Tokyo, December 6, 2005 - JCB, a leading international payment brand and the largest credit card issuer in Japan, is pleased to announce that more than 500,000 JCB LINDA women-oriented cards have been issued since the card's launch in 2002. JCB is celebrating its success with the JCB LINDA Sweet Card featuring a refreshing citrus-based fragrance. The number of cards to be issued is limited to 20,000, and applications will be accepted starting December 10.

"The new JCB LINDA Sweet Card was developed based on an internet survey of over 6,000 JCB LINDA cardmembers", said Ms. Akiko Kusunoki, Assistant Supervisor of the Sales Promotion Department at JCB in Tokyo. "More than half of the respondents indicated that fragrance, through aromatherapy, perfume, bath oils and much more, plays an important part in their lives. We chose scent marketing expert Pixen, Inc., and they developed an exclusive LINDA Sweet Card fragrance for us featuring the upbeat citrus notes of mandarin, grapefruit and lemon."

"The LINDA card has been very successful in retaining its target market of beauty-conscious women, through a wide range of functions and features such as exclusive point redemption gifts, a monthly magazine and a dedicated website", she said. "Over 70% of JCB LINDA cardmembers are women in their 20s and 30s, and 72% of them always carry the card in their wallet", she added.

The LINDA concept is backed by the LINDA League, an alliance of product and service providers that supports women seeking a more beautiful lifestyle. Members of the alliance include Sazaby Inc.'s Afternoon Tea, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, P&G, and Wacoal. Additional special limited offers are provided by hotels, brand name shops, and other trend-setting merchants. Information about discounts, premiums, and exclusive products is published in the cardmember magazine Monthly LINDA and the web site www.linda-project.com (Japanese only). Popular premiums have included free cosmetic samples from a variety of manufacturers sent with monthly card statements.

In addition to the scented JCB LINDA Sweet Card, three new card designs will be released next spring to commemorate the JCB LINDA Card reaching the 500,000 mark. The new designs are being selected by JCB LINDA cardmembers and others who visit the LINDA web site or call an automated telephone system to vote for their three favorite designs from a field of nine, another innovative JCB marketing strategy for this segment card.

JCB has recently started offering the scented card option to all of its issuing partners worldwide, and issuers in the Philippines and Taiwan are considering adding a scented card to their product line-up. The JCB scenting technology allows the creation of many different fragrances for enhanced design possibilities, increased functionality, and even to convey a unique personality and mood. The fragrance lasts for at least 3 years.

JCB LINDA Sweet Card design

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 Co. Ltd. home page at: www.jcb-global.com/english or www.jcbcorporate.com/english.