Tokyo, 30 September 2005 - The JCB brand is celebrating the 8th anniversary of the opening of its representative office in the Philippines with a renewed commitment to offering products and services that please customers, and supporting those products with the service that JCB cardmembers have come to appreciate worldwide.

Mr. Shunichi Hatano, Chief Representative at JCB International, Manila Representative Office said, "We are very happy with our success so far, and eager to work even harder from now on." He added, "Strategically we are aiming to increase cardmember base and market share in the Philippines by focusing on improving services to enhance cardmember satisfaction."

JCB is promoting JCB card use with the P1 Million JCB Credit Reload campaign from August through October 2005, which offers a grand prize of one million pesos and many other cash credit prizes under the slogan "enriching your life". This catch phrase also played a part in the JCB TV ad campaign in April, featuring Asia's bow of respect that symbolizes JCB's unique role as the only Asia-based international credit card. JCB is concurrently accelerating signing up merchants to increase acceptance and prioritize affiliating those merchants where JCB cardmembers frequently visit.

In order to capture a significant share of the remaining untapped cardmember base in the Philippines, JCB is offering innovative products such as myDream JCB, launched in 2003 by Bankard, with a uniquely low annual fee of P800, compared to the usual P1,200, and a finance charge rate of 2.5% compared to the usual range of 3.25%-3.5%, to appeal to this vast consumer market.

On the other hand, EasyPay JCB Card, released on the market last year by Equitable CardNetwork, has the lowest monthly minimum income of P5,000 and is specifically designed to appeal to the ordinary worker with an annual fee only one-third of the average annual fee of other credit cards, and a unique installment plan tailored to the ordinary worker's salary payment cycle. The EasyPay JCB Card features are targeted to the mass market.

JCB has had a presence in the Philippines in the acquiring business since 1982 and in card issuing since 1996. JCB is looking forward to working even more closely with its partners in the Philippines for many years to come.

About JCB
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 12.4 million merchants and spans 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 19 countries and territories, with 55.14 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. 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 home page at: www.jcb-global.com/english or www.jcbcorporate.com/english.