Press Release

Prospect Heights, Ill. - September 23, 2003 - Working Mother magazine today honored Household on its annual list of "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." Companies were chosen based on a number of factors, including: flexible scheduling, child-care options, the number of work/life programs offered, the employee usage of such programs and the representation of women throughout the company. This year marks the fourth consecutive year Household has received this distinguished honor.

"Household is thrilled to be included yet again on Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies list," said Colin P. Kelly, senior executive vice president of administration for HSBC North America. "Culturally, the company recognizes the importance of empowering our employees to achieve balance in their personal and professional lives, especially when it comes to family."

Working Mother chose to include Household because of the company's progressive benefits package that includes free mammograms for employees, flexible work schedules, on-site child-care and back-up centers and a summer day camp at company headquarters for children ages 6 to 12. "Even these tough economic times haven't swayed the commitment of our forward-thinking '100 Best' companies," says Working Mother Editor-in-Chief Jill Kirschenbaum.

With over 28,000 U.S. employees, Household's workforce is almost two-thirds (62%) female. These numbers demonstrate the emphasis the company has placed on improving women's advancement in the workplace, as well as its commitment to continue this trend in the future.

"Household's HR policies have allowed me to maintain a substantive and challenging position, while still allowing needed time and flexibility with my family," said Jennifer Walton, assistant vice president for strategic initiatives at Household. "As the mother of two small children, the ability to telecommute and receive matching funds for childcare creates harmony and reduces stress in my day-to-day life."

In addition to the Working Mother "100 Best Companies," Household is recognized as an "employer of choice" by Training Magazine, Computerworld, Money, Black Collegian, and DiversityInc.com.

About Household
Household International is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc (NYSE: HBC), one of the largest banking and financial services organizations in the world. Through its businesses, Household is a leading provider of consumer loans, credit cards, auto finance and credit insurance products in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. In the United States, Household operates under the two oldest and most recognized names in consumer finance - HFC and Beneficial. Additionally, Household is 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 website at www.household.com.

About Working Mother
Working Mother magazine, founded in 1979, reaches more than three million readers and is the only national magazine for career-committed mothers. Its 18-year signature initiative, "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers," is a benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America. The magazine is part of Working Mother Media (WMM), which also owns the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), NAFE Magazine, and the annual 100 Best Companies Work/Life Conference. In 2003, WMM published its first annual list of the Best Companies for Women of Color.