Rakuten Card Launches Rakuten Virtual Prepaid Card for Online Transactions
by Rakuten Card Holders

TOKYO, March 7, 2013 – Rakuten Card Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Rakuten, Inc., announced today that it has begun sales of the Rakuten Virtual Prepaid Card. This is the first ever prepaid credit card in Japan for online transactions and can be used at merchants that accept MasterCard.

The Rakuten Virtual Prepaid Card is a prepaid credit card available to Rakuten Card holders and meant for online transactions. The Rakuten Virtual Prepaid Card can be purchased by Rakuten Card holders via the members’ only Rakuten e-NAVI service website. Customers need only to obtain a card number, expiration date and security code to make payments with the prepaid card over the Internet.

All Rakuten Card holders (*1) can purchase a prepaid card regardless of whether their Rakuten Card was issued by MasterCard, JCB or Visa. Prepaid card holders can also easily browse and monitor their purchases online via Rakuten e-NAVI.

This service will enable customers to make online transactions on overseas websites and/or websites they use for the first time, using their credit cards with a peace of mind as they will no longer need to provide their real name or actual credit card number. In addition, because the card is prepaid, spending limits are set before the time of purchase, helping customers to better manage monthly spending and prevent overuse on online game sites or other services.

Rakuten Card is working not only to enhance added value Rakuten Card services for Internet purchases, but also seeking to attract new card users, expand card usage by existing members, and help drive customer traffic to merchants that accept Rakuten Card for payments. Rakuten Card will continue to create a variety of new added value functions and services in order to enhance card holder convenience.

(1)   Eligible customers: Rakuten Card holders (*1)

(2)   Merchants that accept the card (Online transactions only): MasterCard merchants and Rakuten Card merchants

(3)   Features:

  A)    Prepaid cards can be purchased in a wide variety of denominations

The Rakuten Virtual Prepaid Card comes in a total of 9 denominations: 500 yen, 1,000 yen, 3,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 10,000 yen, 20,000 yen, 30,000 yen, 50,000 yen and 100,000 yen. This allows customers to select a prepaid credit card for a variety of purposes.

  B)     Offers a variety of security features

Those that feel concerned about using their real name to make a purchase on an overseas site or who are using a credit card for the first time can register a nickname. The Rakuten Virtual Prepaid card also features the MasterCard SecureCode (*2) personal identification service to ensure even more secure payments. Purchased prepaid cards can be temporarily suspended in order to prevent fraudulent use when the prepaid card is not being used.

  C)     Any Rakuten Card holder (*1) can purchase a prepaid card

Rakuten Card holders can purchase a prepaid credit card regardless of whether their Rakuten Card is issued by MasterCard, JCB or Visa.

(*1) Rakuten Card (including family cards), Rakuten Premium Card (including family cards), Rakuten Black Card (including family cards), Rakuten Business Card, Rakuten Bank Card (excluding debit cards), and Rakuten Card Academy.

(*2) MasterCard SecureCode™ is a trademark and registered trademark of MasterCard Worldwide.