Bangkok and Tokyo, March 12, 2008 - KASIKORNBANK (KBank), a major commercial bank in Thailand, and JCB International (JCBI), JCB's international subsidiary, today announced that they have signed license agreement in order to acquire JCB merchants and process cash advance for JCB cards in Thailand. KBank and JCBI will start from accepting JCB cards at e-commerce merchants in March, 2008.

  At first step KBank and JCBI will mainly target Airlines or travel related merchants on web, in order to arouse that JCB cardmembers in Thailand to use JCB cards for travel expenditures. After e-commerce acceptance starts, KBank will open their retail merchants to their JCB cards starting from July 2008. The agreement will target to sign on 16,000 merchants by 2010 throughout Thailand.  The arrangement will significantly expand over 58 million JCB cardmembers' convenience through the country's second largest acquirer's network.

  "KBank is pleased to have an opportunity to expand the merchant service channel to JCB", said Mr. Krisada Lamsam, Executive Vice President at KBank.  "The arrangement with JCB, a major global payment brand with a solid cardmember base in Asia, will result in more payment options for our merchants, and increase in sales volume accordingly."

  "I am very much excited to sign license agreement with KBank, which will surely enhance JCB's acceptance network further in Thailand", said Mr. Kenji Seto, President and COO of JCBI.  "In cooperation with KBank, our cardmembers travelling in Thailand will be able to enjoy much more convenience than ever.  And I anticipate the enhancement of JCB acceptance will also encourage the existing and potential issuers of JCB cards in Thailand."

  JCB has been expanding its acceptance network as a global payment brand since 1981 through alliances with local banks and financial institutions.  In Thailand, JCB has already signed four licence agreements for expanding JCB merchants with major partner institutions, and the agreement with KBank will be the fifth.