Press Release

Another industry first for Household's Refund Lending Business

Prospect Heights, IL, February 19, 2002 - Household International, (NYSE: HI) the $110 billion (managed assets) consumer lender, announced today that its refund lending business has introduced the TaxLine® product, an alternative payment vehicle offered to taxpayers who owe federal income. Nearly 30 percent of U.S. taxpayers owe federal income taxes.

The TaxLine® product will be available for the first time during this year's federal tax preparation season. Electronic filers who owe federal income tax can apply for a loan up to $5,000 and, once approved, use the loan to pay their federal income taxes. Taxpayers who take advantage of the TaxLine® product will enjoy a 90-day same-as-cash period, which begins on April 15th. Loans taken out prior to April 15th will not have any payments due until 90 days after the tax deadline. If the balance is paid in full during the same-as-cash period, the customers will not have to pay any finance charges.

"Household's industry-leading TaxLine® product reinforces our dedication to providing best-in-class products and services that our business partners, electronic return originators and taxpayer customers expect," said Patrick Cozza, CEO and managing director of Household's refund lending business. "For more than 16 years, Household has been developing products designed to meet taxpayers' needs. This year, we are significantly broadening our program to include customers who have to pay taxes as well as those who receive refunds."

TaxLine® complements Household's growing portfolio of industry leading tax refund lending products and services. In the 1980s, Household introduced the first refund anticipation product, called the Express Refund® loan, one year after the IRS began a pilot program to allow federal income tax returns to be filed electronically. Another industry first was Household's introduction of the Instant Refund Anticipation Loan this year, where taxpayers can apply for the loan in the amount of their income tax refund, and once approved, receive their tax refund proceeds almost instantaneously. These tax refund anticipation products make it possible for U.S. taxpayers to receive a loan on their income tax refund in a matter of minutes or days instead of waiting weeks for their tax refund check in the mail.

About Household Refund Lending
Household's refund lending business is the largest tax-related financial services provider in the U.S. serving more than 14,000 retail electronic return originators and independent tax preparation offices in the United States.

About Household
Household's businesses are leading providers of consumer loan, credit card, auto finance and credit insurance products in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. In the United States, Household's largest business, founded in 1878, operates under the two oldest and most recognized names in consumer finance - HFC and Beneficial. Household is also one of the nation's largest issuers of private label and general purpose credit cards, including The GM Card® and the AFL-CIO's Union Plus® card. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.household.com.