of                      9
                   Unforeeseebility.
Article 2.9        Allocation of Partial Payments                                               11
Article 2.10       Taxes and Other charges                                                      11

                                             SECTION III
                                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARANTIES

Article 3.1        Representations and Warranties                                               11
Article 3.2        Reliability of SEDESA.                                                       13

                                              SECTION IV
                                         CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

Article 4.1        Conditions Precedent.                                                        13
Article 4.2        Conditions for the Benefit of SEDESA.                                        15

                                              SECTION V
                                         SPECIAL COMMITMENTS

Article 5.1        Additional Obligations of the BANK.                                          15

                                              SECTION VI

                                             ACCELERATION

Article 6.1        Expiration of Terms.                                                         17
Article 6.2        Acceleration Events.                                                         17
Article 6.3        Notice of an Acceleration Event                                              19
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                                             SECTION VII
                                            MISCELLANEOUS

Article 7.1        Special Domiciles and Notices.                                                19
Article 7.2        Expenses.                                                                     20
Article 7.3        Term of the Agreement.                                                        20
Article 7.4        Applicable Law and Jurisdiction.                                              20
Article 7.5        No-Assignment.                                                                20
Article 7.6        Amendment.                                                                    20
Article 7.7        Counterparts.                                                                 20
Article 7.8        Remedies and Waivers.                                                         20
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                                LIST OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit 1            Disbursement Application.

Exhibit 2            Form of Promissory Note.

Exhibit 3            Bank's Companies.

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This LOAN AGREEMENT (hereinafter called the "Agreement") is entered into in the
City of Buenos Aires, capital city of the Republic of Argentina, on March 21,
2002, by and between:

1.1.   SEGURO DE DEPOSITOS S.A. in its capacity as trustee of the Deposit
       Guaranty Fund (hereinafter, "SEDESA") domiciled at Avenida Corrientes
       311, Piso 10(degree), City of BuenOs Aires, represented herein by its
       President, Jose Carlos Jaime, party of the first part, and

1.2.   BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A. (hereinafter, the "BANK") domiciled
       at Tte. General J. D. Peron 407, City of Buenos Aires, herein represented
       by Eduardo J. Zimmermann and Eduardo Hector Arrobas, party of the second
       part, (hereinafter, either the BANK or SEDESA may be called the "Party".
       The term "Parties" referred jointly to the BANK and SEDESA).

Whereas:

(i)    Banco de Galicia y Buenos Aires S.A. has submitted for approval to the
       Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina (BCRA) a Regularization and
       Debt-Free Plan that was called "Capitalization and Liquidity", which
       included several measures aiming at reinforcing the BANK's financial
       position as well as the liquidity thereof.

(ii)   Among the measures provided for to reinforce the BANK's liquidity, the
       above mentioned plan considered a contribution from the Deposit Guaranty
       Fund (Fondo de Garantia de los Depositos - FGD) of $200,000,000 (two
       hundred million) under any of the financial support mechanisms set forth
       by Decree No. 540/95 (text according to Decrees Nos. 1292/96 and
       1292/99).

(iii)  The Steering Committee of the FGD by the meeting held on March 11, 2002
       decided to grant the financial assistance requested, by reason of the
       exceptional crisis of the Argentine financial and economic system,
       leaving the decision relative to the economic conditions of such
       assistance to the Board of Directors of SEDESA.

(iv)   The Board of Directors of SEDESA, in response to the Decisions adopted by
       the Steering Committee, decided to grant a loan to the BANK in US Dollars
       to be fully amortized 60 months as from the Disbursement Date and under
       the economic terms and conditions as to interest and fees set forth in
       this Agreement.

(v)    It is the BANK's intention to take a loan from SEDESA, payable from the
       proceeds of the FDG, which is administered by SEDESA as Trustee; and it
       is SEDESA's intention to grant the loan to the BANK under the terms and
       conditions set forth herein.

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Therefore, SEDESA and the BANK agree to enter into the following

                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                   SECTION I. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION.

ARTICLE 1.1. GENERAL DEFINITIONS. Every time they are used in this Agreement,
except as otherwise expressly provided, the following terms shall have the
meanings hereinafter assigned thereto:

(1) "AUDITORS", shall mean the firm of accountants who certify the financial
statements of the BANK, or the firm of Independent Public Accountants that the
BANK may, from time to time appoint as auditors with the consent of SEDESA;

(2) "AUTHORITY", shall mean every national, provincial or municipal government,
or organization, department, commission, court, agency or governmental,
administrative, fiscal, judicial, legislative or state agency;

(3) "CENTRAL BANK", shall mean the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina;

(4) "ACCELERATION EVENT", shall mean any of the events provided in Article 6.2.;

(5) "BANK'S COMPANIES", shall have the meaning set forth in Article 5.1.(vi).

(6) "CONDITIONS PRECEDENT", shall mean every and each condition precedent to the
disbursement of the Loan listed in Article 4.1.

(7) "DISBURSEMENT" shall mean the amount of US Dollars effectively given by
SEDESA to the BANK on the Disbursement Date;

(8) "DISBURSEMENT DATE", shall mean the Business Day in which SEDESA shall pay
the Loan to the BANK, which will be the Business Day immediately following
five-Business Day term after SEDESA received the Disbursement Application
pursuant thereto;

(9) "BUSINESS DAY", shall mean a day in which financial institutions are open to
perform exchange transactions in the Republic of Argentina;

(10) "DOLLARS" and the acronyms "US$" OR "U$S OR U$, shall mean the legal tender
of the United States of America;

(11) "SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECT", shall mean a Significant Adverse Effect
pursuant to the provisions of SEDESA on:

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(i)    the BANK'S capacity to comply with the obligations thereof under the
       Agreement;

(ii)   the performance, transactions, business, properties, assets, liabilities
       or (financial or other) situation of the BANK.

(12) "FISCAL YEAR", shall mean the BANK's fiscal year beginning on January 1, of
each year and ending on December 31, or any other term (of 52 consecutive weeks,
minimum) that the BANK shall establish as its fiscal year with SEDESA's consent;

(13) "BY-LAWS", shall mean the by-laws of the BANK;

(14) "INTEREST RATE DETERMINATION DATE", shall mean the second Business day
prior to the beginning of each Interest Period;

(15) "INTEREST PAYMENT DATE", shall mean June 15 or December 15 of any year the
Loan is pending reimbursement, except if such date is not a Business Day, in
which case the Interest Payment Date shall be the Business Day immediately
following June 15 or December 15, as applicable;

(16) "LOAN EXPIRATION DATE", shall mean the expiration day of the 60 (sixty)
months-term as from the Disbursement Date, and if such Day is not a Business
Day, the immediately following Business Day;

(17) "LIEN", shall mean every mortgage, pledge, charge, assignment, mortgage
record, security interest, ownership lien, priority right, securitization, trust
agreement, trust transfer, compensation rights, counterclaims or bank charges,
privilege or priority of any type that shall have the effect of attaching a
security or creating any other preference of one creditor over another by
application of law;

(18)"APPLICABLE MARGIN", shall mean 300 Basic Points.

(19) "SINGLE AND FREE EXCHANGE MARKET", shall mean the exchange market created
by Communication "A" 3471 of the Central Bank dated February 8, 2002;

(20) "PROMISSORY NOTES", shall mean the negotiable instruments governed by
sections 101 et. seq. of Decree-Law 5965/63 referred to in Section 4.1(xii) and
5.1 (xiv) of this Agreement;

(21) "ARGENTINE GAAP", shall mean the generally accepted accounting principles
or the criteria approved at the time prescribed by law by the Professional
Council of Economic Sciences of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and/or any
other entity or pertinent Authority, used by the financial institutions in
Argentina to allow a registered

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public accountant in the Republic of Argentina to express his opinion without
any influence with respect to the financial statements of these entities;

(22) "INTEREST PERIOD", shall mean each six (6) month period beginning on an
Interest Payment Date and ending the date immediately prior to the following
Interest Payment Date, except for the first Interest Period when it shall mean
the period beginning on the Disbursement Date and ending the day immediately
prior to the following Interest Payment Date;

(23) "PESOS" and the symbol "$", shall mean the legal tender of the Republic of
Argentina, which shall include any currency that may replace the Peso as the
legal tender of the Republic of Argentina;

(24) "REGULARIZATION AND DEBT-FREE PLAN", shall mean the plan submitted by the
BANK to the Central Bank which includes measures to strengthen the financial and
liquidity structure of the BANK;

(25) "POTENTIAL ACCELERATION EVENT", shall mean any event or circumstance that
by means of a notice, lapse of time, determination or any combination thereof,
if any, shall create a Potential Acceleration Event;

(26) "LOAN", shall mean the amount of Dollars that SEDESA shall lend to the BANK
on the Disbursement Date, which amount shall be equal to $2000,000,000 (Pesos
two hundred million) pursuant to the seller exchange rate quoted by the Banco de
la Nacion Argentina in the Single and Free Exchange Market at the closing of
transactions the Business Day prior to the Disbursement Date - pursuant to the
liquidation performed by SEDESA, which shall be final and conclusive and shall
not be subject to any review except in case of manifest and gross error, or in
case of material and evident error;

(27) "BASIC POINT", shall mean a hundredth part of one per cent, or 0.01%;

(28) "DISBURSEMENT APPLICATION", shall mean the letter that the BANK shall
submit to SEDESA (pursuant to the text of Exhibit 1) requesting to SEDESA the
disbursement of the Loan and evidencing by reliable means - to SEDESA's
satisfaction - the compliance with every and each Condition Precedent;

(29) "LOAN INTEREST RATE", shall mean, for any Interest Period, the annual rate
equal to LIBO plus Applicable Margin

(30) "LIBO RATE", shall mean the annual rate for Dollar deposits for a term
equal to the Interest Period (or, in the case of the first Interest Period, for
a term of one or three months, whichever may be more adequate in SEDESA's
opinion by reason of the time covered by such First Interest Period) offered by
leading banks in the London market, set forth by the "British Bankers
Association Interest Settlements Rates" and either

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declared or published by any service appointed by the British Bankers
Association as an authorized information supplier in order to disclose the rates
determined by such Association;

(31) "FISCAL QUARTER", shall mean each of the four fiscal quarters of a Fiscal
Year;

(32) "SUBSIDIARY", shall mean, as to any person, any entity:

(i)    of which more than 50% of the capital thereof, directly or indirectly,
       belongs to such person;

(ii)   for which such person may nominate or appoint most of the shareholders of
       the Board of Directors or the people performing similar activities; or

(iii)  otherwise effectively controlled by such person (by ownership or legal
       possession of securities, beneficial interest or in any other way, by
       contract or in other manner).

ARTICLE 1.2. INTERPRETATION. In this Agreement except as otherwise required:

(a)    titles are included for reference only and shall not affect the
       interpretation hereof;

(b)    terms in singular form, include the plural and vice versa.

(c)    every reference to a person includes any natural person, Company, general
       partnership, trust, joint venture, association, corporation or any other
       artificial person and any National, Provincial or Municipal authority;

(d)    every reference to an Article, Section, Attachment, Annex or Exhibit is a
       reference to such Article, Section, Attachment, Annex or Exhibit of this
       Agreement;

(e)    every reference to a document includes any amendment or supplement,
       replacement or novation of said document, but does not take into account
       any amendment, supplement, replacement or novation made in breach of this
       Agreement;

(f)    Every reference to a Party to any document shall include permitted
       successors and assigns.

                              SECTION II. THE LOAN.

ARTICLE 2.1. LOAN. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, SEDESA
agrees to grant to the BANK and the BANK agrees to receive from SEDESA a Loan,
i.e., the amount of Dollars to be delivered by SEDESA to the BANK on the

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Disbursement Date, so; said amount shall be equal to $200,000,000 (two hundred
million Pesos) at the selling rate of exchange quoted by Banco de la Nacion
Argentina in the Single Free Exchange Market at the closing of transactions of
the Business Day prior to the Disbursement Date - pursuant to the liquidation
made by SEDESA, which shall be final and not subject to any review except in
case of evident gross error or evident material error.

ARTICLE 2.2. DISBURSEMENT OF THE LOAN Under the terms and subject to the
satisfaction of the conditions precedent hereof, on the Disbursement Date,
SEDESA shall deliver the Loan to the BANK in the manner established and informed
by SEDESA to the BANK two (2) Business Days prior to the Disbursement Date.
Notwithstanding the receipt that the BANK may deliver to SEDESA of the
Disbursement and acknowledging the obligation to pay the Loan hereunder, any
voucher, receipt or certificate issued by the Central Bank acknowledging such
delivery as above mentioned shall be sufficient evidence of the Disbursement and
payment obligation.

ARTICLE 2.3. REPAYMENT OF THE LOAN. The BANK shall repay the Loan to SEDESA in
Dollars (and not in any other currency) in full on the Loan Expiration Date. The
repayment and cancellation of the Loan shall be made by deposit into SEDESA's
account as informed by it to the BANK at least five (5) Business Days prior to
the Expiration Date. The BANK may demand the delivery of a formal receipt which
SEDESA hereby agrees to issue and deliver.

ARTICLE 2.4. INTEREST. The BANK shall pay interest in Dollars pursuant to the
provisions of this Article 2.4, on the amount of the Disbursement, form the
Disbursement Date up to the total repayment thereof to SEDESA.

2.4.1. INTEREST. (a) During each Interest Period, the Loan shall accrue interest
at the Interest Rate of the Loan on the Disbursed Amount owed by the BANK.

(b) Interest shall accrue on a daily basis pro rata based on a 365-day year and
the number of days effectively elapsed of the pertinent Interest Period and
shall be payable in Dollars in arrears on the Interest Payment Date immediately
following the last day of the pertinent Interest Period.

(c) The interest rate applicable to calculate this interest shall be the
Interest Rate of the Loan, i.e., the LIBO Rate plus the Applicable Margin.

(d) If on the Interest Rate Determination Date of any Interest Period, SEDESA is
not able to determine the LIBO Rate under the provisions of paragraph 30,
Section I hereof, SEDESA shall give notice thereof to the BANK and determine the
LIBO Rate as follows:

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(i)    Calculating, on the Interest Rate Determination Date, the arithmetic
       average (rounded up to the nearest three decimals) of the rates offered
       approximately at 11 a.m., London time, for 189-day Dollar deposits by
       four (4) leading banks selected by SEDESA operating in Dollars in the
       London interbank market. If SEDESA should receive less than four
       quotations, it shall calculate the arithmetic average of the offered
       rates based on the received quotations, provided that said quotations are
       not less than two (2); or

(ii)   if SEDESA should receive only one quotation from the London Banks
       indicated in item (i) above, it shall calculate the arithmetic average
       (rounded up to the nearest three decimals) of the rates offered at
       approximately 11 a.m., New York time, for 180-day Dollar loans to leading
       companies by one or more leading banks operating in the New York, N.Y.
       USA, selected by SEDESA.

(e) On each Interest Rate Determination Date for any Interest Period, SEDESA
shall determine the Interest Rate of the Loan applicable to such Interest Period
pursuant to the procedure described in items b), c) and d) above and immediately
inform such Interest Rate to the BANK.

(f) The regular and timely Determination of the Interest Rate of the Loan made
by SEDESA shall be final and binding to the BANK and SEDESA, except in case of
evident gross error.

2.4.2  DEFAULT INTEREST. Notwithstanding the remedies available to SEDESA
hereunder and to the maximum extent permitted by the applicable laws, if the
BANK should not:

(a)    Pay the Loan and/or interest on the Expiration Date and/or the pertinent
       Interest Payment Dates; or

(b)    pay any other obligation set forth herein;

the BANK shall pay default interest on any due and unpaid amount at fifty
percent (50%) of the Interest Rate of the Loan in force at the time of default
from the payment date of the unpaid amount until the effective payment thereof.

ARTICLE 2.5. AUTOMATIC DEFAULT. Default shall occur automatically due to the
lapse of the terms set forth herein to perform the pertinent obligations without
need of any court or out-of-court prior demand.

ARTICLE 2.6. PREPAYMENT. (a) The BANK may prepay all or part of the Loan on any
Interest Payment Date by notice to SEDESA at least 15 Business Days in advance
but only if:

(i)    The BANK should simultaneously pay all ordinary and default interest
       outstanding hereunder;

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(ii)   in case of a partial prepayment of the Loan, it should be in a minimum
       amount of fifty million Dollars (US$ 50,000,000);

(b) Any amount of the Loan prepaid hereunder shall not be borrowed again.

ARTICLE 2.7. COMMITMENT FEE. The BANK shall pay to SEDESA a commitment fee equal
to three percent (3%) per annum of the Loan applicable on the amount of Dollars
of the Loan corresponding to the calendar days from the execution date hereof to
the Disbursement Date. The BANK hereby irrevocably authorizes SEDESA to deduct
from the Loan, on the Disbursement Date, the amount of Dollars of the Commitment
Fee. SEDESA and the BANK hereby expressly agree that the Commitment Fee shall be
paid by the BANK even if the Loan is not Disbursed due to any reason whatsoever.
To such end, it shall be understood that the Commitment Fee shall be due and
payable by SEDESA if the Disbursement has not been made on or before May 31,
2002. In such case, the Commitment Fee shall be accrued again on June 1, until
the Disbursement Date, being payable on the last day of each month and until the
BANK informs SEDESA in writing that any of the conditions precedent has not been
satisfied and is not likely to be satisfied. In such case, the agreement shall
terminate and none of the Parties shall be entitled to make any claim to the
other except for the Commitment Fee set forth herein not paid hereunder.

ARTICLE 2.8. CURRENCY AND PLACE OF PAYMENT. WAIVER TO THE DOCTRINE OF
UNFOREESEEBILITY. (a) The BANK shall make all payments hereunder (including the
repayment of the Loan, including without limitation, ordinary or default
interest and any other payment owed to SEDESA by the BANK hereunder), only in
Dollars and not in any other currency by deposit into the bank account or
accounts informed by SEDESA to the BANK at least five (5) Business Days in
advance of the pertinent payment date.

(b) The BANK's payment obligations hereunder shall only be considered satisfied
upon effective reception by SEDESA of an amount of Dollars equal to the
aggregate amount or amounts received by the BANK. The payment obligations of the
BANK hereunder or in relation hereto shall not be considered fully satisfied by
the mere delivery to SEDESA of any amount of money in a currency other than the
legal tender in the United States, even if the payment in such other currency
had been ordered by judgment of a competent court and SEDESA had not been
entitled to challenge such payment in another currency or refuse to receive such
amounts paid by court order except if the amount or the payment in a currency
other than Dollars should have resulted in the effective payment of the
aggregate amount due in Dollars into the bank accounts of SEDESA in the City of
New York and, as a consequence, the amount (if any) in dollars by which the
payment in the different currency is insufficient to pay the aggregate
obligation in Dollars shall remain owed to SEDESA as a separate and independent
obligation not affected by the judgment obtained by SEDESA to collect the
amounts due hereunder. The BANK shall fully indemnify SEDESA and keep it
harmless against any loss incurred by SEDESA as a consequence of any difference
between the aggregate

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amount in Dollars owed hereunder and the amounts in Dollars effectively acquired
by SEDESA or that it may have acquired with the amounts in a currency other than
Dollars received by SEDESA from to BANK. To such end, the rate of exchange
applicable to both currencies shall be the one in force in the market where
Dollars may be exchanged for the amount received by SEDESA on the date of
reception thereof.

(c) If, on the date of payment of any amount due hereunder, there is any
prohibition by the Central Bank or any other authority, that prevents or
restricts access by the BANK to the Single Free Exchange Market, thus preventing
it from performing its payment obligations in Dollars, the BANK shall pay all
amounts due hereunder in Dollars through the following methods, as selected by
SEDESA,

(i)    The purchase of Bonds or any other National Government debt security in
       Dollars and the transfer and sale thereof for Dollars outside the
       Republic of Argentina in a number of Bonds or Securities that, once
       liquidated in said foreign market and deducted all taxes and expenses,
       the amount of Dollars arising from the sale thereof shall be equal to the
       amount of said currency payable hereunder;

(ii)   The delivery to SEDESA of bonds or any other National Government debt
       securities in Dollars, to the satisfaction of SEDESA, in an amount that,
       once liquidated in a foreign market and deducted all taxes and expenses,
       the proceeds thereof in Dollars shall be equal to the amount of said
       currency payable hereunder;

(iii)  In case of any restriction or prohibition in the Republic of Argentina
       that should prevent the BANK from performing the transactions indicated
       above, by delivery to SEDESA of Pesos in an amount that, on the pertinent
       payment date, said Pesos are sufficient, after all taxes and expenses, to
       acquire the Dollars payable by the BANK at the selling rate of exchange
       informed by Banco de la Nacion Argentina in the Single Free Exchange
       Market at the closing of the Business Day immediately prior to the
       pertinent payment date; or

(iv)   Any other legal proceeding in force in the Republic of Argentina for the
       acquisition of Dollars on any pertinent payment date.

(d) It is expressly agreed that in any of the cases mentioned in items (i) to
(iv) above, the amounts payable by the BANK shall be considered duly paid and
cancelled and said payment shall release the BANK from any obligation only upon
effective deposit into the account of SEDESA of the exact aggregate amount of
Dollars payable by the BANK hereunder.

(e) All expenses, fees and taxes payable in relation to the procedures mentioned
in this Article 2.8. shall be borne by the BANK.

(f) The BANK hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives its right to invoke:

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(i)    the doctrine of unforeseebility (section 1198, second paragraph of the
       Civil Code of the Republic of Argentina) and/or force majeure or Act of
       God (514 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Argentina); or

(ii)   any right available to it, to pay any of its obligations hereunder with a
       currency other than Dollars or with a lower amount thereof.

(g) This waiver has been made by the BANK after analyzing the Dollar / Peso rate
of exchange in force on the date of execution hereof and its future evolution
and the certain possibility that said rate of exchange may, after the execution
hereof, be substantially modified thus causing the reduction of the value of the
Peso as against the Dollar.

ARTICLE 2.9. ALLOCATION OF PARTIAL PAYMENTS. If SEDESA should receive, at any
time, less than the aggregate amount payable at such time hereunder, SEDESA
shall allocate and apply such payment, first, to pay any expense incurred by
SEDESA hereunder; then, to pay any default interest due; then to pay ordinary
interest and finally to pay the Loan.

ARTICLE 2.10. TAXES AND OTHER CHARGES. (a) The BANK shall pay or arrange for the
payment of all taxes, rates, duties, rights, fees and other charges of any
nature, if any, that may at present or in the future apply to the payment of all
or any of the amounts payable hereunder.

(b) All payments of the Loan, interest and other amounts owed to SEDESA
hereunder shall be made with no deduction of any tax, rate, duty, right or other
charge as mentioned in item (a) above.

(c) If the BANK should not be able, under the law, to pay or provide for the
payment of its obligations to SEDESA without deducting the amounts due as taxes,
rates, duties and other rights, then the amounts due as repayment of the Loan
(or as applicable), interest or other amounts payable hereunder shall be
increased up to the amount necessary for SEDESA to receive the aggregate amount
that it should have received (taking into account said taxes, rates, duties,
rights, fees or other charges payable on the amounts owed by the BANK hereunder)
if such payments were made without deduction.

(d) If item (c) above should be applicable and if so required by SEDESA, the
BANK shall deliver to SEDESA official receipts of the pertinent payment (or
certified copies thereof) within thirty (30) days after the payment date.

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                   SECTION III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

ARTICLE 3.1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The BANK hereby represents and
warrants that:

(a) it is a financial institution duly incorporated and operating under the laws
of the Republic of Argentina and is authorized and entitled to own its assets,
operate as it does in the present and execute this Agreement and perform its
obligations hereunder;

(b) the execution and performance hereof are not and shall not be in conflict
with and do not and shall not cause the breach of any of the terms, conditions
or provisions of any trust, mortgage, contract or other agreement or instrument
either present or future ("the usual causes of obligations") to which the BANK
is or may be a party or under which it may be bound and the execution or
performance hereof shall not imply the nonperformance or require any consent
provided for by the "Usual Causes of Obligations" and shall not breach any term
or provision of the BANK's By-Laws, or any judgment, decree, order or any law,
rule or regulation applicable to the BANK;

(c) The BANK's financial statements for the period ended on December 31, 2001:

(i)    have been prepared under the accounting regulations set forth by the BCRA
       applicable to financial institutions and, to the extent they are in
       compliance with such accounting regulations, under the Argentinean GAAP
       homogeneously applied and they represent the accurate and reasonable
       financial situation of the BANK as of the date thereof and the results of
       the transactions made by the BANK during such period;

(ii)   show all the obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the BANK, and the
       reserves, if any, created in respect of such obligations and all the
       unrealized or anticipated losses arising from contracts executed by the
       BANK (either mentioned or not in such financial statements);

(d) the BANK is not subject to any Lien on any of its assets other than those
required by law and there are no agreements or contracts, conditional or
unconditional, for the creation of any Lien by the BANK;

(e) the BANK pays all taxes, rates and duties, either National, Provincial and
Municipal and all contributions and other Social Security obligations applicable
to the BANK, its assets, income or goods, in due time;

(f) the BANK is not a party to any action, and, to the best of its knowledge on
the date hereof, no proceeding is pending, either legal, arbitrary or
administrative that may have a substantial adverse effect on its commercial
projections or financial condition or that may have a Significant Adverse
Effect;

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(g) to its best knowledge, the BANK is not in breach of any law or regulation
issued by any Authority and no judgment or decision has been rendered that has
or may have an Significant Adverse Effect or that may prevent the BANK from
complying with or performing its obligations hereunder;

(h) the BANK owns or is entitled to use all trade marks, permits, service
brands, commercial names, licenses or rights thereon and has obtain the
assignment of all leases or any other rights necessary for its current and
future operation without any known conflict with third party rights that have
or, if not obtained, may have, as the case may be, a Significant Adverse Effect;

(i) the BANK's obligations arising herefrom are not subject to any privilege or
special guaranty other than those of any unsecured creditor of the BANK;

(j) no strike, slowdown or any other measure is taking place or threatened by
the employees of the BANK that has or may have a Significant Adverse Effect.
There are no claims for undue practices related to the unions pending or
threatened against the BANK and there are no charges, complaints or proceedings
arising from any labor relation pending or threatened against the BANK that have
or may have a Significant Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE 3.2. RELIABILITY OF SEDESA. (a) The BANK hereby acknowledges that its
representations and warranties expressed in Article 3.1 are made in order to
induce SEDESA to execute this Agreement and disburse the Loan on the
Disbursement Date and that SEDESA executes this agreement and shall disburse the
Loan on the Disbursement Date based and relying on all and each of said
representations and warranties.

(b) The BANK hereby represents to SEDESA that each of the representations and
warranties is true and correct as of the date hereof and shall be so on the
Disbursement Date and shall remain true and correct during the life of the
Agreement and that no issue has been omitted, which omission would cause such
representations and warranties to be misleading.

                        SECTION IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

ARTICLE 4.1. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. SEDESA's obligation to disburse the Loan on
the Disbursement Date is subject to the compliance with the following conditions
to the satisfaction of SEDESA:

(i)    The Board of Directors of the Central Bank shall have expressly approved
       the Regularization and Debt-Free Plan of the BANK providing for the
       granting of a Loan by SEDESA as Trustee of a Deposit Guaranty Fund under
       the financial terms and conditions hereof;

                                       12

<PAGE>

(ii)   All capitalization of debts and/or principal contributions and/or
       refinancing of the BANK's debts to certain creditors as set forth in the
       mentioned Regularization and Debt-Free Plan shall have been duly
       authorized by the corporate bodies of the BANK, the authorities of the
       Argentinean capital market and the Central Bank and effectively made
       and/or paid by the creditors and/or contributors;

(iii)  The Central Bank, the Mutual Bank for Bank Assistance (Fondo Fiduciario
       de Asistencia Bancaria: FFAB) and other financial institutions shall have
       disbursed to the BANK the contributions mentioned in the Regularization
       and Debt-Free Plan;

(iv)   At the exclusive criteria of SEDESA's Board of Directors, no event of any
       nature shall have occurred from the date of Execution hereof to the
       Disbursement Date, that may seriously affect the capacity of the BANK to
       repay the Loan and/or the interest thereon under the terms and conditions
       hereof;

(v)    The BANK's Board of Directors shall have approved the Agreement
       evidencing this transaction and said approval shall have been favorably
       approved by the BANK's Supervisory Board;

(vi)   SEDESA's Board of Directors shall have approved the Agreement;

(vii)  No Acceleration or Potential Acceleration event shall exist and no event
       or circumstance that, due to notice, the lapse of time, a declaration of
       will by SEDESA or any combination thereof shall have occurred that may
       become an Acceleration Event in respect of the Agreement;

(viii) SEDESA shall have received a legal opinion from the external legal
       advisors of the BANK at the entire satisfaction of SEDESA;

(ix)   No event shall have occurred that has or may reasonably be expected to
       have a Significant Adverse Effect on the Regularization and Debt-Free
       Plan or the commercial projections or the financial condition of the
       BANK; or that may prevent the BANK from performing any of its obligations
       hereunder;

(x)    The BANK shall not have incurred in any substantial loss or liability
       from the date of execution hereof until the Disbursement Date;

(xi)   The representations and warranties made in Section IV shall be true and
       correct in all material respects as of the Disbursement Date;

(xii)  The BANK shall have delivered to SEDESA, together with the Disbursement
       Application, two Promissory Notes to the order of SEDESA, substantially
       in the form of Exhibit 2; one for the amount of interest corresponding to
       the first Interest Period with maturity on the Interest Payment Date
       immediately following the Disbursement Date and the other one with
       maturity on the Loan Expiration Date for an amount in Dollars (and only
       Dollars) equal to the amount of the Loan;

                                       13

<PAGE>

(xiii) the BANK shall have submitted to SEDESA the Disbursement Application.

ARTICLE 4.2. CONDITIONS FOR THE BENEFIT OF SEDESA. The conditions mentioned in
Article 4.1. hereof shall inure in the benefit of SEDESA and only SEDESA may
release the BANK from the obligation to perform. To such end, and upon written
request from the BANK, SEDESA shall state, by written notice addressed to the
BANK, that one or more conditions precedent shall be considered as not written.

                         SECTION V. SPECIAL COMMITMENTS.

ARTICLE 5.1. ADDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS OF THE BANK. The BANK shall do or, abstain
from doing, as applicable, any of the following acts:

(i)    Inform SEDESA less than 5 (five) days before every meeting of the Board
       of Directors of the BANK, the Order of Business to be dealt with, and a
       representative of SEDESA shall be allowed to attend the meeting not being
       entitled to vote.

(ii)   comply with the prudential technical relations set forth by the Central
       Bank as to freezing, liquidity requirements, risk assets and loans to
       related persons.

(iii)  send to SEDESA copy of the documents and the information that the BANK
       sends from time to time to the Central Bank in compliance with the
       regulations and specially, the following information:

       -   Balance-sheets issued monthly and quarterly.

       -   Changes of deposit balances and other items.

(iv)   comply with the Regularization and Debt-Free Plan accepted by the Central
       Bank.

(v)    not to grant securities on properties requiring previous authorization
       from the Central Bank pursuant to Article 28, of Law No. 21526 as
       amended, to other existing or future creditors placing them in a better
       preference position than applicable to SEDESA by this Agreement.

(vi)   the BANK shall not operate per se, or by any third party any commercial,
       industrial, agricultural, service or any other type of business beyond
       the activities presently operated through its controlled and related
       companies, according to the list attached hereto as Exhibit 3 (the
       "Bank's Companies"), even if it has the authorization from the Central
       Bank to acquire a majority interest or mere holding, except for the
       companies that the BANK may acquire in relation to credits;

                                       14

<PAGE>

(vii)  not to increase its present share in the Bank's Companies, except if such
       increases have been approved by the Central Bank and were consistent with
       the terms and conditions of the Regularization and Debt-Free Plan;

(viii) pay on time all national, provincial or municipal taxes, charges and fees
       and Social Security taxes, charges and fees;

(ix)   not to levy any Lien of any nature whatsoever on its properties;

(x)    not to sell, dispose of, or transfer, in any manner whatsoever, the fixed
       assets thereof, except for the assets existing at the BANK that were
       acquired in relation to the credits, and always provided they were
       accounted for, pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles, as
       "sundry property" in the BANK'S accounting records;

(xi)   the BANK shall not make any share capital reduction;

(xii)  the BANK shall not amend the By-Laws thereof;

(xiii) the BANK shall allow SEDESA, until the Loan and the interest thereof are
       completely and fully paid up, to have access at all times, and the BANK
       shall immediately allow such access, to the books and accounting records
       of the BANK and supporting documentation, as well as to access all
       information that SEDESA or the organization acting in replacement
       thereof, may consider necessary, at its sole discretion. The BANK shall
       be bound to allow access to the persons that SEDESA may designate, and
       make available the facilities, documents and elements necessary for the
       person assigned to develop the tasks to perform;

(xiv)  deliver to SEDESA on each Interest Payment Date a Promissory Note,
       pursuant to the provisions included in Exhibit 2, to the order of SEDESA
       as trustee of the Guaranty Deposit Fund issued on the applicable Interest
       Payment Date, expiring on the immediately following Interest Payment
       Date, for an amount equal to the interest amount that the BANK shall pay
       to SEDESA in Dollars on the expiration Date of such Promissory Note as
       interest for the Interest Period beginning on the Promissory Note's issue
       date.

                                       15

<PAGE>

                            SECTION VI. ACCELERATION.

ARTICLE 6.1. EXPIRATION TERMS. In the event of an Acceleration Event, all
outstanding terms for the payment of the Loan, as well as the terms for the
payment of interest outstanding at the time of occurrence of an Acceleration
Event, shall be considered expired and terminated, on condition that SEDESA had
declared said debt to be enforceable pursuant to the proceeding set forth in the
following paragraph 6.2.

ARTICLE 6.2. ACCELERATION EVENTS.

IF AND WHEN:

(i)    the BANK did not comply with any of its payment obligations under this
       Agreement, and any other obligation including, without limitation,
       obligations provided in Article 5.1. hereof;

(ii)   the BANK failed to comply with any of its payment obligations to third
       parties arising from any legal event or act always provided such
       obligation was higher than U$S200,000 (two hundred thousand) or its
       equivalent in pesos pursuant to the exchange rate of the Single and Free
       Exchange Market;

(iii)  the direct or indirect control of the BANK was transferred in one or more
       acts, to a third party, or third parties acting jointly or not, without
       the prior knowledge and consent of SEDESA, or if the present majority
       shareholders lost their majority for any cause or proceeding. Submittal
       of the transfers or acquisitions of the controlling block to the
       authorization of the Central Bank would be irrelevant for the purposes
       hereof;

(iv)   the meeting of shareholders of the BANK decided to approve the payment of
       dividends during the life of this Agreement, or authorized the payment of
       compensations to the members of the Board of Directors and Supervisory
       Board in breach of the provisions of Article 261 of the Law of
       Corporations, or even if within the limits provided by such Article 261,
       it violated market regulations relative to the compensation of
       technical-administrative activities performed by administrators of
       financial institutions comparable to the BANK in terms of deposits and/or
       volume of transactions or market share;

(v)    the representations and warranties made by the BANK in this Agreement
       were totally or partially false, inaccurate, incomplete or deceitful.;

(vi)   the BANK began bankruptcy or winding-up proceedings or was suspended by
       the Central Bank pursuant to the provisions of Law 21526 as amended,
       and Law

                                       16

<PAGE>

       24141, as amended, or was deprived of its assets by BCRA's Regulation in
       furtherance of the provisions of Article 35 bis of the Law of Financial
       Institutions;

(vii)  a significant portion of the properties and assets of the BANK suffered
       any inhibition, attachment or preliminary injunction and such measures
       were not cancelled within 5(five) Business Days as from the notice
       thereof;

(ix)   an action or administrative proceeding was brought against the BANK which
       eventual or possible result would compromise fulfillment of this
       Agreement by the BANK;

(x)    a portion of the assets thereof equal to five percent (5%) of the
       shareholder's equity, pursuant to the monthly balance sheet presented to
       the Central Bank immediately before the occurrence of any of the Events
       (as this term is defined in this paragraph), were (i) expropriated, (ii)
       transferred, or suffered any (iii) inhibition, (iv) attachment or (v)
       preliminary injunction or if it incurred in (vi) default in the payment
       of any debt incurred with any public or private, national or foreign
       organization, either a natural person or an artificial person (the events
       listed from (i) to (vi) above, the "Events") and such inhibition,
       attachment, preliminary injunction or default payment was not preliminary
       injunction within 30 (thirty) Business Days as from notice of declaration
       or creation thereof;

(xi)   significant amendments detrimental to the BANK's financial position were
       caused and the shareholder's equity thereof was reduced in more than 5%
       (five percent);

(xii)  changes were produced in applicable laws and regulations, rules and
       interpretation thereof, which at SEDESA's criteria, would cause the terms
       of the Loan to be illegal or excessively onerous, for any cause
       whatsoever; or

(xiii) the Meeting of Shareholders of the Bank decided in favor of any of the
       provisions set forth in Article 244, last paragraph, of the Law of
       Corporations.

THEN,

SEDESA, by written notice to the BANK, may demand from the BANK the payment of
all sums due under the Agreement. Upon reception of notice, the BANK shall
immediately pay the Loan, as well as the interest accrued therefrom and any
other amount that shall become enforceable pursuant to the terms and conditions
hereof.

ARTICLE 6.3. NOTICE OF AN ACCELERATION EVENT. If an Acceleration Event or a
Potential Acceleration Event occurred, the BANK shall immediately give notice to
SEDESA specifying the nature of such Acceleration Event or Potential
Acceleration Event, and the measures the BANK shall have taken to cure it. Under
no circumstance, shall this notice be understood as limiting or restricting or
extinguishing the right of SEDESA to

                                       17

<PAGE>

declare the expiration of the term of all obligations of the BANK pursuant to
the Agreement.

                           SECTION VII. MISCELLANEOUS.

ARTICLE 7.1. SPECIAL DOMICILES AND NOTICES. Every notice, request or any other
communication that should be submitted, granted or made under the Agreement,
shall be made in writing. Except as otherwise provided, said notice, request or
other communication may be delivered personally, by mail, registered letter or
any other reliable means addressed to the applicable Party's address set forth
below or any other address that such Party may duly indicate to the other.

To the BANK:

BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A.

Teniente General J. D. Peron 407,

City of Buenos Aires

Attention: Eduardo J. Zimmermann.

To SEDESA:

SEGURO DE DEPOSITOS SOCIEDAD ANONIMA

Avenida Corrientes No. 311 Piso 10(degree).

City of Buenos Aires.

Attention: Jose Carlos Jaime.

ARTICLE 7.2. EXPENSES. The BANK shall fully pay to SEDESA all costs and expenses
in which SEDESA should have incurred in relation to the execution of this
Agreement and the Promissory Notes.

ARTICLE 7.3. TERM OF THE AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall continue to be in force
until all sums payable there under be paid in full pursuant to the provisions
thereof.

                                       18

<PAGE>

ARTICLE 7.4. APPLICABLE LAW AND JURISDICTION. The validity, enforceability and
interpretation of this Agreement shall be exclusively governed by the laws of
the Republic of Argentina. The Parties hereto expressly agree that any
controversy, disagreement or claim relative to the interpretation and/or
application and/or execution of this Agreement, shall be submitted to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the national courts having jurisdiction in commercial
matters of the City of Buenos Aires, waiving any other venue or jurisdiction.

ARTICLE 7.5. NO-ASSIGNMENT. The BANK may not assign or delegate any of its
rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of
SEDESA. Any breach of this Article shall be void and ineffective.

ARTICLE 7.6. AMENDMENT. Any amendment to this Agreement shall be made in writing
and executed by both Parties.

ARTICLE 7.7. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement is entered into in two counterparts,
each of which shall constitute an original.

ARTICLE 7.8. REMEDIES AND WAIVER. Failure or Delay of SEDESA to exercise any
power, authority or any other right pursuant to this Agreement shall not
constitute a waiver or limitation to such right or any other right of SEDESA,
and the singular or partial exercise of such right shall not prevent the future
exercise thereof. None of said waivers shall constitute a waiver of any other
right pursuant to this Agreement. All waivers and consents granted under this
Agreement shall be in writing.

                                       19

<PAGE>

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement, per se, on the
date first above mentioned.

By: ___________________________

    BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A.

By: ___________________________

    Seguro de Depositos S.A. (SEDESA)

                                       20

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT 1.

                            DISBURSEMENT APPLICATION

                                       21

<PAGE>

                                               Buenos Aires,  _________,   2002.

Mr.
President of
SEGURO DE DEPOSITOS SOCIEDAD ANONIMA.
Jose Carlos Jaime.

RE.: COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITION PRECEDENT AND DISBURSEMENT APPLICATION.

Dear Sirs:

                                   We make reference to the Loan Agreement
entered into on March ___, 2002 by and between Seguro de Depositos Sociedad
Anonima as trustee of the Deposit Guaranty Fund (SEDESA) and Banco de Galicia y
Buenos Aires S.A. (the BANK) (the "Agreement"). All capitalized terms, words and
expressions defined herein shall have the same meanings assigned to such terms,
words and expressions in the Agreement.

                                   I - In this sense, and in order to provide
evidence of the Conditions Precedent by the BANK, we attach the following
documents:

1.     Certified copy of the Minutes of the Board of Directors of the Central
       Bank where said institution expressly authorizes the Regularization and
       Debt-Free Plan submitted by the BANK, showing a loan by SEDESA as Trustee
       of the Deposit Guaranty Fund.

2.     Certified copy of the Minutes of the Board of Directors and Meeting of
       Shareholders of the BANK authorizing the capitalization of debts and/or
       refinancing of the BANK's debts with certain creditors according to the
       provisions of the Regularization and Debt-Free Plan.

3.     Certified Copy of the Minutes of the Board of Directors of the Central
       Bank authorizing the capitalization of debts and/or capital contributions
       and/or refinancing by the BANK of the BANK's debts with certain creditors
       according to the provisions of the Regularization and Debt-Free Plan.

                                       22

<PAGE>

4.     Certified Copy of the Resolution of the National Securities Commission.
       authorizing the capitalization of debts and/or capital contributions
       and/or refinancing by the BANK of the BANK's debts with certain creditors
       according to the provisions of the Regularization and Debt-Free Plan.

5.     Auditor's Accounting Certification - with signature certified by the
       Professional Council of Economic Sciences of the City of Buenos Aires -
       by which the Auditors certify that the capitalization of debts and/or
       capital contributions and/or refinancing by the BANK of the BANK's debts
       with certain creditors according to the provisions of the Regularization
       and Debt-Free Plan have been effectively concluded and/or disbursed by
       the creditors and/or capital contributors.

6.     Auditor's Accounting Certification - with signature certified by the
       Professional Council of Economic Sciences of the City of Buenos Aires -
       by which the Auditors certify that the Mutual Fund for Bank Assistance
       (FFAB) and other financial institutions have effectively disbursed in
       favor of the BANK the contributions set forth in the Regularization and
       Debt-Free plan.

7.     Certified copy of the Minutes of the Board of Directors of the BANK and
       Supervisory Board of the BANK approved in the Agreement.

8.     Letter from the legal advisor of the BANK - with signature and legal
       capacity certified by Notary Public - addressed to the President of
       SEDESA where he expressed that since the date of execution of the
       Agreement to the date of the Disbursement Application (i) no Acceleration
       Event or Potential Acceleration event has occurred; (ii) no event has
       occurred that may be reasonable presumed to have a Substantial Adverse
       Effect on the Regularization and Debt-Free Plan, or on the commercial
       forecasts or financial position of the BANK; (iii) the BANK has not
       incurred in any loss or substantial liability; and (iv) Representations
       and warranties made in Section IV are true and correct.

                                   II - Having the BANK complied with the
Condition Precedent, we hereby request to SEDESA disbursement of the Loan.

                                   Sincerely,

BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A.

BY: __________________________________________

Authorized Representative

                                       23

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT 2.

                             FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE

                                       24

<PAGE>

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

U$S _____________

(United States Dollars _________)[FILL IN WITH THE AMOUNT OF THE LOAN OR THE
AMOUNT PAYABLE IN EACH INTEREST PERIOD, AS APPLICABLE]

Buenos Aires, _______ , 2002. [FILL IN WITH THE DISBURSEMENT DATE OR INTEREST
PAYMENT DATE, AS APPLICABLE]

I promise to unconditionally pay [FILL IN WITH THE LOAN EXPIRATION DATE OR THE
INTEREST PAYMENT DATE, AS APPLICABLE] and without protest to SEGURO DE DEPOSITOS
S.A. in its capacity as Trustee of the Deposit Guaranty Fund (hereinafter
"SEDESA"), or at its order, the amount of U$S ____________ (United States
Dollars ________) [FILL IN WITH THE AMOUNT OF THE LOAN OR THE AMOUNT THAT SHALL
BE PAID IN EACH INTEREST PERIOD, AS APPLICABLE] and only in that currency (cash
payment in foreign currency clause, third paragraph of article 44, decree law
5965/63).

BANK ________________________
Signature:
Name:
Position:
Address:

(Notarial Certification of identity and legal capacity of the signor)

                                       25

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT 3.

                                BANK'S COMPANIES

                                       26<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

                                     between

                          BANCO DE LA NACION ARGENTINA

       In its capacity as Trustee of the Fondo Fiduciario de Asistencia a
   Entidades Financieras y de Seguros [Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial
                      Institutions and Insurance Companies]

                                       and

                      BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A.

<PAGE>

                                 LOAN AGREEMENT

This agreement is entered into in the CITY OF BUENOS AIRES, on April 30, 2002
between BANCO DE LA NACION ARGENTINA, in its capacity as trustee of the Trust
Fund for Assistance to Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies created by
Decree No. 342/2000 and extended by Decree No. 465/2002, both issued by the
National Executive Branch, having its place of business at Bartolome Mitre 326,
City of Buenos Aires (hereinafter the "TRUSTEE"), herein represented by Mr.
Mario Carlos Bonino, and the financial institution BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS
AIRES S.A., establishing domicile for the purposes hereof at Tte. Gral Peron
407, City of Buenos Aires (hereinafter the "BANK"), herein represented by
Guillermo Juan Pando and Eduardo Antonio Fanciulli, in their capacities as
attorneys-in-fact.

WHEREAS

1.   On February 22, 2002, the Argentine Central Bank ordered the restructuring
     of the BANK in the terms of section 35 bis of the Financial Institutions
     Law, in order to protect the interests of depositors.

2.   On February 28, 2002, the BANK requested the Steering Committee of the
     Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies
     to extend the assistance originally requested on December 12, 2001, in
     order to build a solid capitalization and liquidity base within the
     restructuring process undertaken by the company in terms of liquidity and
     solvency.

2.   On March 21, 2002, the BANK filed the so called Galicia Capitalization and
     Liquidity Plan [Plan Galicia de Capitalizacion y Liquidez] (the
     "Restructuring Plan") with the Argentine Central Bank ("BCRA").

                                       2

<PAGE>

3.   The Steering Committee of the Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial
     Institutions and Insurance Companies resolved at its meetings held on March
     14, 2002, April 10, 2002 and April 22, 2002 to grant the BANK under the
     terms and conditions hereof, a loan in US Dollars equivalent to AR
     $100,000,000 (Argentine Pesos One Hundred Million), establishing that the
     loan was to be denominated in US Dollars as the obligations of the Trust
     Fund for Assistance to Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies with
     the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development were denominated
     in such currency.

THEREFORE, the parties have agreed to enter this Loan Agreement subject to the
following terms and conditions:

ONE

a) The TRUSTEE shall lend the BANK an amount in US Dollars equivalent to AR
$100,000,000 (Argentine Pesos One Hundred Million) (such US Dollar amount shall
be hereinafter referred to as the "Loan") at the reference exchange rate
disclosed by the BCRA on the exchange business day immediately preceding the
date of disbursement. The BANK shall use the Loan to strengthen its liquidity
position.

b) The actual disbursement on the Loan shall be subject to the fulfillment, at
the entire satisfaction of the TRUSTEE, of the following conditions precedent,
including delivery to the TRUSTEE of supporting documents evidencing such
compliance in a manner satisfactory to it:

         (i) That the BCRA shall have approved the Restructuring Plan. The BANK
must evidence such approval with a certified copy of the relevant BCRA
resolution.

         (ii) That the following financial assistance contemplated in the
Restructuring Plan shall have been granted: Cash contributions made by financial
institutions and SEDESA in an aggregate amount of AR $ 400,000,000 (Argentine
Pesos Four Hundred

                                       3

<PAGE>

Million), and Loan Agreement with SEDESA for AR $ 200,000,000 (Argentine Pesos
Two Hundred Million). The BANK must evidence the fulfillment of this condition
with a certified copy of the documents whereby the aforesaid assistance is
implemented.

         (iii) That the guarantees referred to in Section Three (the
"Guarantees") shall have been duly executed and all registrations and filings
with, and consents from, any applicable governmental entities, agencies and
officers, and third parties shall have been made or obtained when so necessary
and/or convenient for the execution and/or enforcement of the Guarantees granted
hereunder, and for the validity, applicability and/or enforcement thereof.

         (iv) That the BCRA shall have authorized the BANK to furnish any and
all the Guarantees, pursuant to the provisions of section 28 of the Financial
Companies Law, which authorization must be evidenced by the BANK with a
certified copy of the relevant BCRA resolution.

c) The TRUSTEE shall discharge its obligation by depositing the US Dollar amount
of the Loan in the account specified by the BANK with its New York Branch, or
else by depositing the amount of AR $100,000,000 (Argentine Pesos One Hundred
Million) equivalent to the US Dollar amount of the Loan, in Buenos Aires, in the
account specified by the BANK and as instructed by the BANK to the TRUSTEE. Such
deposit shall be made exclusively upon: (i) surrender to the TRUSTEE of a
promissory note in the form of Exhibit I, signed in the name and on behalf of
the BANK by the BANK's attorneys-in-fact with sufficient powers to such effect,
for an amount in US Dollars equivalent to that of the Loan; and (ii) the
issuance by the BANK of an acknowledgment of receipt in the form of Exhibit II.

TWO

The BANK agrees to repay the aggregate amount of the Loan in four consecutive
equal semiannual installments, the first one due 18 (eighteen) months after the
date of

                                       4

<PAGE>

disbursement. This means that each installment shall be equivalent to one-fourth
of the Loan.

If any date of principal payment falls on a non-business day, such payment may
be made on the immediately following business day, and no additional interest
shall be charged for such additional non-business days, except in case of the
last payment period, where interest shall accrue up to the date of actual
payment.

The BANK is permitted to make prepayments of this loan.

THREE

In order to secure the obligations assumed before the TRUSTEE under this
Agreement, prior to the disbursement of the Loan, the BANK will assign to the
TRUSTEE in trust the rights arising from its participation in the 2008 Global
fixed rate Secured Loans due on December 19, 2011 granted pursuant to provisions
of Decree No. 1387/2001 and related ones.

The outstanding principal amount of the Secured Loans assigned in trust must be
at least AR $125,000,000 (Argentine Pesos One Hundred and Twenty-five Million)
on the assignment date.

Without prejudice to the foregoing, after the trust assignment is made, the
value in pesos of the outstanding principal amount of the Secured Loans assigned
in trust, plus the moneys held by the trustee under the Trust Assignment, on
account of principal and interest paid on the Secured Loans assigned in trust,
must at all times be not less than the Peso equivalent of the amount of the Loan
plus the interest accrued thereon, at to the rate indicated in Section FIVE plus
a 20% (twenty per cent) margin [aforo]. The TRUSTEE shall verify compliance with
this ratio every calendar month and, if such ratio is not met at any time or if
the TRUSTEE reasonably determines in good faith that it is convenient to furnish
additional guaranties in order to secure the rights arising from

                                       5

<PAGE>

the Documents, and exclusively for such purposes, the TRUSTEE may request the
BANK to furnish new guarantees to the satisfaction of the TRUSTEE, and the BANK
agrees to perform at all times all necessary acts - including the execution of
documents and all steps as may be necessary - to create and perfect such
guarantees. It is expressly stated that the provisions of Section TEN will apply
in case the BANK fails to perform this obligation.

FOUR

Interest will accrue on the outstanding principal of the Loan at 180 (one
hundred and eighty)-day LIBOR plus 4 (four) per cent per annum and will be
payable semiannually in arrears. "LIBOR" means the London Interbank Offered Rate
for Eurodollar deposits. If at the time of determining the interest rate
appertaining to any interest period, the resulting amount of LIBOR plus 4 (four)
points were lower than 8.07% (eight point zero seven per cent) per annum,
interest shall accrue on the Loan during such period at a fixed rate of 8.07%
(eight point zero seven per cent) per annum. The LIBO rate shall be determined
by the New York Branch of Banco de la Nacion Argentina, 5 (five)-bank business
days before the commencement of each semiannual period. Interest shall be paid
semiannually, with the first installment being due on the date of the initial
disbursement.

If any date of interest payment falls on a non-business day, such payment may be
made on the immediately following business day, and no additional interest shall
be charged for such additional non-business days, except in case of the last
installment. Interest shall be calculated upon the basis of the days effectively
elapsed.

For each interest period and once the relevant interest rate has been calculated
in the manner described in the first part of this section FOUR, the TRUSTEE may,
at its exclusive discretion, request the BANK to issue a promissory note in US
Dollars for to the interest payable at the end of such period. The BANK's
refusal or failure to provide an answer, within a term of five days as from the
date it is given due notice by the

                                       6

<PAGE>

TRUSTEE of its request for promissory note, shall trigger the application of the
provisions of section TEN.

FIVE

The BANK shall make all principal, interest and other payments due and payable
hereunder, in New York, in US Dollars, in the account specified by the TRUSTEE.
However, as prescribed in section 643 and related provisions of the Civil Code
(on optional obligations), the BANK may, at its exclusive discretion, discharge
its obligation by paying in Buenos Aires, in the account specified by the
TRUSTEE, an amount in pesos equivalent to the amount owed in US Dollars,
calculated at the reference US Dollar exchange rate disclosed by the BCRA for
the business day immediately preceding each payment date; and, if there is no
such reference exchange rate, at the sale exchange rate US Dollar / Argentine
Peso in New York or Montevideo, whichever the higher, at the end of operations
on the business day immediately preceding each payment date. The Parties
represent that, in spite of the fact that these are optional obligations,
section 647 of the Civil Code shall under no circumstances apply, and therefore,
if due to regulatory matters, the BANK is prevented or impaired from making any
payment in US Dollars in New York, the TRUSTEE may demand payment in Buenos
Aires, in the account specified by the TRUSTEE, of an amount in Pesos equivalent
to the amount owed in US Dollars, at the reference US Dollar exchange rate
disclosed by the BCRA for the business day immediately preceding each payment
date; and if there is no such reference exchange rate, at the sale exchange rate
US Dollar / Argentine Peso in New York or Montevideo, whichever the higher, at
the end of operations on the business day immediately preceding each payment
date.

SIX

The BANK shall automatically be considered to be in default of its obligations
hereunder, upon the mere expiration of the terms or the occurrence of the events

                                       7

<PAGE>

indicated in section TEN hereof, without need of any judicial or extrajudicial
notice and, upon such default, the TRUSTEE shall be entitled to demand full
payment of all amounts due, pursuant to the provisions of the aforesaid section.
In case of default in the payment of principal and/or interest and/or any other
amount due in connection with this agreement, in addition to the agreed upon
interest, a default interest will be charged at rate equivalent to times two and
a half the interest agreed in section FOUR.

SIX

The BANK represents and warrants that:

a)   It is a company duly incorporated under the applicable laws, it has the
     necessary corporate power and authority to enter into its obligations under
     this Agreement and has obtained all authorizations, permits, consents and
     approvals required to such effect, and there is no legal or regulatory
     provision or restriction under a contract or the bylaws that may anyhow
     affect the execution or performance of this Agreement;

b)   Its obligations hereunder are valid and enforceable;

c)   The financial statements as September 30, 2001 audited by Harteneck, Lopez
     & Cia. and the other information furnished in due time to the Steering
     Committee of the Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial Institutions and
     Insurance Companies and to the BCRA for the pertinent credit analysis,
     present fairly the financial and economic condition of the BANK, and there
     have been no significant changes in its financial and economic situation as
     from such date;

d)   There are no litigation or contingencies other than those disclosed in the
     financial statements or duly informed in a written instrument whose receipt
     was acknowledged by a director of the Steering Committee of the Trust Fund
     for Assistance to Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies;

                                       8

<PAGE>

e)   The BANK has paid all applicable taxes, rates and assessments and social
     security contributions;

f)   It is not, by virtue of any contract or obligation of which it is a party
     or under which it may be bound, or any order, judgment or decree of any
     court, tribunal or governmental agency, be they national, provincial or
     municipal, in a position where the enforcement or outcome of any of the
     foregoing may affect the fulfillment of its obligations hereunder;

g)   It is not engaged in any litigation or administrative proceedings in any
     national, provincial or municipal court or administrative authority, the
     pendency or outcome of which may affect the fulfillment its obligations
     hereunder; and

h)   To the best of its knowledge, it is not threatened with foreclosure and
     there is no possibility that the present value of its assets may decrease
     as a result of any foreclosure or condemnation, in any case in a manner
     that may adversely affect its financial ability to fulfil its obligations
     hereunder.

EIGHT

During the life of this agreement, the BANK agrees:

a)   Not to distribute any dividend to its shareholders;

b)   Not to acquire any shareholding in other companies or entities, or increase
     its current shareholdings, in violation of the provisions of Communique "A"
     3086 of the BCRA or the communique that may replace or amend it, without
     the prior authorization of the Steering Committee of the Trust Fund for
     Assistance to Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies;

                                       9

<PAGE>

c)   To comply with the minimum capital requirements prescribed by the BCRA plus
     an additional minimum margin of 10% (ten per cent);

d)   To comply with the minimum liquidity requirements or equivalent provisions
     prescribed by the BCRA for the BANK;

e)   Not to engage on its own account or on account of third parties in any
     commercial, industrial, agricultural or other business;

f)   To deliver to the TRUSTEE the quarterly and annual audited balance sheets
     within five (5) days as from the date they are filed with the BCRA; to
     deliver on a quarterly basis to the TRUSTEE, together with the aforesaid
     financial statements, an annual cash flow projection in the manner
     prescribed by the BCRA regulations. If based on the aforesaid
     documentation, the TRUSTEE verifies a reduction in the payment capacity as
     compared to that existing at the execution of this agreement, and such
     situation remains unvaried during two consecutive quarters prior to the
     date of the TRUSTEE's analysis of the aforesaid documents, and the
     projection for the third quarter being analyzed by the TRUSTEE shows the
     continuance of the downward trend, the TRUSTEE may demand the full payment
     of all amounts due as of such date;

g)   To punctually pay all national, provincial and municipal taxes, rates and
     assessments imposed on it, both in the country and abroad, and the relevant
     social security contributions;

h)   To maintain margins within the limits set forth in the projections
     submitted by the BANK, if and always provided the market conditions remain
     similar to those prevailing at the time of the execution of this agreement.
     In case of a significant variation of such conditions, the BANK may modify
     the margins, with the prior written approval of the Steering Committee of
     the Trust Fund for Assistance to

                                       10

<PAGE>

     Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies, which approval may not be
     unreasonably withheld; and

i)   Not to make any capital reduction.

NINE

The Steering Committee of the Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial
Institutions and Insurance Companies shall be at all times entitled to access,
and the BANK will immediately permit it to access, to the corporate and
accounting books of the BANK, as well as to any information that such Steering
Committee may deem necessary at its discretion and it will appoint one or more
professionals to carry out such work. The BANK must permit access to the persons
appointed by the Steering Committee of the Trust Fund for Assistance to
Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies and facilitate them all premises,
documentation and elements necessary for the performance of their work. If the
BANK fails to comply with the aforementioned obligations, Section TEN on events
of default will apply. The information so obtained or disclosed will be
confidential and may not be disclosed to third parties; except for the
information that for the nature thereof is designed to be of common knowledge
and the information required to be disclosed by the BCRA in exercise of its
powers.

TEN

The Loan herein agreed shall be terminated without any liability for the TRUSTEE
or the Steering Committee of the Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial
Institutions and Insurance Companies or its successor, without the BANK being
entitled to any claim in this respect against the TRUSTEE or the Steering
Committee of the Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial Institutions and
Insurance Companies or its successor, with the TRUSTEE, the Steering Committee
of the Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial Institutions and Insurance
Companies or its successor being released from their

                                       11

<PAGE>

commitments hereunder, with all obligations that have not been automatically
accelerated being accelerated by operation of law, and with the Loan, the
interest thereon and any other additional amount becoming immediately due and
payable without need of any judicial or extrajudical notice or demand, upon the
occurrence of any of the following events:

a) if the BANK fails to comply with: (i) the representations and warranties
contained in Section SEVEN or if any such representations and warranties are
found to be untrue; (ii) the commitments assumed in Section EIGHT; (iii) any of
its obligations hereunder, particularly the payment when due of interest and/or
principal, (iv) any of its obligations contemplated in the Guarantee documents;
or (v) the use of funds prescribed in Section ONE hereof;

b) if after the execution of this agreement: (i) the BANK goes into liquidation
or is dissolved; (ii) its banking license is cancelled by the BCRA; (iii) a
substantial part of its assets are condemned, transferred or affected by any
restraining order, attachment or precautionary measure and/or (iv) it defaults
on its payment obligations with respect to any state-owned or privately owned
national or foreign entity, any financial institution or any individual or legal
person, in an amount that, individually or together with other unpaid
obligations, exceeds US$5,000,000 (United States Dollars Five Million) and such
restraining order, attachment or precautionary measure is not lifted within 5
(five) business days after the issuance thereof or such default is not remedied
within like term after the BANK is formally made a defaulting debtor;

c) if the BANK pledges or encumbers assets for which the prior authorization of
the BCRA is required under Section 28 of Law 21,526, as amended, in favor of
other present or future creditors, granting them rights more senior than those
of the TRUSTEE, without the authorization of the Steering Committee of the Trust
Fund for Assistance to Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies;

                                       12

<PAGE>

d) if the BANK sells or otherwise transfers its assets for purposes not included
within the normal course of business;

e) if any material legal or administrative proceedings that may adversely affect
the fulfillment of this loan agreement, are commenced against the BANK; in which
case the BANK must inform such circumstance to the TRUSTEE within twenty-four
hours after having gained knowledge of it;

f) if the BCRA suspends the BANK or subjects it to a restructuring process
within the scope of section 35 bis of the Financial Institutions Law, or a
petition is filed with any administrative or judicial court, seeking the
liquidation or bankruptcy of the BANK, and such petition is not withdrawn or
dismissed within a term of 30 (thirty) days or if the BANK institutes
proceedings to be liquidated or seeks any judicial or extrajudicial agreement
with its creditors. It is expressly stated that, in connection with the
application of this subsection, the BANK's elegibility in the terms of section
35 bis of the Financial Institutions Law that empowers it to continue doing
business, shall not be considered as a ground for termination. Without prejudice
to this, any subsequent falling of the BANK under any of the provisions of the
aforesaid section 35 bis, shall be considered as a ground for termination of
this Agreement.

g) if there is any change in the applicable laws or regulations or their
implementation or construction, which, at the TRUSTEE's discretion, may render
unlawful or extremely burdensome the maintenance of the terms of the Loan for
any reason whatsoever;

h) if the BANK fails to comply with any of the obligations set forth in Section
FOURTEEN and/or, in general, with any of the obligations set forth in the
Documents (as defined in Section FOURTEEN);

i) if the BANK fails to comply with the TRUSTEE's demand to make promissory
notes as stated in section FOUR;

                                       13

<PAGE>

j) if the BANK fails to meet the following goals set forth in the projection
submitted by it to the Steering Committee of the Trust Fund for Assistance to
Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies -that is attached as Exhibit III
and made an integral part hereof:

         (i)  Comply with the Minimum Liquidity Requirements or equivalent
              provisions prescribed by the BCRA for the BANK, and

         (ii) To maintain margins within the limits set forth in the projections
              submitted by the BANK, if and always provided the market
              conditions remain similar to those prevailing at the time of the
              execution of this agreement. In case of a significant variation of
              such conditions, the BANK may modify the margins, with the prior
              written approval of the Steering Committee of the Trust Fund for
              Assistance to Financial Institutions and Insurance Companies,
              which approval may not be unreasonably withheld.

k) if the assets granted as Guarantee do not provide sufficient security, at the
TRUSTEE's discretion, for the BANK's obligations under the Documents, and the
BANK fails to replace or strengthen the guarantee or to pay a cash amount
equivalent to such impairment, within 7 (seven) days after notice thereof is
given by the TRUSTEE;

l) if there are significant changes that adversely affect the financial
condition of the BANK.

ELEVEN

The obligations arising from this Agreement must be implemented and the
disbursements thereunder must made within a term of 180 days (one hundred and
eighty) days counted as from the date the BANK is given notice of the Loan
approval by

                                       14

<PAGE>

the Steering Committee of the Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial
Institutions and Insurance Companies.

TWELVE

The BANK shall pay all national, provincial or municipal taxes, fines, rates,
expenses or fees arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, as well as
the fees and legal expenses of the TRUSTEE. If the amounts due in the aforesaid
respects shall have been determined at the time of the Loan disbursement, they
shall be deducted from the amount to be disbursed. The BANK agrees to make the
necessary disbursements to make all future payments required under this section,
until the full discharge of all obligations arising out or in connection with
this Agreement and the guarantees referred to in Section THREE. Together with
any interest payment, the BANK shall pay to the TRUSTEE all necessary additional
amounts so that it receives the full amount of the agreed upon interest, as if
no tax withholding has been made in accordance with the tax laws.

THIRTEEN

No change due to capital increases or reductions, term extensions, loan renewal,
payment deferral, alteration of payment terms or otherwise, shall produce a
novation, and all guarantees furnished under Section THREE shall continue in
full force and effect. It is expressly agreed that, if due to the circumstances
of any particular case, a novation is deemed to have existed, all guarantees
furnished shall continue in full force and effect, since the TRUSTEE expressly
reserves the right to such survival (sections 803 and 804 of the Civil Code).

FOURTEEN

As long as any of BANK's obligations hereunder and under the Guarantee documents
(this agreement and the aforesaid documents, hereinafter jointly referred to as
the

                                       15

<PAGE>

"Documents") remain outstanding, the BANK shall have the following obligations
with respect to the assigned Secured Loans:

(i) at any time and at its own expense, it must execute and deliver all
instruments and documents and take all steps as may be necessary for the
perfection and protection of any obligation assumed or deemed to be assumed in
the Documents or to permit the TRUSTEE to exercise or enforce any of its rights
and claims under the Documents;

(ii) it shall not create or permit the existence of any kind of lien or security
on the assigned Secured Loans and/or any other asset furnished as collateral
hereunder and/or any kind of lien and/or title restriction thereon, without the
prior written consent of the TRUSTEE; and

(iii) lift any attachment or other precautionary measure levied on the assigned
Secured Loans in the first procedural opportunity available.

FIFTEEN

In case of any judicial complaint, the parties submit themselves to the
jurisdiction of the Federal Courts in Civil and Commercial Matters for the City
of Buenos Aires, hereby expressly waiving any other venue or jurisdiction that
may correspond, and for such purposes, the BANK establishes domicile at Tte.
Gral. Peron 407, City of Buenos Aires, and the TRUSTEE at Bartolome Mitre 326,
City de Buenos Aires, where all judicial and extrajudicial notices in connection
with this agreement and the loan granted hereunder shall be deemed duly served.

In witness whereof, the Parties sign two counterparts of the same tenor and to
only one effect.

                                       16

<PAGE>

BANK

By:

Name:  Eduardo Antonio Fanciulli                         Guillermo Juan Pando

Title: Attorney-in-fact                                  Attorney-in-fact

TRUSTEE

By:

Name:  Mario Carlos Bonino

Title: Department Manager

                                       17

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT 1

                             FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE

                                       18

<PAGE>

                             FORM OF PROMISSORY NOTE

PROMISSORY NOTE

US$ [amount of the Loan].-______________

(US Dollars [____])

                                                  Buenos Aires, ________________

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, I promise to pay unconditionally AT SIGHT AND WITHOUT
PROTEST to, or to the order of, BANCO DE LA NACION ARGENTINA in its capacity as
Trustee of the Trust Fund for Assistance to Financial Institutions and Insurance
Companies, the amount of US$ [amount of the Loan] (US Dollars [____]). Said
payment shall be made exclusively in US Dollars (cash payment in foreign
currency clause, third paragraph of section 44, Decree Law 5.965/63) to BANCO DE
LA NACION ARGENTINA.

This Promissory Note must be surrendered for payment not later than three years
and six months after its date of issuance. The place of payment shall be Tte.
Gral. Peron 407, City of Buenos Aires.

The stamp tax as well as any other taxes, rates, fines, charges, expenses and
fees arising out or in connection with this Promissory Note shall be borne by
BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A.

BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A.:

By        _______________

Name

Title

Domicile

                                       19

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT II

                        FORM OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT

                                       20

<PAGE>

FORM OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT

Buenos Aires,

To: Banco de la Nacion Argentina

Dear Sirs,

BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A. represents that, in connection with the
Loan Agreement dated [____] (the "Agreement") entered into between such bank and
the Trustee, as defined therein, it received at its entire satisfaction, the
amount of US$ [amount of the Loan] (United States Dollars [____]), [through the
deposit of AR $100,000,000 (Argentine Pesos One Hundred Million) that is the
peso equivalent to such amount (if applicable)] corresponding to the Loan
specified in Section One of the Agreement, the receipt of which is hereby
acknowledged.

                      BANCO DE GALICIA Y BUENOS AIRES S.A.

By:

Name:

Title:

                                       21

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT III

                                BANK PROJECTIONS

                                       22

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