Tokyo, July 17, 2009 - JCB Co., Ltd., Japan' s only international payment brand, and also one of the country' s largest credit card issuers, announced today the JCB ORIGINAL SERIES, a renewal of the proprietary lineup of JCB Cards that the company and its franchisees[i] issue for residents of Japan. The JCB ORIGINAL SERIES includes the comprehensively upgraded version of the existing JCB Gold and JCB Standard, cards, the first full scale renewal since the company was established in 1961, and adds the newly developed JCB GOLD EXTAGE and JCB CARD EXTAGE cards.
As the credit card payment market continues to grow in Japan, every adult in the country has at least three credit cards on average statistically. In this competitive market, it is vital that credit card issuers offer services more precisely designed for their target market in order to be chosen as the customer's preferred card and be used more than any other. JCB took on this challenge, upgrading the basic JCB Card program beginning in April 2008, both to increase the level of satisfaction of the existing five million[ii] JCB Gold and JCB Standard cardmembers, and to expand the JCB customer base further. In particular the two new Extage card types, available only to those under thirty years of age, are designed to attract younger consumers applying for their first credit card.
JCB leveraged its expertise as a major issuer in Japan to develop the JCB Original Series line-up of benefits and services, aiming to make the series the customers' top of wallet cards. Common services for all cards of the JCB Original Series include the JCB Original Series Partner program of bonus reward points at selected merchants, double reward points for using the card outside Japan, and e-mail alerts when card use exceeds the amount set by the cardmember. JCB Gold Extage and JCB Card Extage cardmembers earn reward points at 1.5 times the usual rate. The premium segment JCB Gold Extage provides Gold card services including access to airport lounges and exclusive customer desks at an annual fee of JPY 3,150. The JCB Group anticipates issuing a total of 300,000 JCB Original Series cards in the first year.
JCB also renewed the card designs with a sense of Japanese style. The intriguing and elegant new designs were created by Mr. Kazunori Hattori, a leading new generation designer, who depicted customer confidence and trust in the JCB network extending from Japan around the world, and 'en', the strong tie between JCB and its customers.
About the JCB Original Series
The JCB Original Series is the proprietary, basic lineup of JCB Cards that the JCB Group (JCB Co., Ltd. and its franchisees) issues for residents in Japan. JCB Gold and JCB Standard cardholders will be able to enjoy new services and benefits after August 17. Newly issued or replaced cards after November will have the new card design. The newly developed JCB Gold Extage and JCB Card Extage are for the younger generation under the age of thirty. Extage cardmembers will earn reward points at higher rates than the other cards. Applications will be accepted from August 3.
New Common Services for JCB Gold, JCB Standard, JCB Gold Extage, and JCB Card Extage.
1. JCB ORIGINAL SERIES Partner: Earn bonus JCB Oki Doki reward points at selected JCB merchants including popular music stores, fashion shops, and restaurants. Cardmembers will receive discounts and other benefit information matching their lifestyles through an exclusive website and e-mail magazines.
2. Register on MyJCB[iii]and earn double reward points for usage outside Japan.
3. Set a limit amount and receive an e-mail alert when your JCB Card usage exceeds the amount. This service will be available after September 2009.
New Services for JCB Gold
JCB Gold cardmembers who use their card over JPY 1,000,000 annually for two years can apply for the higher class JCB Gold The Premier. Cardmembers will be entitled to receive an exclusively designed card with a wide range of enhanced services such as benefits at hotels. JCB will announce details of services to target customers who meet the requirements after February 2010.
New Services for JCB Standard
1. Register on MyJCB and purchase goods and services with JCB Card over JPY 500,000 annually to get your next year's annual fee waived.
2. Register on MyJCB, meet certain requirements, and receive travel accident insurance up to JPY 30 million when traveling inside or outside Japan.
Services for JCB Gold Extage and JCB Card Extage
1. Enjoy triple reward points during the first three months, and then 1.5 points until the twelfth month.
2. Purchase goods and services with JCB Card over JPY 200,000 annually and enjoy 1.5 points for the next year.
3. Use JCB Card at selected double point online merchants on the shopping website Oki Doki Land and enjoy triple points.
Services for JCB Gold Extage
1. The annual fee for the main cardmember is JPY 3,150. The annual fee for the first year is waived.
2. Meet certain requirements and receive travel accident insurance up to JPY 50 million when traveling inside or outside Japan.
3. Enjoy access to airport lounges and Gold cardmember exclusive desks.
Services for JCB Card Extage
1. Annual fees for both the main cardmember and family cardmembers are waived.
2. Meet certain requirements and receive travel accident insurance up to JPY 20 million when traveling inside or outside Japan.
3. Select your favorite color from silver, black, and red.
[i] Depends on card types: some franchisees do not issue the new JCB Gold Extage and JCB Card Extage
[ii] JCB Gold and JCB Standard are the basic JCB Card types that JCB Co., Ltd. and its franchisees issue in Japan. 'Five million' does not include JCB branded cards issued by other card issuers inside and outside Japan. The total JCB branded cards issued globally are 60.97 million, of which 56 million are issued in Japan by JCB Co., Ltd., its franchisees, other licensee card issuers.
[iii] MyJCB is the Internet service that cardmembers can see, register, amend, and change various information such as their card statements, method of payment, reward points, and available campaigns.
