CONSUMER CREDIT: They Don't Take Visa

They Don't Take Visa

Question: What new Japanese import will actually fatten American wallets and drain bank accounts at the same time? Answer: The JCB card. Japan's largest credit-card company, which has issued 70 million of the cards in its domestic market, plans to start signing up U.S. consumers this summer. Some 1.4 million merchants around the world accept the card. So far, 150,000 American merchants have agreed to allow JCB charges, a number the company hopes to double this year. The JCB card (projected annual fee: $30 or more) functions mainly as a charge card, meaning that a customer's balance is due each month.

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!