Tokyo, July 13 2004 - JCB, a leading international payment brand, has launched the JCB Living Plus, a new card product with no annual fees and a loyalty point bonus system, to customers in the Kansai area who may have the card billed for utilities and other similar monthly payments. Applications for the new card product will be accepted for a limited time only, from 1 July to 31 December 2004.

The JCB Living Plus Card is part of JCB's vision to expand the credit card payment market in Japan from its present traditional focus on travel and entertainment expenses and high-ticket purchases by targeting daily living expenses that have traditionally been paid in cash or by bank transfer. Electricity, gas, telephone and internet provider service charges are prime candidates, followed by the smaller amount payment market including convenience and grocery store purchases, public transport fares and medical service payments.

"We have chosen this area, Kansai, to conduct this trial, as this is an area where the infrastructure for credit card payment for public utilities is well established, but where credit card usage by consumers is low compared to other areas in Japan. So it presents an exceptional business opportunity to expand the market", said Mr. Manabu Fujitsuka, Supervisor of Membership Recruitment & Promotion Department at JCB. "We are analyzing the customers' needs and their use of this credit card, and that information is good material for JCB's market research", he added.

The JCB Living Plus card packages payment options for Kansai Electric Power and Osaka Gas along with major telecommunications service providers including NTT DoCoMo and KDDI, and pay-TV providers WOWOW and Sky Perfect TV. JCB has established a dedicated customer support unit, the Living Support Desk, to help customers with the process of converting these expenses to credit card payment.

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 11.7 million merchants and spans 189 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with 51.6 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 and 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.