Press Release

In this position, Haines will be responsible for overseeing the companys auto finance business, which is headquartered in San Diego. He will report directly to Sandy Derickson, vice chairman of Household. Haines will replace Walter Menezes, who was promoted to Group Executive of Households credit card services in Salinas, California.

"John brings many important qualities to this role." Derickson said. "He is a proven leader and problem-solver, results-oriented and focused on people. The auto finance business will benefit immeasurably as he takes the helm."

Haines has more than 15 years of management experience in the areas of finance, operations, risk management, asset remarketing, auditing and accounting within General Electrics manufacturing and services businesses. Most recently, as the former Senior Vice President of Products and Services for GEs Fleet Services, Haines led its commercial vehicle leasing business and provided marketing leadership for service promotion and business-wide positioning.

Prior to his last assignment, Haines served as the Senior Vice President of North American Operations for GE Fleet Services from 2002 to 2003, and Vice President of Asset Remarketing for GE Capital Auto Financial Services from 1999 to 2001. Before joining GE in 1989, Haines served as Senior Auditor at Price Waterhouse from 1985 to1989.

Haines earned a bachelors degree in accounting from Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana, and a masters degree in management from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

About Household International, Inc.

Household International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings Inc., is one of the top 10 financial services holding companies in the United States. Household's businesses are leading providers of consumer loans, credit cards, auto finance and credit insurance products in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada. In the United States, Household companies operate under the two oldest and most recognized names in consumer finance -- HFC and Beneficial. Additionally, Household's businesses are some 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 www.household.com.

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For more information, contact:

Kathleen Morrison,
Household International
847-564-6111
kamorrison@household.com