Banco Macro Announces Results for the First Quarter of 2008

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, May 8  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Banco Macro S.A. (NYSE: BMA; Buenos Aires: BMA) ("Banco Macro" or "BMA") announced today its results for the first quarter period ended March 31, 2008 ("1Q08").  All figures are in Argentine pesos (Ps.) and have been prepared in accordance with Argentine GAAP.

  SUMMARY

  - The Bank's net income totalled Ps.151.6 million.  This result was 23%,
    or Ps.28.4 million higher than 1Q07's Ps.123.2 million. The annualized
    1Q08 ROAE and ROAA were 22.0% and 3.0%, respectively.
  - The Bank's net financial income was Ps.354.9 million, increasing 37%
    year to year ("YoY").  Operating income of Ps.177.7 million rose 27%
    YoY.
  - Banco Macro's financing to the private sector showed an attractive
    growth of 52% YoY, or Ps.3.3 billion and 4% QoQ, or Ps.342 million.
    Personal loans, which represent a strategic product for the Bank, once
    again led private loan portfolio growth. This product grew 10% QoQ and
    100% YoY.
  - Total deposits grew 7%, or Ps.961.4 million QoQ, totalling
    Ps.14.5 billion and representing 78% of the Bank's liabilities.
    Quarterly deposit growth was led by private sector CDs (13%).
  - Banco Macro continued showing a strong solvency ratio, with an excess
    capital of Ps.1.83 billion (27.3% capitalization ratio). In addition,
    the Bank's liquid assets remained at a high level, reaching 55.2% of
    total deposits.
  - The Bank's non-performing loans to total loans ratio was 1.99% and the
    coverage ratio reached 128.3%.



A longer version of this press release with detailed information is available on our web site: http://www.macro.com.ar/

QUARTERLY CONFERENCE CALL

A conference call to discuss this press release will be held on May 9, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. Buenos Aires time (11:00 a.m., New York time), with the presence of Jorge Pablo Brito (Member of the Executive Committee), Guillermo Stanley (Board Member), Guillermo Goldberg (Deputy General Manager), and Jorge Scarinci (Financial and Investor Relations Manager).  Dial in information:

                     [phone] (Within the U.S.)
                    [phone] (Outside the U.S.)
                          Conference ID: 2971848

  INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS:

  In Buenos Aires:
  Jorge Scarinci, CFA
  Head of Investor Relations and Finance Manager
  Tel: [phone]
  E-mail: 
  Visit the Bank's website at http://www.macro.com.ar/

DATASOURCE: Banco Macro S.A.



CONTACT: In Buenos Aires, Jorge Scarinci, CFA, Head of Investor Relations

and Finance Manager, Banco Macro, +011-5411-5222-6730,





Web site:  http://www.macro.com.ar/ 

Copyright