LONDON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - FCE Bank Plc, a British-based financing unit of U.S. automaker Ford (F.N: Quote, Profile, Research), plans to sell a benchmark-sized 5-year fixed-rate euro bond soon, an official at one of the lead managers said on Tuesday.

BNP Paribas, HSBC and Royal Bank of Scotland are lead managers.

FCE Bank Plc holds a B+ credit rating from Standard & Poor's and an equivalent B1 rating from Moody's Investors Service, both four notches below investment grade. Fitch Ratings rates it one notch lower, at B.