Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Signs JCB Card Issuing License

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Signs JCB Card Issuing License

Further enhances JCB brand in China with a global-scale commercial bank

Tokyo, November 11, 2008–JCB, Japan’s only international payment brand, and its international subsidiary, JCB International, signed an issuing license agreement today with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). Aiming for launch in 2009, JCB and ICBC will begin to develop credit card products with functions and services targeting the Chinese consumer. Since 1982, JCB has been pursuing business alliances with banks and financial institutions including Bank of China to increase convenience in China.. Now, ten Chinese partner banks and financial institutions conduct JCB merchant acquiring license business, and approximately 70,000 merchants across the nation accept JCB card for payment.

As the China market represents enormous growth potential for the credit card business, JCB has started to promote JCB card issuance for Chinese consumers. Six JCB licensee banks in China, Bank of China, Bank of Shanghai, China Everbright Bank, China Merchants Bank, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, and China Minsheng Banking Corp., Ltd. have now issued approximately 1.8 million JCB cards to residents of the country. ICBC is one of the largest commercial banks in the world, ranking first in the world in total assets, and first in China in the number of credit cards issued. ICBC and JCB entered into an acquiring partnership in 1991 to enhance the JCB merchant network.

ICBC’s nationwide branch and customer network will accelerate JCB card issuance, further enhancing the JCB cardmember base, and building a stronger presence in China for JCB as an international brand. For ICBC, in turn, partnering with the only Japanese international credit card brand will expand its customer service and create additional value in its product lineup.

JCB is looking forward to building new alliances with leading banks and business partners to further expand the JCB cardmember base and JCB card acceptance network, providing more convenience and service to JCB customers around the world.

About JCB

JCB is a major global payment brand and leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its merchant network includes 12.32 million merchants and spans 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 19 countries and territories, with more than 59.78 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with more than 350 leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, visit: http://www.jcbcorporate.com/english.

Note: figures are as of the end of March 2008.

Contacts

North America & Europe:
Deb Montner
1-203-226-9290
dmontner@montner.com

Japan, China and Asia:
Kazumi Kinoshita, Supervisor
International Strategy Planning JCB Co., Ltd.
+81-3-5778-8390
kazumi.kinoshita@jcb.co.jp