Grupo Elektra Receives Authorization to Operate Banco Azteca in Honduras

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Grupo Elektra, S.A. de C.V. (BMV: ELEKTRA*) (Latibex: XEKT), Latin America's leading specialty retailer, consumer finance and banking services company, announced today that it obtained an authorization from the local Comision Nacional de Bancos y Seguros (Banking and Insurance National Commission) to operate Banco Azteca in Honduras.

The authorization represents the third license granted to Grupo Elektra to operate a bank in Central America -- in addition to Panama and Guatemala -- and it is a vote of confidence in the successful business model that Banco Azteca has developed in the countries where it operates.

Banco Azteca Honduras will positively complement the operations of the commercial division of the company in that country, and it is an important step in Grupo Elektra's solid expansion strategy.

The bank will give access to financial services to thousands of families from the mass market in Honduras and will have a positive impact on the economic activity of the communities where it operates, as well as on the living standards of service users.

Company Profile:

Grupo Elektra (http://www.grupoelektra.com.mx/) is Latin America's leading specialty retailer, consumer finance and banking services company. The Group operates more than 1,000 stores in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and Panama. Grupo Elektra also sells and markets its consumer finance, banking and financial products and services through approximately 1,500 Banco Azteca branches located within its stores, as a stand-alone, and in other channels in Mexico and Panama. Banking and financial services include loans, electronic money transfer services, extended warranties, demand deposits, pension-fund management, insurance, and credit information services. Grupo Elektra is a member company of Grupo Salinas (http://www.gruposalinas.com/), a group of dynamic, fast-growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, building the Mexican middle class, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas, Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies.

Investor Relations Dinorah Macias Grupo Elektra S.A. de C.V. Tel. [phone] Fax. [phone] Rangel Grupo Salinas Tel. [phone] Fax [phone] Relations Tristan Canales Grupo Salinas Tel. [phone] McCosh Grupo Salinas Tel. [phone]