EXHIBIT 23(a)





                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and to the
use of our report dated January 18, 2002 (except for Note 13 for which the date
is February 18, 2002, and Notes 1(p) and 25 for which the date is September 30,
2002) on the consolidated financial statements of Banco Santiago included in the
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement (on Form F-4) and related
Prospectus of Banco Santander - Chile (formerly Banco Santiago) for the
registration of its Exchange Offer to exchange US$1,000 in principal amount of
its notes due 2012 and a U.S. dollar amount in cash for each US$1,000 in
principal amount of its 7% subordinated notes due 2007.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports on the
consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2000 and 2001 and for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2001 of Banco Santiago dated
January 18, 2002 (except for notes 13, 21, 23, 24, 27 and 30, for which the date
is February 18, 2002) and Banco Santander - Chile dated January 18, 2002 (except
for Notes 22, 23 and 26 for which the date is May 28, 2002) included in the
respective Annual Reports (Form 20-F) for 2001 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

ERNST & YOUNG LIMITADA                                    /s/ Ernst & Young

Santiago, Chile December 10, 2002