- If Japan is a regular destination or if the country is on your bucket list and you are finally planning to go, PNB just launched a credit card that was designed with exactly that trip in mind.
- The PNB JCB Platinum Credit Card is Philippine National Bank's newest card product, issued following PNB's formalized partnership with JCB International, Japan's only international payment brand, announced in May 2026. It is the first PNB card to run on the JCB network, and it comes with a full suite of Japan-specific privileges.
- Why JCB is different, especially in Japan:
If Japan is a regular destination or if the country is on your bucket list and you are finally planning to go, PNB just launched a credit card that was designed with exactly that trip in mind.
The PNB JCB Platinum Credit Card is Philippine National Bank's newest card product, issued following PNB's formalized partnership with JCB International, Japan's only international payment brand, announced in May 2026. It is the first PNB card to run on the JCB network, and it comes with a full suite of Japan-specific privileges.
Why JCB is different, especially in Japan:
JCB is not just an international payment network. It is Japan's home-grown card brand, deeply embedded in the country's retail, dining, hotel, and transportation infrastructure. Many Japanese merchants — from convenience stores and department stores to smaller restaurants and cultural attractions — prioritize JCB acceptance. Some exclusive Japan experiences, lounges, and partner deals are available only to JCB cardholders.
Bringing the PNB JCB Platinum to the Philippines means Filipino cardholders now access that network directly — from their own local bank.
What PNB JCB Platinum cardholders get:
• Accelerated rewards on Japan spend. Your points accumulate faster every time you use the card at Japanese merchants — meaning every yen spent in Japan builds your rewards balance at a higher rate than standard international spend.
• JCB Plaza Lounge access in Japan. JCB Plaza Lounges are located across major Japanese cities — Tokyo (Shinjuku and Ginza), Osaka, Kyoto, and others — offering free services including luggage forwarding arrangements, currency exchange assistance, restaurant reservations, and tourism information in multiple languages. These lounges are exclusive to JCB cardholders and are genuinely useful for navigating Japan as a foreign traveler.
• JCB Airport Lounge access in Japan and Hawaii. Complimentary access to JCB-selected lounges at Japanese international airports, giving you a comfortable pre-flight or transit experience without a separate lounge membership fee.
• 24/7 JCB Platinum Concierge Desk. Multi-lingual operators available around the clock for restaurant and golf course reservations, sightseeing arrangements, entertainment bookings, and credit card emergency assistance — anywhere in the world. One call covers every travel need.
• Hertz car rental discount. Up to 20% off regular standard rates at Hertz locations in over 60 countries — particularly useful for Japan, where some rural destinations are best reached by rental car.
• JCB Global WiFi discount. Exclusive discount on Wi-Fi router rental in Japan — keeping you connected without paying full tourist rates.
• Universal Studios Japan JCB Lounge. Exclusive lounge access at USJ's Jurassic Park area — with priority access to The Flying Dinosaur attraction. Available to JCB Platinum cardholders with advance reservation.
• Exclusive dining, shopping, and merchant promotions in Japan. As PNB's partnership with JCB deepens, cardholders will have access to Japan-specific merchant deals, dining discounts, and promotional offers.
The timing matters:
With PAL officially joining the oneworld alliance in 2027 — giving Filipino travelers access to Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and 13 other partner airlines for redemptions — and new international routes like Manila-Chicago launching in November 2026, the window for building a strong Japan-focused travel card portfolio has never been more relevant.