Tokyo, September 1, 2004 - JCB, a leading international credit card brand, is happy to announce the launch of the Wacoal I-Card, a Java platform smart card, in cooperation with E. Sun Bank and Taiwan Wacoal Corp. (Wacoal), a major Japanese apparel company.

The Wacoal smart cards issued by E. Sun Bank provide credit payment function through JCB's EMV-compliant application J/SmartTM on Java Card platform. The card is the first to carry Taiwan's National Credit Card Center's own chip-based loyalty program. The loyalty program lets cardmembers earn points at more than 200 Wacoal merchants throughout Taiwan.

"The Taiwan credit card market is mature, and most people have several cards to their name, so we have to dream up something more attractive. This card is mainly targeted at women because it offers unique beauty and a more pleasant shopping experience. Above all, we are very happy to tie-up with major companies such as E. Sun Bank and Wacoal", said Mr. Osamu Hino, General Manager of JCB International (Taiwan). "With our significant experience and expertise, JCB is active in promoting card issuance and forming alliances with many different partners here in Taiwan. This is one card that can make the most of the business opportunity in this competitive market."

The new Wacoal I-Card motif puts the emphasis on the woman as an individual, with appealing catch phrases including "I can choose", "I can have", "I can enjoy". The card offers a progressive cashback scheme and a generous point program. In fact, for the first three months the cardmember is rewarded with up to NTD 300 in discounts on purchases, and triple points on the first three purchases. The new Wacoal card has other unique features such as an innovative design and a sensor measuring the strength of ultraviolet exposure, targeting in particular the attention and concerns of young women, who tend to be sensitive about protecting their skin.

JCB International has been actively promoting card issuance in Taiwan, a strategically important market for expanding the cardmember base in Asia. Starting with the first JCB smart card in 1999, JCB has been aggressive in developing a wide range of multi-functioned chip cards. JCB anticipates the growth in its cards base and the sales volume with the new Wacoal I-Card.

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 the E Sun Bank website at: www.esunfhc.com.tw/en

About Taiwan Wacoal
Since its foundation in 1970 Taiwan Wacoal's honest and responsible attitude towards customers has earned not only trust from customers, but also the respect of those in the same field. To maintain a leading position, Wacoal focuses on the future with initiatives in quality improvement, technology enhancement, new management, marketing, production line, equipment upgrades, environmental safety, and labor savings. Internally, Taiwan Wacoal is building one big happy family; externally, it is providing complete customer service, while maintaining a sharp vision and an attitude of "be new", "be creative" and "be precise" for the innovations necessary to stay the market leader. Wacoal is the name leading beauty for modern women of the world. For more information about Taiwan Wacoal, please visit www.wacoal.com.tw.

About National Credit Card Center (NCCC)
NCCC, organized in 1983, is Taiwan's largest credit card processing center. Over the years the Center has not only committed itself to developing initiative businesses and to expanding card product functionality for member banks, but also serves as Credit Card Domestic Interbank Clearing & Settlement Center in Taiwan. Today NCCC has 33 member banks with more than 32 million credit cards in circulation. Continuing with aggressive expansion of its acquiring business, NCCC has a merchant base of over 120,000. As part of future business strategy, the Center has been actively working on developing chip card acceptance infrastructure, and so far nearly 60% of its POS terminals are EMV-enabled. The Center has emerged as a clear leader in EMV chip-based applications in Taiwan, with operating platforms for bonus points and customer loyalty management. In particular many of NCCC issued co-branded EMV chip cards carry loyalty programs, which have proven to be one of the most successful innovations in the payment card industry.

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 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.