Press Release

Prospect Heights, IL - May 6, 2002 - Household International (NYSE:HI), the 124-year-old consumer lender, announced today the Chicago recipients of its financial education grant. As part of a $3 million, multi-year campaign to promote financial literacy, Household has dedicated a total of $415,000 in grants to six Chicago organizations that advocate for financial literacy and fair housing: Genesis Housing Development Corporation, Midwest Community Council, Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Chicago, The Resurrection Project (TRP), Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities (LCMOC) and the Chicago Urban League.

Household established the grant program to help ensure consumers have access to the resources they need to make knowledgeable financial decisions. This year, additional grant money has also been dedicated to grassroots organizations in Los Angeles and Atlanta. After the initial rollout in these three cities, Household will evaluate expanding the program to other cities.

"Household's grant program builds on our long-term commitment to empower working Americans with the information and tools they need to protect and enhance their financial well-being," said William F. Aldinger, chairman and chief executive officer of Household. "We are pleased to support these community groups who share that very same commitment."

Each organization will leverage the Household grant money to expand its current program offerings:

In addition to the grant program, Household regularly works with other organizations that promote financial literacy. Household has partnered with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Jump$tart Coalition to help provide financial education to consumers.

Household also equips customers and other borrowers to effectively manage their finances through a variety of free tools and resources, including a web site, www.yourcreditcounts.com, and a series of financial management booklets both of which include tips and strategies for managing savings, spending and credit. (The booklets are available in all HFC and Beneficial branches and online: www.household.com/corp/himm_money_management.jsp.)

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 widely 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.

About Genesis Housing Development Corporation
Genesis Housing Development Corporation is a faith-based community development corporation established in 1996 to promote residential, commercial and economic development for community residents in the Grand Boulevard, Kenwood and Oakland neighborhoods. The organization's founding principle and motto is "re-neighboring our community." In order to achieve this motto, Genesis builds affordable homes, counsels first time and moderate-income homebuyers, provides education workshops and offers three HUD sponsored Youthbuild construction training programs in Chicago. The organization's efforts help ensure that low-and moderate-income residents remain in the community and that families with less financial means have an opportunity to move into the community.
Contact: Eric Puckett, (773) 285-1685

About Midwest Community Council
Founded in 1947, the Midwest Community Council focuses on issues of service, education, healthcare, energy assistance, employment and economic development. The organization provides a variety of community and social service programs to a substantial number of low- and moderate-income families.
Contact: D. Fondy James, Executive Director, (773) 826-2244

About Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Chicago
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Inc. (NHS) is a nonprofit organization working to rebuild low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in the city of Chicago that are experiencing deterioration or a lack of investment. Formed in 1975, NHS stimulates community investment through partnerships between residents, businesses and government. The organization's mission is to rekindle hope in a neighborhood's future, to restore conventional and local investment in the community and to leave behind empowered, self-reliant residents.
Contact: Mary Fran Riley, Director of Development and Public Affairs, (312) 491-5126

About The Resurrection Project (TRP)
Founded in 1990 by a coalition of churches in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood, The Resurrection Project's mission is to build relationships and challenge people to act on their faith and values to create healthy communities through organizing, education and community development. The population served is predominantly comprised of low- and moderate-income Latino families in the Pilsen, Back of the Yards and Little Village communities. Since its inception, the Resurrection Project has produced more than $30 million in community investment; built $6.5 million in net assets; created affordable housing for more than 625 residents; and developed two daycare centers and an after school care center serving more than 400 children. Today, TRP impacts more than 2,000 residents annually through its community development and community organizing initiatives.
Contact: Julie DeGraaf, Director of Homeownership Services, (312) 666-1323

About Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities (LCMOC)
The Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities was founded as the result of a campaign for open housing led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1966. LCMOC is the nation's largest and most comprehensive fair housing organization. A not-for-profit organization, LCMOC's mission is to eliminate discrimination and segregation in metropolitan Chicago housing markets. To achieve this purpose, the organization operates a number of programs including legal action, housing counseling, community relations, public policy and advocacy.
Contact: James Shannon, Director, Fair Housing Centers, (708) 450-0070

About Chicago Urban League
Established in 1916, the mission of the Chicago Urban League is to eliminate racial discrimination and segregation and to work for the achievement of equal opportunity and parity for African Americans, other minorities and the poor in every phase of American life. Today the League's work is focused in three primary areas: education, economic development and community empowerment.

Household Contact:
Megan Hayden, Manager - Corporate Communications, 847-291-2101