FRANKFURT (Standard&Poor's) Nov. 10, 2003--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today it considers the approval of a detailed framework (Verbundkonzept) for a system of solidarity and closer cooperation between Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale (Helaba; AA+/Negative/A-1+) and the savings banks in the two German states of Hesse and Thuringia as a positive move to reposition and strengthen the participating banks in the lead-up to the forthcoming abolition of state guarantees. The approval by the members of the Savings Banks and Giro Association of Hesse-Thuringia (SGVHT) on Nov. 6, 2003, does not affect current ratings on Helaba. This is because current ratings continue to be based on the support Helaba receives from the State of Hesse (Hesse; AA+/Stable/A-1+) via the maintenance