LONDON (Standard&Poor's CreditWire) June 28, 1999--Standard&Poor's today assigned its double-'A' long-term counterparty credit and certificate of deposit ratings to Lloyds TSB Bank PLC (formerly Lloyds Bank PLC, with the name changed to Lloyds TSB Bank PLC effective June 28, 1999). Standard&Poor's also affirmed Lloyds TSB Bank's 'A-1'-plus short-term counterparty credit, certificate of deposit, and commercial paper ratings. The outlook is stable. The ratings on Lloyds TSB reflect the bank's excellent profitability, satisfactory capitalization, and the strength of its franchise in U.K. retail banking and other financial services. The franchise has been further strengthened by the acquisition of Cheltenham&Gloucester PLC (C&G), the merger of Lloyds Bank with the TSB Group PLC (TSB), and
