JCB expands in Asia-Pacific
Japanese payment card consortium JCB and its international subsidiary JCB International (JCBI) have launched a new JCB co-branded credit card in China.The Minsheng Lady Flower Aupres card has been launched in conjunction with China Minsheng Banking Corp, JCBs sixth Chinese issuing partner, and Shiseido Liyuan Cosmetics, a major cosmetics company in China.The card is aimed at women consumers in China, following JCBs established strategy of launching cards aimed at distinct consumer segments. The card comes in both standard and gold formats and currency can be denominated in both US dollars and Chinese yuan. The card also incorporates the Aupres loyalty programme, offering double points when purchasing Aupres products and other cosmetics-related rewards.The launch of the card is the latest milestone in JCBs expansion in China, where its brand acceptance network stretches to 70,000 merchants and JCB acquiring alliances with ten partner banks. In 2005 JCB began granting issuing licenses, starting with Bank of China, Bank of Shanghai, China Everbright Bank, China Merchants Bank and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. More than one million residents of China carry a JCB brand card.