Tokyo, November 21, 2003 - JCB Co. Ltd., the international payment brand, has announced the launch of its new internet authentication program, J/Secure™. The new program adds an important password identification step to the traditional online shopping process, verifying the identity of the person entering the card information. In this way, J/Secure™ will provide JCB customers with greater security in their credit card payments, and enhance confidence in card payments over the internet. In addition, J/Secure™ technology is conveniently implemented, and is compliant with the 3-D Secure™ protocol.

J/Secure™ benefits not only JCB cardmembers, but the market as a whole. Merchants conventionally require only a credit card number and other limited information for online shopping, leaving them at risk of unauthorized card use and third-party fraud. However with the J/Secure™ service, merchants too can increase their level of confidence in Internet sales.

"By increasing security and reliability, J/Secure™ will build customer confidence in credit card payments on the Internet, and will contribute to boosting and expanding the e-commerce market," said Masahiro Omoto, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Head of Advanced Technologies Department. "While real merchants obtain the cardmember's signature as evidence of a face-to-face transaction, J/Secure™ has now enhanced the security of online credit card payments by enabling online merchants and acquirers to have proof of online shopping," says Omoto.

In addition, merchants can implement J/Secure™ relatively simply. Several vendors are already prepared to provide J/Secure™ software and many others are developing J/Secure™ solutions that will have been carefully tested by JCB.

"We are focusing our energy on expanding the market for e-commerce as a whole by promoting J/Secure™, and encouraging our partners to adopt its use," says Omoto. In creating an ever-more secure environment, reducing card fraud and building consumer and merchant confidence, JCB expects to support an increase in the volume of sales and transactions over the Internet.

About JCB Co., Ltd.
JCB is an international credit card brand and the largest card issuer/acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding overseas in 1981. Its merchant network includes 10.93 million merchants and spans 189 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with 48.4 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with more than 320 leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. JCB's corporate philosophy of "Service from the heart", a commitment to responsive, high-quality service, continues to guide it as it creates the future together with its customers, merchants and partners. For further information, please visit the JCB International homepage at http://www.jcbinternational.com.