Tokyo, April 1, 2004 -- JCB Co., Ltd., a leading international payment brand, has rolled out its new internet authentication program, J/Secure™. The new program adds an important password identification step to the traditional online shopping process, verifying the identity of the person entering the card information. In this way, J/Secure will provide JCB customers with greater security in their credit card payments, and enhance confidence in card payments over the Internet. In addition, J/Secure technology is conveniently implemented, and is compliant with the 3-D Secure™ protocol.

"This is a very important step for JCB to expand the e-commerce market," said Shinji Nishimura, Assistant Vice President of Advanced Technologies Department of JCB. " J/Secure™ will provide our customers with confidence in making payment with their JCB cards on the Internet."

In launching the J/Secure program, JCB issuer and acquirer partners have a range of choice in technology, and JCB can provide support as they design and implement their J/Secure program. More than 15 partners have already committed to implement the J/Secure program to provide cardmembers and e-commerce merchants with a higher level of security for the online shopping environment. Several partners, such as LG Card Co., Ltd. in Korea and AEON Credit Service Co., Ltd. in Japan, will launch the J/Secure service respectively in April and May 2004.

"We expect our partner issuers and acquirers to accelerate implementation of J/Secure globally as we continue to expand and refine our e-commerce infrastructure," added Nishimura.

Delivering the solution, currently more than 15 access control server (ACS) or merchant server plug-in (MPI) products have passed J/Secure compliance testing, and the number will be increasing. A comprehensive list of compliant products will soon be available on the JCB Global Website at http://www.jcb-global.com/english/. The website also provides specification download service and the J/Secure logo to J/Secure program partners.

* J/Secure logo

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.