Liu Yong-chun, executive vice president of China UnionPay said in Hong Kong on Thursday that China UnionPay renminbi card holders in Hong Kong and Macao have been increased by 100,000 in the first half of this year.

He made the remarks at a press conference for DBS Bank Hong Kong (DBS)'s announcing the launch of its ATM card that can access four major payment networks - China UnionPay (CUP), JETCO, PLUS and EPS in mid-August.

Liu said in the first half of this year, the transaction volume of the China UnionPay cards in Hong Kong and Macao reached 4.7 billion HK dollars (605 million US dollars).

He said China UnionPay has planed to launch its service in the US, Japan, European counties and Southeast Asian countries at the end of this year.

Thursday's launch of DBS ATM card is significant as this is the first time DBS ATM card customers can make payments and cash withdrawals at ATMs and retailers in the Chinese mainland and around the world.

In the Chinese mainland, customers can enjoy 24-hour ATM services at over 70,000 CUP ATMs and make Point-of-Sale purchases at over 500,000 CUP merchant terminals while in Hong Kong, customers can enjoy 24-hour ATM services at around 1,700 JETCO ATMs, including cash withdrawals.

In addition, customers can enjoy EPS services in over 20,000 retailers in Hong Kong; Customers can withdraw cash round-the- clock anywhere in the world via the PLUS network.

Sunny Cheung, managing director and head of Consumer Banking of DBS Bank Hong Kong said, "We are delighted to join hands with China UnionPay to launch an ATM card that can provide Hong Kong customers global convenience in cash management. As cross-border activities between Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Chinese mainland continue to increase, the enhanced DBS ATM card is certainly one card that our customers must have to help them better manage their expenses and purchases all within an account."

Liu Yong-chun, executive vice president of China UnionPay, said, "China UnionPay always looks for opportunities to collaborate with Hong Kong banks to bring customers more spending or card service options. Through this collaboration, China UnionPay is able to reach out to more Hong Kong customers from DBS' client base."

Existing DBS customers who wish to enjoy the ATM services in mainland China should apply for a DBS ATM card. All current JETCO and PLUS network ATM services remain unchanged.

The Singapore headquartered DBS, the fifth largest bank in Hong Kong, provides an array of RMB services in Hong Kong.

Source: Xinhua