In J.D. Power and Associates 1998 Comprehensive Cardholder Satisfaction Study,^SM Discover^® and Private Issue^® cards tied for first among Reward cards by providing customers with the highest overall satisfaction among Reward cardholders. J.D. Power and Associates classify the Discover and Private Issue cards as Reward cards on the basis of the Cashback Bonus^® and rebates they offer. The survey results were based on the following six measures: Customer Service, Card Servicing and Reputation, Price, Rewards, Credit and Payment Policy.

J.D. Power and Associates offered the following summary of its methodology: "The Comprehensive Cardholder Satisfaction Survey analyzes and ranks customer satisfaction performance of 23 credit card issuers that offer 54 individual credit cards. A total of 12, 082 consumer credit cardholders were surveyed in this independently funded J.D. Power and Associates study."

J.D. Power and Associates is an international marketing information firm headquartered in Los Angeles. The firm provides research and consulting in customer satisfaction and consumer opinion. For more information on J.D. Power and Associates, visit www.jdpower.com.