Press Release

Company recognized for family oriented benefits by Working Mother magazine

Prospect Heights, Ill., September 24, 2002 -- For the fourth consecutive year, Household International (NYSE: HI), the $119 billion (managed assets) consumer lender, was honored by Working Mother magazine as an "employer of choice" on their annual list of best places to work. This honor is presented to a select group of companies nationwide that offer outstanding employee compensation, benefits and work/life balance programs.

"We are extremely proud to be included on Working Mother's best places to work list. We strive to create an environment that helps moms deal with today's workplace challenges," said Colin Kelly, executive vice president - administration, Household. "Our employees play an integral role in the success of our company, and we continually evaluate their feedback to provide an environment that helps them manage their work/life priorities."

The publication's annual survey rates companies on six criteria: compensation, opportunity for advancement, childcare assistance, flexibility (in work options), parental leave and work/life support. Specifically, Household was recognized for its onsite childcare centers and Family Care Plus, a dependent-care, pre-tax spending account in which Household matches an employee's investment at $0.50 on the dollar up to $1,667. Household was also recognized for providing employees with access to financial planning resources, including new college savings and elder care resource programs during a volatile economic climate.

Household moms take advantage of these benefits in all of its major facilities and consumer lending branch network across the country. One working mom, Renee Terracina, who works in the company's Prospect Heights, Ill., office outside Chicago, particularly values Household's flexible working schedule, which has allowed her to continually advance in her career.

"With three children, I never thought I'd be able to advance my career and be a mom. However, Household's flex time allows me to work a condensed work week, which gives me more time with my children, and still earn a recent promotion to manager. Household's emphasis on work/life balance demonstrates how much the company values working mothers." Household also provides employees with other valuable benefits like competitive salaries, relocation reimbursement, health and wellness programs, training and mentoring opportunities, and numerous reward and incentive programs.

In fact, this past year several working mothers received special recognition for consistently exceeding personal, departmental and company performance goals. For example, four employee moms who work as credit counselors in various business units were each awarded a $50,000 bonus check when they were named Legendary Performers. And, through Household's Dream Awards program, two working moms in the consumer lending business unit received dream prizes of their choice (valued at $10,000)--a pre-driven luxury car and new home furnishings. Both recognition programs were available to all eligible Household employees.

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.