First USA Names James LeKachman Head of Decision Management.

Business Editors

WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2001

First USA, Bank One Corporation's credit card unit, has announced the appointment of James LeKachman as head of Decision Management, a new group that will focus on customer relationship management. LeKachman reports to Daniel Frate, president and chief operating officer of First USA.

LeKachman, 41, has spent more than 10 years leveraging computer technology to develop enterprise-wide programs for customer relationship management. He spent 13 years at American Management Systems Inc. (AMS), rising to vice president in the Consumer Financial Services Group, and most recently was vice president at Sapient Corporation.

"We welcome someone of Jim's caliber to guide an important area for First USA," said Phil Heasley, chairman and chief executive officer of First USA. "Under his leadership, our Decision Management team will apply innovative analytics to our customer relationship strategies to help us better serve our customers."

"Jim brings exceptional knowledge and experience in managing customer relationships in the financial services industry," said Frate, who worked closely with LeKachman for several years during LeKachman's tenure at AMS. "He will help us match each of our customers to the right products, improving both customer satisfaction and profitability."

LeKachman began his career as a credit policy analyst at Citicorp Retail Services before joining Risk Sciences Group as a senior consultant. He joined AMS in 1987, eventually becoming co-manager of the Customer Relationship Management practice for the Consumer Financial Services Group and a member of the group's Management Committee.

"I look forward to helping First USA, and our parent Bank One, expand the relationships within our excellent customer base, reinforcing First USA as a premier credit card and payments company," said LeKachman.

LeKachman earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Lehigh University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Chicago.

First USA, a subsidiary of Bank One Corp. (NYSE "ONE"), is the largest issuer of Visa credit cards in the world, offering credit cards for consumers and businesses under the First USA and Bank One names and on behalf of its 1,900 marketing partners. These partners include some of the leading corporations, universities and affinity organizations in the United States. Bank One is the nation's sixth-largest bank holding company, with assets of more than $270 billion. More information can be found at http://www.firstusa.com/.