MBF Cards Signs Agreement to Expand JCB Card Acceptance in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur, Malasia and Tokyo, Japan, Jan 17, 2007 - (JCN Newswire) - JCB, a major global payment brand, and JCB International, JCB's international subsidiary, and MBF Cards (M'sia) Sdn Bhd (MBF Cards), Malaysia's largest non-bank backed credit card company, announced today an agreement to expand JCB card acceptance in Malaysia. MBF Cards will start opening its merchant network to JCB this month including new merchant acquisitions, targeting to sign-on approximately 10,000 JCB merchants within the first 12 months. This will be derived from its existing 26,000 merchants and new merchant acquisitions, further cementing the card issuers' reputation as one with the largest network and merchants. With this arrangement, JCB merchants in Malaysia will have doubled in a few years, significantly increasing the level of convenience for JCB cardmembers.

"This is another epoch-making alliance for JCB in Malaysia", said Kunio Yoshizawa, President & COO of JCB International in the press conference held at 17th January in Kuala Lumpur. "JCB considers Malaysia one of its target markets from the card acceptance perspective, as there is an increasing number of JCB card-holding travelers to the region".

Since the establishment in 1987, MBF Cards holds the largest merchant network numbered at over 26,000 in Malaysia. Huan Woon Han, President of MBF Cards said, "This alliance creates a win-win situation between us. With the burgeoning Japanese population here in Malaysia and a further influx of global citizens expected, particularly from Japan and its neighboring countries in conjunction with 'Visit Malaysia Year 2007' we believe JCB cards will contribute to our merchants in Malaysia.

According to the Japan National Tourist Organization, more than 340 thousand Japanese travelers visited Malaysia in 2005, an approximate 12% increase on the previous year. As Malaysia is celebrating a 'Visit Malaysia Year 2007', and its 50th anniversary of independence, JCB focuses its attention on these factors and anticipates the sharp increase in transactions that JCB cardmembers generate in this region.

"The timing of our agreement is perfect," Yoshizawa continued, "Through this arrangement with MBF Cards, JCB cardmembers visiting Malaysia will soon enjoy much wider acceptance to a greater variety of merchants, including hotels, shopping malls, restaurants, and souvenir shops. JCB has more than 59 million cardmembers mainly in Asia. As well as Japan, I suppose China, where the numbers of JCB cardmembers is rapidly increasing, is another market Malaysia could see strong potential for sales transaction. I believe that MBF Cards' merchants will also benefit from JCB's solid cardmembers base."

JCB has been building alliances with major banks and financial institutions to expand JCB cardmembers and merchants in Malaysia for 20 years. In 1985, JCB signed a licensee agreement with HSBC in Malaysia, soon followed by the partnerships with Malayan Banking Berhad, CIMB Bank Berhad and Public Bank Berhad. As well as enhancing acceptance network for JCB card-holding tourist from outside of the country, JCB is currently developing issuing network in Malaysia. In order to establish another solid cardmember base in Asia, JCB continues to develop both issuing and acquiring business concurrently.

About MBF Cards (M'sia) Sdn Bhd

A subsidiary of MBF Holdings Berhad, MBF Cards (M'sia) Sdn Bhd is a leading homegrown credit and charge card company in Malaysia. MBF Cards is one of the largest issuers of MasterCard since 1987. It is also one of the first to introduce EMV chip cards, which offers a fully functional chip covering the operation of Smart Card Payments. With the Countdown International Privilege logo incorporated into the MBF Card credit card, it is the only credit card that gives access to instant discounts and rewards at 8,000 merchants locally and 80,000 globally with just a flash of the credit card. MBF Cards is also the first in the world to offer the Visa Wave card, an intelligent smart card equipped with the EMV chip. Being a combi card, MBF Visa Wave functions as a swipe, wave and slot card, and can be used at Visa Plus ATMs for cash withdrawals. MBF Cards is the only credit card in Malaysia to present BonusLink rewards to its cardholders. BonusLink is a multi-party rewards programme which offers the largest selection of gifts for redemption while allowing cardholders to earn points from other participating companies. MBF Cards received two Gold Awards at the recent MasterCard Asia Pacific Marketing Awards in the category of Best Overall Marketing Programme and Best LadyCard Programme. It is the only Malaysian brand to have achieved this recognition in 2005. In 2006, MBF Cards received the Bronze award in the D'ucoty Awards for the category of product innovative in banking for its MBF Mastercard (R) 2006 FIFA World Cup (TM) OneSMART (TM) PayPass Card.

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 14 million merchants and spans 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 19 countries and territories, with more than 59 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. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide the responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, visit: www.jcb-global.com/english or www.jcbcorporate.com/english.

Source: JCB Co., Ltd.

Contact:

Kazumi Kinoshita
International Strategy Planning
JCB Co., Ltd.
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

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