[0] Target.com Adopts Visa U.S.A.'s New E-Commerce Solution to Offer Enhanced, Secure Internet Shopping.

Business Editors/High-Tech Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 2001

Target Corporation and Visa U.S.A., the world's largest consumer payment system, today announced that target.com is one of the first e-merchants to adopt Visa Payer Authentication, Visa's new global e-commerce security solution. Visa Payer Authentication, based on Visa's 3-D Secure Interoperability Standard, will give Target's guests a more secure online shopping experience by adding a layer of security when shopping at target.com with a registered Visa card.

This move by Target builds upon its partnership with Visa, which seeks to enhance the shopping experience of Target's guests in both the physical and virtual worlds. Last month, Target unveiled its plans to become the first major American retailer to issue smart Visa cards, electronic payment cards with embedded microchips.

Beginning fall 2001, Visa cardholders can enroll for Visa Payer Authentication through participating banks, giving them the ability to make secure online purchases with their Visa card. Registered Visa cardholders will then be asked to enter a password when making purchases at target.com, confirming their identity as the cardholder similar to how a signature verifies a cardholder when shopping in-store. Registration for the program will be free to guests and the process of entering a password during an online purchase will take only seconds.

"Target's adoption of Visa Payer Authentication demonstrates the company's commitment to making e-commerce a secure and convenient experience for their customers," said Jim McCarthy, Senior Vice President, e-Visa, a division of Visa U.S.A. "This new program further builds consumer confidence for shopping online at merchants such as target.com and helps in prevention of fraudulent card usage on the Internet by taking an extra step to authenticate cardholders."

"Target.com continues to innovate, even as others are pulling back from the Internet. Visa Payer Authentication is another important new feature to enhance our guest's shopping experience," said Jerry Storch, Vice Chairman, Target Corporation. "A quick, credible authentication program will add to the convenient and secure appeal of target.com."

About Visa U.S.A.

Visa is the world's leading payment brand and largest consumer payment system, enabling banks to provide their consumer and merchant customers with the best way to pay and be paid. More than 14,000 U.S. financial institutions rely on Visa's processing system, VisaNet, to facilitate over $810 billion in annual transaction volume - including more than half of all Internet payments - with virtually 100 percent reliability. U.S. consumers carry more than 353 million Visa-branded smart, credit, commercial, stored value and check cards, accepted at approximately 22 million locations worldwide. Visa has long led the industry in developing payment security standards, and has been named the most trusted payment brand online. Visa's people, partnerships, brand and payment technology are helping to create universal commerce - the ability to safely conduct transactions anytime, anywhere and by any device. Please visit www.visa.com for additional information.

About Target Corporation

Target Corporation operates large-store general merchandise formats, including discount stores, moderate-priced promotional and traditional department stores, as well as a direct mail and on-line business called target.direct. The company currently operates 1,320 stores in 46 states. This includes 990 Target stores, 266 Mervyn's stores and 64 Marshall Field's stores. Target Corporation news releases are available at www.target.com.