Press Release

Dallas, Chesapeake, Va., and Tampa, Fla., to benefit from Household's three-year, $3 million grant program

Prospect Heights, IL, October 22, 2002 - Household International (NYSE:HI), the 124-year-old consumer lender, announced today its 2003 Financial Education Grant program that will operate in the communities of Dallas, Chesapeake, Va., and Tampa, Fla.

This is the second year of a three-year, $3 million initiative that helps community organizations provide financial literacy education programs. The goal is to empower individuals with the financial knowledge that will help further their educational, social and economic equity, so they can grow and prosper. The Financial Education Grant program was introduced this year in Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles, and over $1 million was awarded to 14 grassroots nonprofit organizations.

Household is now accepting applications for the Financial Education Grant program from eligible 501 (c)(3) nonprofit community organizations interested in obtaining funding for financial education initiatives exclusively in the communities of Dallas, Chesapeake, Va., and Tampa, Fla. To obtain an application, organizations can link directly to Household's website. Applications will be accepted through Friday, December 6, 2002.

"Household is committed to improving financial literacy in communities across the U.S., and our financial education grant program has been an important part of Household's efforts to reach individuals and families and give them the tools and resources to make knowledgeable financial decisions," said Diane Jackson, Household's director of community relations.

Household also equips customers and other borrowers with free tools and resources to effectively manage their finances through a variety of materials, including a website, www.yourcreditcounts.com, and a series of financial management booklets, all 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.yourcreditcounts.com.)

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.