US based Union Pay card?
 

Does such a thing exist? No particular need for one... Mostly want one for hack value. :) Just like the JCB card issued by JCB USA!

Unfortunately I don't think there are any. I do wonder though--is that due to the terms of Discover's deal with them or are there other factors involved?

Which merchants in the U.S. accept Union Pay?

This is your answer.

All* of the ones that accept Discover. You can even see the UnionPay network logo at places from Sam's Club to Saks Fifth Avenue.

Closest place to get one is Canada.

Is it practical to open an account in Canada as an American?

Looks like Hong Kong might be an option as well... Looks like all the big banks have kinda steep minimum balances or high monthly fees...

I don't think there's much paperwork involved if you just want a prepaid card. If you want a full bank account, it's still really not too much work- fill out the form, give them your SSN for FATCA reporting purposes, and you get a bank account with UnionPay debit card. The selling point in Canada is that it's only got a fixed foreign ATM fee whereas most banks charge a fixed fee and 2.5%+ on top.

However, the only bank that issues them charges C$4 a month if you don't maintain a minimum C$1000 balance. It used to be completely free, but they changed that last year.

Can you point me towards this bank?

Thanks!

UnionPay started in China and was used mostly around Asia. They wanted to start their own network so they are sort of like Discover and JCB from Japan.
I don't think that any US banks issued those cards as there's no demand for them here. Perhaps, in Canada because they have a lot of expats from Asia.
UnionPay does have reciprocity agreements with most US banks and Discover. You're able to use their cards at over 90% of ATMs in North America. There's also an increasing number of merchants accepting it such as Amazon. Expect possibly a lot of fees just to manage to get one so it may not even be worth it.

Are you sure they don't ask for a proof of address in Canada? Last time I inquired, they asked for that and a SIN.

I'm pretty sure ICBK doesn't ask for a SIN or proof of address. You just provide an address, ideally one you can receive mail at. I believe they do this to accommodate Chinese people who aren't yet resident in Canada but need an account ready on arrival.

Looks like I'm not the only person interested in a US based UnionPay card... ICBC-US looks like they will be launching cards in July!

See here.

Is anyone in the NYC or SFO area able to visit a branch in person and see if more details are available?

--D

Is it a foregone conclusion that this will be limited to New York, California, and Washington (ala JCB USA)?

I hope not! There's a press release from April that sure makes it sound like it won't be geographically restricted...

http://en.xinfinance.com/html/Indust...6/218098.shtml

Hoping someone local can find out... :)

ICBC had ads all over the seattle chinatown station. Literally every billboard. Unfortunately the card pictured was a regular Visa, Not even a signature. Small chance it may be co-branded with Union Pay (perhaps on the other side of the card?) though...

Its almost the end of July, Anyone hear any news?

It's now October.

This is literally MUFG Union Bank all over again lol... they were supposed to launch their new credit cards in April, but pushed back to the end of August.

The ICBC US unionpay cards are now available for application.

Gold card : No annual fee, 1% cash back, no FTF
Platinum card: $85 annual fee (waived first year), 1.5% cash back, no FTF

Application accepted in branch or via fax only. Call branches for details.

Visa cards seem to be available too since there seems to now be an activation page for them. The main credit card page still says "October" though.

Exciting! Thanks for the heads up!

Any word on if either the Visa or Unionpay cards will be PIN preferring or Signature preferring? It would be great to have another PIN option...

If anyone else is wondering, I heard back from ICBC and they said both the Visa and Unionpay cards are Chip + Signature and Secondary CDW.

Hmm. Thx!

Online applications are available here!

I just applied and was apparently instantly approved. Good times!

As I mentioned in another thread, the benefits seem fairly underwhelming. (Fidelity offers 2% CB without an AF, for example.) Then again, one probably wouldn't be considering these cards unless one frequently travels to China.

Anyway, if they were actually PIN preferring instead of signature preferring (which sounds unlikely), I may almost be tempted to get one. I'd then have US-issued chip and PIN cards on effectively all four major networks (UNFCU = Visa, Diners Club = MC, Redbird = AmEx and ICBC UnionPay = Discover). :D

What is Redbird? :confused: Isn't it a Target reloadable card which had been discontinued?:confused:

My understanding was that it's available at Target locations in some states (or you can buy one online from a reseller). It's useless now for MS but if you actually want an AmEx that requires PIN for most purchases it's the only option.

Thanks for the heads up!

The only reason to get one of these is if your travels take you to China, where UnionPay is the say. It's also a carefree way to dodge DCC with those difficult merchants. Furthermore, I've been hearing of increasing issues with using Discover in the Mainland, and Discover won't work for Hong Kong UnionPay or Macau UnionPay. There are also merchants who don't understand Discover's agreement with China UnionPay, leading to reduced acceptance. There are stickers to place a UnionPay badge on the Discover, but I want something that's guaranteed to work.

I took the plunge and was instantly approved for a Gold card. I still haven't received an e-mail or any other additional indication of credit limit.

I was reading on the EMV thread that unless you have an ICBC account that there is no way to view information online?

Haha well that royally sucks. Reminds me of my Marukai JCB card...

Plus I saw someone comment on the DoC site that this can't be added to alipay or wechat pay. Not surprised I suppose since a lot of Chinese sites ask which Chinese bank the card was issued from and they might not have it set up easy.

Though the comment there about Chinese POS's not accepting the card puzzles me...

My comment? I was referring to declines of using a Discover in Mainland China. The UnionPay card should work without issues.

No sorry I know Discover had problems with POS location terminals not having the D-Pas EMV specification in China. It needs to fall back but that takes many tries and is most store clerks will give up by then.

I meant this comment on DoC:

I don't think I've ever heard that before.:confused:

I haven't heard that before either. Unfortunately, I likely won't be in a position to try out the card until at least February. Perhaps others could provide data points before that time.

Looks like some sites are reporting uber china app is now required for uber use in china. Only accepts Unionpay, alipay, etc. Wonder if this should work.

I received my card today! Exciting times! :)

WELL?! Pics? Credit limit?

Also please let us know if you can access online banking without a checking and if it works in Alipay, Discover points in the US, etc. Thx!:D

And see if the chip works at e.g. Walmart (supposedly it doesn't anywhere in the US but who knows?)

I did too. I wasn't instantly approved either; I had gotten the "need more time" page and I did nothing further. My limit is $8k. This process was a pleasure compared to JCB which was more like getting a mortgage.

I was approved with an $8,000 limit too. Lucky numbers I guess. :D

I just received the card today. I had to call to activate since the online form was having some difficulties taking my information. I then proceeded to try to register an online account, but I never received the verification code.

I remember reading an earlier post stating that you needed an active checking account to access online banking for the credit card. If you visit the Enrollment page it will allow you to enter the credit card number. Once you provide your details, it will ask you to send a verification e-mail or text. I couldn't do the text as there was no mobile number associated with the account. The e-mail comes up, but I never get the verification code. I called customer service, and someone from the online banking team will get back to me on Monday.

I was approved with a $8,000 limit as well. I have the card and I did register for online banking so it does work. The verification code took a while for it to reach my email, so I had to be patient but it did work and I was able to sign up for online banking and paperless statements. I don't have a checking account with them either nor do I want/need one. I need to find a place in the UK that takes Union Pay and see if the chip works.