Warning: mkdir() [
function.mkdir]: Permission denied in
/home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line
12
Warning: mkdir() [
function.mkdir]: No such file or directory in
/home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line
12
Warning: fopen(/home/templatecore2cache//*cluesnet.com/2f/2fab2f77b93c80480721de8fc325a7db5346409d.tc2cache) [
function.fopen]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in
/home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line
130
Warning: fwrite(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in
/home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line
131
Warning: fclose(): supplied argument is not a valid stream resource in
/home/webs/affiliatelib2/CacheManager.php on line
132
{{Infobox Interbank Network| name = China UnionPay
中国银联| logo = | area = People's Republic of China| foundation = 2002| members = 165| atm = 86,000-->
China UnionPay (), also known as
UnionPay (Chinese: 银联) or by its abbreviation,
CUP, is the only
credit card organization in the
People's Republic of China (PRC). Founded in March
2002, China UnionPay is an association for China's banking card industry, operating under the approval of the
People's Bank of China. It is also the only interbank network in
People's Republic of China excluding Hong Kong and Macau, linking the automatic teller machine of some fourteen major banks and many more smaller banks throughout mainland China. It is also an EFTPOS network.
History
With the approval of the
People's Bank of China, China UnionPay was launched on March 26, 2002 in Shanghai by PBOC governor Dai Xianglong, with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China, the
Bank of China and the China Construction Bank serving as its first members. However, the concept of a unified Chinese bank card network dates back to 1993, with the formation of the "Golden Card Project" advocated by then-Chinese president Jiang Zemin. UnionPay is considered the descendant of the Golden Card Project, although attempts at unifying China's various credit card and interbank networks have been in place since the 1990s.
Use abroad
While China UnionPay cards are making great inroads outside China, they are not widely accepted as of yet. However, since 2006, China UnionPay cards can be used in over twenty further countries outside China, including the
United States,
Japan, Singapore, Malaysia,
Thailand, Germany, Switzerland, France, and Australia. UnionPay cards are also making inroads into other countries'
interbank networks, with some networks, such as
BancNet in the Philippines, already accepting UnionPay cards at the ATM level and the BancNet Payment System of all
SM Prime Holdings, Inc.'s Department Store, Supermarket, Hypermarket, Super Sale, Watson's, Sports Central, Appliance and Toy Kingdom.
- Australia - UnionPay cards are accepted at National Australia Bank ATMs, and Cashcard ATMs (a First Data company).
- Japan - accepted in Japan Post's cash machines
- France - accepted in Les Printemps shops in Paris
- Germany - some Sparkassen already accept UnionPay cards at ATMs for Euro withdrawals.
- Russia - Citibank and VTB accepts UnionPay cards at ATMs.
- Thailand - Kasikorn Bank accepts UnionPay cards at ATMs (yellow in color) for Thai Bhat withdrawals as well as TMB Bank ATMs (blue and red in color)
- United States - Citibank accepts UnionPay cards at ATMs for USD withdrawal. In May 2005 Discover Network announced an alliance with China UnionPay Network. The two companies have signed a long-term agreement that allows acceptance of Discover Network brand cards at UnionPay ATMs and point-of-sale terminals in China and acceptance of China UnionPay cards on the Pulse (interbank network) network in the U.S. As of November 1, 2007, China UnionPay cards may be accepted where Discover Network Cards are accepted in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
- Vietnam - East Asia Commercial Bank, Saigon Bank For Industry and Trade accepts UnionPay cards at ATMs for Vietnamese đồng withdrawal
- Switzerland - Credit Suisse accepts UnionPay cards at ATMs.
Members
UnionPay is the primary network of the following banks listed below:
Other UnionPay-affiliated organizations include the China Postal Savings and Remittance Bureau, certain municipal commercial banks as well as rural credit (finance)
cooperatives. Other financial institutions in cities that are already capable of issuing cards will issue UnionPay cards in succession. Overall, there are 165 financial institutions that issue UnionPay cards.
Outside mainland China, UnionPay has partnerships with other ATM networks. UnionPay has a partnership with
JETCO in Hong Kong and
Macau, both of which are not included in the UnionPay system, although this ended as of
January 1,
2006. UnionPay also has affiliations with other banks' networks: this is identified with a UnionPay sticker being displayed usually on the door of the ATM room or on the ATM itself. The sticker has the UnionPay logo and the words "Welcome to use China UnionPay cards" displayed on the bottom in English language and Chinese language.
UnionPay credit cards are not yet widely accepted outside mainland China; however, they are starting to gain acceptance in the
United States, Western Europe, East Asia and
Southeast Asia.
See also
References
Remarks by Mr. Dai Xianglong, Governor of the PBC at the Opening Ceremony of China Unionpay, People's Bank of China Press Release, March 26, 2002
Strong Measures to be Taken to Achieve the Target of Connecting Bank-Card Networks This Year, People's Bank of China Press Release, March 27, 2002
China UnionPay extends coverage globally, Xinhua news agency, February 2, 2006
China UnionPay accepted in U.S. on Discover/Pulse networks, People's Bank of China Press Release, December 6, 2005.
National Australia Bank and China UnionPay form new bond, Banking Business Review, September 26, 2006.
Cards Accepted in the United States
External links