Stronger JCB acceptance network in Vietnam significantly increases JCB cardmembers convenience

Tokyo, November 24, 2009–JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB, the only international payment brand from Japan, announced that Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietin Bank), one of the largest credit card acquiring banks in Vietnam, today started to facilitate JCB credit card acceptance in Vietnam based on the agreement signed by both parties in December 2007. The arrangement includes enabling JCB cardmembers to use their JCB credit cards for purchases at approximately 3,500 Vietin Bank merchants by March 2011.

JCB and JCBI have been building acquiring license agreements in Vietnam since first signing with Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam in 1991, followed by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited and United Overseas Bank Limited in 1998. As credit card market potential has expanded backed by Vietnam’s strong economic growth after the country joined the WTO in 2007, JCBI has been actively partnering with a number of banks including Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank, Dong A Commercial Joint Stock Bank, and Sai Gon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank.

According to the Vietnam tourist bureau, the number of Japanese visiting Vietnam grew 21% in the last three years, from 320,000 in 2005 to 390,000 in 2008. With multiple world heritage sites, including Vinh Ha Long and Hue, as well as acting as a gateway to Angkor Wat in neighboring Cambodia, Vietnam’s attraction as a tourist destination will continue to mark stable growth in the future.

JCB entered this partnership with the aim of increasing convenience both for tourists from all over the world and for the increasing number of employees of subsidiaries of Japanese companies residing in Vietnam, while Vietin Bank aims to enhance services for their merchants by accepting JCB, the credit card brand with a growing cardmember base in Asia.

Mr. Tsuyoshi Notani, Managing Director of JCB International (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said, “Vietnam will continue to be an important market for JCB and JCBI in terms of JCB Card acceptance. In order to enhance the JCB merchant network, we have been building and strengthening alliances with leading banks and financial institutions in Vietnam. I am extremely pleased that Vietin Bank, one of the largest merchant acquiring banks in Vietnam, today started to facilitate JCB Card acceptance at their merchants. I believe this will further increase the level of cardmember convenience throughout Vietnam, especially popular tourist sites such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Min City”.

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 acceptance network includes 12.8 million merchants and over a million cash advance locations in 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with more than 60.97 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: JCB statistics included in About JCB are as of the end of March 2009.