KTC to Start JCB Issuing and Acquiring in Thailand.

Tokyo and Bangkok, Thailand, Mar 3, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - JCB, a leading international card brand, and Krungthai Card Public Company Limited (KTC), a major card issuing and acquiring company in Thailand, are happy to announce that KTC has reached an agreement in signing an issuing and acquiring license agreement with JCB subsidiary JCB International Co., Ltd. on 3 March 2006. KTC will launch JCB card issuing and merchant acquiring in September.

"We are very pleased to be partnering with KTC, a first-rank card company offering original card products and services. I believe KTC, together with existing partners, solidifies JCB brand business in Southeast Asia", said Mr. Hiroya Nobuhara, Chairman and CEO, JCB International Co., Ltd. "Through this partnership, which will drive additional growth in the JCB brand merchant network, we are sure that we can create greater convenience and greater value for new and existing JCB cardmembers in the country", he added.

KTC has an innovative corporate style - expressed in the company catch-phrase, "Make Sense" - and has secured a position as Thailand's largest card issuing company with more than 1.2 million cards issued. There are currently about 7 million credit cards for a total population of 64 million, evidence of ample room for the credit market to expand. KTC maintains more than 9,000 merchants covering approximately 6% of the country's market. By 2006, most of their merchants will be added to the existing JCB merchants in Thailand.

"KTC is the number one credit card issuer in Thailand, and by combining JCB's international brand presence, acceptance at more than 13 million merchants worldwide, and quality brand services with our card product advantages, we are confident that we will make the KTC card value proposition even more attractive to consumers", commented. Mr. Pongsathorn Siriyodhin, Chairman, Krungthai Card Public Company Limited (KTC) based in Bangkok. "As we target new segments of the market, we expect to see significant growth in our cardmember base, and will further solidify our lead by adding the JCB brand to differentiate our product lineup from the competition."

"JCB will be a significant extension to our segmentation cards. We will target middle to upper income market. In the first year, we expect to acquire 200,000-300,000 cards which will increase our usage spending to 5-7 billion baht. We also plan to provide benefits in varied Japanese related categories here in Thailand and special privileges in Japan as to be provided by JCB. We aim to entice more than 50 million JCB cardholders in Japan to come and use their cards here in Thailand," Pongsathorn added.

The Southeast Asian market is a high priority for JCB, in particular Thailand, making the agreement with KTC especially important to the overall JCB strategy. A growing number of JCB cardmembers in Asia are expected to contribute an increase in sales at JCB merchants throughout the region.

JCB has had a brand presence in Thailand since 1989, initially to provide services to Japanese and other JCB cardmembers traveling to that country through partnerships with major banks such as Siam Commercial Bank and Bangkok Bank. JCB brand issuing business started in 1990. With "Respect Thailand" as a slogan, JCB will continue working hard to build better and stronger business relationships with partners in Thailand. The JCB brand is aiming for a ten percent share of the Thai credit card market by 2010, and this agreement with KTC in issuing and acquiring is a big step toward achieving that goal.

About KTC

Krungthai Card Public Company Limited, or "KTC", is a leader in the credit card and consumer loans industry, with services and administration quality and efficiency on an international level. Operating since December 1996, KTC aims to be transparent, focused and truly relevant to the consumers' requirements. Presently, KTC has approximately 800 employees and all KTC cardholders can enjoy services and conveniences from over 146,000 establishments across the country. It has 16 KTC Boutique Branches and 35 KTC Touch Points and comprehensive financial service centers to accommodate the expansion of business, and offers services including financial transactions, personal loans, electronic payment system, monthly service fee payments and partnerships with leading business organizations to bring added privileges and benefits to KTC cardholders. For further information, please visit the KTC website at: www.ktc.co.th

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 13.2 million merchants and spans 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 19 countries and territories, with 55.99 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 home page at: www.jcb-global.com/english (English), www.jcb-global.com/korea (Korean), www.jcb-global.com/china (Chinese), or www.jcbcorporate.com/english.

Source: JCB

Contact:

JCB
Kazumi Kinoshita
[e-mail]
03-5778-8390

Copyright [c] 2006 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network K.K.