JCB

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JCB is a Japanese international payment network and credit card company.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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Overview

JCB Co., Ltd., formerly known as Japan Credit Bureau, is a Japanese credit card company and payment network headquartered in Tokyo. Established in 1961, it became one of Japan's earliest domestic credit card issuers and developed into the country's principal internationally oriented card brand. Its business combines card issuing, merchant acceptance, payment-network services, and partnerships with financial institutions in overseas markets. JCB was founded by Sanwa Bank, now part of MUFG Bank, and Nippon Shinpan, now Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS. It entered the Japanese market as the country's second credit card issuer and payment network after the Japanese operation of Diners Club International. During its early expansion, JCB strengthened its domestic position by acquiring and absorbing the Hokkaido Credit Bureau and Osaka Credit Bureau in 1968. These transactions helped consolidate regional card operations under a national brand and supported the growth of JCB's issuing and acceptance infrastructure. The company generally operates through relationships with banks and other financial institutions. In many markets, local partners issue cards carrying the JCB brand, while JCB supplies network connectivity, acceptance arrangements, cardholder services, and brand support. This partnership-oriented model allowed the company to extend its reach beyond Japan without relying solely on direct consumer issuing. Reference material reported that JCB cards were issued in 24 countries and that, as of 2020, the brand had approximately 130 million cardholders across 23 countries; the differing figures reflect different counting contexts in the cited material rather than a single consistently defined global total. JCB's international proposition has historically been closely connected with travel. Its cards have been accepted by airlines, hotels, car-rental companies, retailers, and other businesses serving Japanese and Asian travelers. The company also operates membership airport lounges for holders of certain Platinum Cards issued outside Japan. Through these services and its overseas acceptance arrangements, JCB has positioned itself as a payment brand linking Japanese cardholders and international merchants, while also serving consumers in markets where local financial institutions issue JCB-branded cards. In the United States, JCB was not positioned as a primary general-purpose network on the scale of Visa or Mastercard. Its acceptance initially concentrated on tourism-related businesses and merchants likely to serve international visitors. A long-term alliance announced with Discover Network in 2006 broadened the practical reach of both brands: Discover-branded cards could be accepted at JCB terminals in Japan, and JCB cards could be used on the Discover network in the United States. The arrangement became operational in 2011. JCB USA separately issued cards to residents of selected American states, but stopped issuing new consumer cards on January 8, 2018, and closed its remaining consumer credit card accounts on April 30, 2018. Foreign-issued JCB cards continued to operate in the United States through the Discover relationship. JCB's core identity therefore rests on a combination of domestic Japanese scale, international card acceptance, issuer partnerships, and travel-oriented benefits. It is distinct from unrelated organizations using the JCB initials, including the British construction-equipment manufacturer. The authoritative subject here is the Japanese credit card company and payment network.

History

JCB was created in Japan in 1961 under the name Japan Credit Bureau. Its founding shareholders and institutional sponsors were Sanwa Bank and Nippon Shinpan, successors of which are associated with MUFG Bank and Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS respectively. The company entered a market in which payment cards were still developing and became Japan's second card issuer and payment network after the Japanese branch of Diners Club International. The early strategic challenge was to build a sufficiently broad domestic network. In 1968, JCB purchased and absorbed the Hokkaido Credit Bureau and Osaka Credit Bureau. The consolidation brought regional card operations into the JCB system and helped the company establish a stronger nationwide presence. Domestic scale subsequently provided a base for international expansion, including relationships with overseas banks and other financial institutions that issued JCB-branded cards in their local markets. JCB's international growth was closely tied to the movement of Japanese travelers and to merchant categories serving tourism. Airlines, car-rental companies and other travel-related businesses became important parts of its acceptance footprint. Rather than treating international expansion solely as a direct-issuing exercise, JCB commonly worked with local financial institutions, allowing those partners to issue cards while JCB provided the network and brand infrastructure. The company also developed cardholder benefits, including access to membership airport lounges for holders of certain Platinum Cards issued outside Japan. The United States presented a different challenge. JCB was not a primary U.S. card network comparable with Visa or Mastercard, and its early acceptance was concentrated among tourism-oriented businesses. In 2006, JCB and Discover Network announced a long-term reciprocal acceptance agreement. The plan allowed Discover cards to be used at JCB point-of-sale terminals in Japan and JCB cards to use Discover's acceptance network in the United States. The arrangement became operational in 2011, giving foreign JCB cardholders a broader way to use their cards in the American market without requiring JCB to become a major standalone U.S. network. JCB USA also issued local accounts to residents of a defined group of states, including California, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. That direct consumer issuing activity ended in 2018: new issuance stopped on January 8 and all current consumer credit card accounts were closed on April 30. The change did not end the international acceptance relationship, since cards issued outside the United States continued to be usable through the Discover network partnership. By 2020, reference material described JCB cards as being issued in 23 countries and serving approximately 130 million customers; the same material also described issuance in 24 countries, likely reflecting differing definitions or reporting dates. JCB's continuing business is best understood as an international payment brand rooted in Japan, supported by issuer partnerships, merchant acceptance, travel services and card products rather than as a conventional publicly traded consumer-goods company.

2020
International scale is reported
[1]JCB (credit card company)en.wikipedia.org
Reference material describes JCB cards as serving approximately 130 million customers across 23 countries, while also citing issuance in 24 countries.
2018
JCB exits direct U.S. consumer card issuing
[1]JCB (credit card company)en.wikipedia.org
JCB USA stops issuing new consumer cards in January and closes existing U.S. consumer credit card accounts in April.
2011
JCB–Discover reciprocity goes live
[1]JCB (credit card company)en.wikipedia.org
The reciprocal card acceptance arrangement between the two networks becomes operational.
2006
Discover acceptance alliance is announced
[1]JCB (credit card company)en.wikipedia.org
JCB and Discover Network announce a reciprocal acceptance agreement covering Japan and the United States.
1968
Regional credit bureaus are consolidated
[1]JCB (credit card company)en.wikipedia.org
JCB purchases and absorbs the Hokkaido Credit Bureau and Osaka Credit Bureau, strengthening its position in the Japanese card market.
1961
Japan Credit Bureau is founded
[1]JCB (credit card company)en.wikipedia.org
Sanwa Bank and Nippon Shinpan establish Japan Credit Bureau as Japan's second credit card issuer and payment network after Diners Club International's Japanese operation.

Products and positioning

A Japanese-origin international payment network combining domestic card-market strength, overseas issuer partnerships, travel acceptance, and cardholder benefits.

Credit cards · 1961
JCB-branded credit cards
JCB-branded credit cards are issued directly or through partner financial institutions. They provide access to the JCB payment network and may include market-specific rewards, travel benefits and merchant offers. Product availability, card terms and benefits vary by issuing country and institution.
Premium credit cards
JCB Platinum Cards
JCB Platinum Cards are premium-tier products associated with enhanced travel and lifestyle benefits. JCB operates membership airport lounges for holders of certain Platinum Cards issued outside Japan. Exact eligibility, lounge access and other benefits depend on the issuing market and card program.
Payment network · 1961
JCB payment network
The JCB payment network connects cardholders, issuing institutions and merchants. Its international model relies substantially on partnerships with banks and other financial institutions, which issue JCB-branded cards in local markets while merchants accept transactions through JCB-supported infrastructure.
Cardholder services
JCB travel and airport-lounge services
JCB supports travel-oriented cardholder services, including membership airport-lounge access for certain eligible Platinum Cardholders outside Japan. These services complement the brand's international acceptance proposition and its historical relationships with travel-related merchants.

Controversies

2020
JCB receives COVID-19 corporate financing facility support
JCB obtained access to a £600 million Bank of England COVID Corporate Financing Facility, prompting discussion because the group was privately held and its main holding structure was outside the United Kingdom.
Source
2020
JCB equipment cited in UN database concerning Israeli settlements
The United Nations listed JCB among businesses associated with equipment or materials used in activities connected with Israeli settlements. A subsequent UK review of a complaint partly upheld concerns under relevant human-rights guidance.
Source
2020
Equipment connected with Israeli settlements
JCB was included in a United Nations database concerning businesses linked to activities in Israeli settlements. A complaint examined by the UK government alleged that equipment sales did not meet relevant human-rights guidelines; the company stated that its Israeli distributor held legal ownership after sale. The complaint was partly upheld.
Source
2020
COVID-19 financing controversy
JCB accessed a £600 million COVID Corporate Financing Facility. Critics questioned the support in light of the group's private ownership, overseas holding structure and reported pre-pandemic profitability, while the company argued that its contribution to the UK economy made it eligible.
Source
2017
Political donations and corporate structures
Reporting examined payments associated with JCB entities and donations to the UK Conservative Party, as well as the group's use of subsidiaries in several international financial centers. The reporting generated scrutiny of the company's political influence and tax arrangements.
Source
2006
European courts conclude JCB competition appeal
European courts upheld the substance of the antitrust case while changing the amount of the penalty through the appeal process.
Source
2000
European Commission fines JCB over competition-law violations
The European Commission imposed a substantial fine after finding that JCB had restricted aspects of cross-border distribution and had engaged in conduct relating to resale pricing.
Source
2000
European antitrust penalty
The European Commission found that JCB had restricted elements of distribution within the European single market and had engaged in conduct concerning retail prices. The fine was later modified through appeals, with the final European court process concluding in 2006.
Source

2018
Withdrawal from direct U.S. consumer card issuingStrategy
Background
JCB USA had issued local consumer accounts in selected U.S. states, while international JCB cards could increasingly rely on the Discover acceptance relationship.
Action taken
JCB USA stopped issuing new consumer cards on January 8 and closed all current consumer credit card accounts on April 30.
Aftermath
JCB ended its direct U.S. consumer issuing business, but foreign-issued JCB cards continued to work in the United States through the Discover network partnership.
Source
2006
Reciprocal acceptance partnership with DiscoverStrategy
Background
JCB sought broader practical acceptance in the United States, while Discover could benefit from access to JCB's Japanese merchant network.
Action taken
JCB and Discover Network signed a long-term agreement for reciprocal acceptance of their cards.
Aftermath
The arrangement became operational in 2011 and expanded acceptance for both brands across the two markets.
Source
1968
Consolidation of Hokkaido and Osaka credit bureausM&A
Background
JCB needed broader domestic coverage as Japan's card market developed and regional credit bureaus operated outside its existing footprint.
Action taken
JCB purchased and absorbed the Hokkaido Credit Bureau and Osaka Credit Bureau.
Aftermath
The transactions helped JCB consolidate regional operations and establish a stronger national position in Japan.
Source

Recent events

2026.10.29
Reported2026.10.30
JCB and Hanoi Metro sign MoU to introduce contactless transit payment[4]JCB与河内地铁签署谅解备忘录，拟引入非接触式交通支付vir.com.vn
JCB International and Hanoi Metro signed an MoU to collaborate on introducing JCB transit across Hanoi’s urban railway network. The service is scheduled to launch in early 2027.
2022.02.21
Reported2022.03.03
IRCTC BoB RuPay JCB Credit Card launch[5]IRCTC BoB RuPay JCB信用卡推出finanznachrichten.de
JCB International, NPCI, BFSL, and IRCTC launched the co-branded IRCTC BoB RuPay JCB Credit Card, which offers benefits for railway bookings and other purchases and is usable globally through the JCB network.
2021.12.14
JCB and Planet expand European payments partnership[6]JCB与Planet扩大欧洲支付合作briefingwire.com
JCB International and Planet announced an expanded European partnership under which Planet will act as a JCB acquirer across European territories for in-person and ecommerce transactions. J/Secure 2.0-enabled ecommerce was planned to be offered online in early 2022.
2021.11.08
Reported2021.11.08
JCB hydrogen engine wins Dewar Trophy[7]JCB氢发动机荣获Dewar Trophyconstructionequipment.com
JCB's hydrogen engine won the Royal Automobile Club's Dewar Trophy for the company's development of a hydrogen fuel motor.
2021.06.27
JCB and Nets expand contactless acceptance in the Nordics[8]JCB与Nets扩大北欧地区非接触式支付受理范围briefingwire.com
JCB International and Nets announced an expansion of their partnership, making JCB Contactless available at 244,000 merchant POS systems across Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.
Unconfirmed
Tata International Africa signs JCB distribution agreement in Vietnam[9]Tata International Africa signs JCB distribution agreement in Vietnamengineeringnews.co.za
Tata International Africa signed an agreement with JCB to distribute JCB construction equipment in Vietnam. The article says sales and support through the Tata International dealer network began on April 1.
2021.04.13
Reported2021.04.13
JCB launches Stage V-compliant construction equipment[10]JCB推出符合Stage V标准的工程设备khl.com
At a live online event, JCB launched a range of Stage V-compliant diesel-powered compact construction equipment, including new 3.5-tonne excavator models.
2021.01.27
Reported2021.01.27
JCB expands UK workforce to prepare for increased production[11]JCB扩充英国员工队伍以应对产量增长agriland.ie
JCB announced that it was recruiting more than 400 additional UK agency employees and offering permanent contracts to up to 300 existing agency employees in preparation for a forecast surge in production.
2021.01.11
Reported2021.01.11
JCB reveals PotholePro repair vehicle[12]JCB 发布 PotholePro 坑洼修补车辆dailymail.com
JCB revealed the PotholePro heavy-duty vehicle, which is designed to repair potholes.
2020.08.24
Reported2020.08.25
JCB and Viva Wallet extend European partnership[13]JCB与Viva Wallet扩大欧洲合作crowdfundinsider.com
JCB announced that it had extended its partnership with Viva Wallet in Europe. The collaboration is intended to enable in-person and online payments for Viva Wallet’s European merchants by JCB cardmembers, with rollout planned to expand to six additional European nations from September 2020.

Sources29 sources

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