Tokyo, June 3, 2004 - JCB, a leading international payment brand, will be providing a new kind of wholesale credit solution for Onishi Clothing in Osaka, Japan, in cooperation with Taiwan's E. Sun Bank (ESB). From June, clothing buyers from Taiwan will be able to use the Onishi E. Sun JCB Card to purchase stock for their retail outlets from Onishi Clothing. JCB is working with partners throughout Asia to encourage the use of the JCB card in Japan by cardmembers across the region. JCB plans to actively market this solution to other Japanese businesses serving overseas customers.

JCB's new international solution begins with ESB issuing an Onishi E. Sun JCB Card to the wholesale buyer in Taiwan, with a line of credit based on the creditworthiness of the retail business, higher than the usual individual line of credit. Under this new scheme, the buyer can then purchase stock at Onishi Clothing with the JCB card. The sales transactions and associated funds settlement are processed through JCB's international payment network, with E. Sun Bank invoicing the cardmember in the local currency.

"Onishi's customers from Taiwan will now have the convenience of paying by card, and the grace period inherent in credit payment, as well as other JCB services and advantages including wide acceptability throughout Japan", commented Takashi Konno, General Manager of JCB Solution Business Department in Osaka. "Above all, the new Onishi E. Sun JCB Card will give cardmembers more security and peace of mind," he added.

The primarily cash-basis wholesaler offers a house card to retailers located in Japan, but in recent years sales to buyers from other Asian countries has grown significantly. Until now these customers have had to pay in cash, as they did not qualify for Onishi's house card because they did not live in Japan. Overseas buyers have faced an increasing security risk as they have had to carry large amounts of cash to conduct their business in Japan. JCB's wholesale credit solution offers a safer alternative for payment of sales transactions.

JCB estimates sales volumes of new products using this solution to reach 200 million yen in the first year, rising to 500 million yen, about 4.5 million US dollars, after three years. JCB is confident that businesses serving Asian and other customers from outside Japan will be eager to adopt this new solution.

Onishi Clothing is Japan's largest clothing wholesaler, and has been operating from Osaka's famous Senba textile district since 1954. For more information about Onishi Clothing, please visit www.self.co.jp. (Japanese only)

About E. Sun Bank
E.SUN Bank (ESB) originated in 1989 and is named after Yushan (Jade Mountain), Taiwan's highest and most beautiful peak. ESB offers its clients upright and sound management, cordial and sophisticated service and pragmatic enterprise responsibility. ESB particularly emphasizes cultivation of professional financial staff, development of a strong capability in information technology and the realization of leadership upholding "teamwork, harmony and happiness", and a corporate culture epitomizing "contentment, appreciation and gratitude" as the foundations of a sustainable enterprise.
Both E.SUN Bank and its Chairman have been awarded the National Quality Award. E.SUN intends to be the role model in the industry, to pursue perfection, to embrace the idea of life long learning, and to accumulate the capital of wisdom. For more information, please visit E. Sun Bank website at: www.esunfhc.com.tw/eng/.

About JCB Co., Ltd.
JCB is an international credit card brand and the largest 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 11.4 million merchants and spans 189 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with 49.6 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 Co. Ltd. home page at: www.jcb-global.com/english or www.jcbinternational.com.