Tokyo, May 12, 2005 - JCB, the leading international payment brand based in Asia, is pleased to announce that Korea's biggest credit card company, LG Card Co., Ltd. will start issuing the LG JCB Toresard Card in Japan with a license granted by JCB to LG Card to issue JCB cards in Japan. The card will be launched next month, at which time more product details will be available.

The new LG JCB Toresard Card issued by LG Card will be the first debit card branded with JCB in Japan. Purchases made with this card will be directly debited from the cardmember's bank account in Japanese yen. The LG JCB Toresard Card is expected to appeal to the general consumer market, and in particular to those who are reluctant to use credit cards.

"We are delighted by this opportunity to partner with LG Card to launch this new LG JCB Toresard Card", said Mr. Yuichi Momose, Executive Vice President, General Manager of Asia & Pacific Regional Headquarters at JCB International Co., Ltd. "The new agreement with LG Card, the Korea's leading card issuing company, is an important step in strengthening our position in the card market and for deepening the long-standing partnership between JCB and LG Card."

JCB has had a presence in Korea since 1983, starting with merchant acquiring operations to enhance the acceptance network for the convenience of JCB cardmembers. Since 1993, with a rising demand for international credit cards, JCB brand cards have been issued in Korea in partnership with local financial institutions. In 1997 JCB signed an issuing license agreement with LG Card and now the number of LG JCB cards is more than 1.6 million, contributing to the JCB brand's aggressive expansion in the credit card industry.

The new market targeted by the LG JCB Toresard Card may be extended to Korea in the future, while in Japan LG Card expect to issue 100,000 cards in the first year alone.

JCB, the International Card Brand
JCB and its international subsidiary JCB International have been building the international JCB brand cardmember base and merchant network since opening the first JCB branch outside of Japan in 1981. JCB cards are now issued in 19 countries and territories and accepted in 190. JCB business in Asia is expanding rapidly, with Hong Kong's Hang Seng Bank and AEON Credit Service (Asia), and Taiwan's AnShin Card Services launching card issuing programs, and Bank of China, one of China's top four commercial banks, signing an issuing license agreement in the past year alone. In addition, JCB continues to open new markets in cooperation with major financial institutions around the world, one of the latest being Bahrain's CrediMax.

JCB brand cards are popular in Asia, offering local cardmembers exclusive benefits and services. Recent new cards include the Sushi Tei JCB Card issued in Singapore with a point program for all Sushi Tei Restaurants in Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok and Jakarta, the JAA/JCB Card issued in Taiwan, offering the Japan Asia Airways mileage program, and the AEON/JCB Travel Card issued in Hong Kong with special benefits and privileges for travelers to Japan. This kind of unique added-value is the key element in JCB's strategy for continued expansion as the only international credit card brand to be based in Asia.

JCB is also committed to enhancing the international acceptance network for the convenience of JCB cardmembers traveling throughout the world, with additional emphasis on North America and Europe. New JCB acquiring partnerships in the last year include Turkey's Isbank, Spain's EURO 6000, America's First Horizon Merchant Services, Bulgaria's Transcard and the Bhutan National Bank, JCB's first partner in Bhutan, bringing the number countries and territories in which the JCB brand is accepted to 190.

About LG Card
LG Card, established in 1987, is Korea's leading credit card company, holding a strong market position. LG Card has 9.65 million cardholders and 52 billion won in annual transaction volume. More information about LG Card can be found at www.lgcard.com.

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 12.2 million merchants and spans 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 18 countries and territories, with 53.59 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.jcbcorporate.com/english.