UnionPay

UnionPay is a core Chinese banking organisation and a leading global payment network that is committed to building a secure, efficient, and inclusive payment ecosystem since its establishment in 2002. Through continuous payment technology innovations and steady international expansion, UnionPay has become one of the world's top three card brands, with a growing competitive presence and influence across the global payments market.

Headquartered in Shanghai, UnionPay operates an extensive and full-fledged global payment service network. As of the end of 2023, UnionPay had issued over 9.74 billion cards globally and accounted for 40.5% of global card transaction value, making it one of the largest card associations in the world. UnionPay's acceptance network spans 183 countries and regions, serving more than 27 million merchants in China and 67 million merchants overseas. Outside China, it has issued over 260 million cards, reflecting UnionPay's growing international service capabilities.

Payment security is a core pillar of UnionPay and the organisation is constantly working with industry stakeholders to enhance its risk prevention and control system. UnionPay has established an all-round, three-tier defence system that covers the entire transaction process. First of all, UnionPay has an advanced risk management system to ensure payment security. UnionPay also has an ever-evolving five-in-one risk service system, which integrates risk rules, monitoring, emergency response, loss compensation, and value-added services. In addition, by collaborating with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, UnionPay has created a joint defence mechanism that offers users comprehensive payment protection.

On the product side, UnionPay has established a multi-level and diversified portfolio that includes bank cards, mobile payments, online payments, and other innovative payment tools. UnionPay is still expanding and optimising its domestic and international acceptance networks, promoting convenient mobile payments and advancing its globalisation efforts. By constantly improving its global payment ecosystem, UnionPay is enhancing its competitiveness and influence in the global payment market.

Properties

The following table lists the product properties supported by UnionPay:

Note: AVS is an anti-fraud service provided by credit card issuers, primarily used to verify the cardholder's identity during online or card-not-present transactions.

User experience

This section shows the user experience of UnionPay in different scenarios:

API integration

This section shows the difference in user experience between those PCI and non-PCI qualified under the API integration.

PCI qualified

This section shows the difference between the first-time and subsequent payments under the PCI qualified.

First-time payment

Web

App

Subsequent payments

Web

App

Non-PCI qualified

This section shows the difference between the first-time and subsequent payments under the non-PCI qualified.

First-time payment

Web

App

Subsequent payments

Web

App

SDK integration

This section shows the difference between the first-time and subsequent payments under the SDK integration.

First-time payment

Web

App

Subsequent payments

Web

App

FAQs

1. What does UnionPay offer in terms of risk control?

UnionPay has built a three-tier defence line to manage risks and ensure security, aiming to create a secure and stable payment ecosystem. These include: chip cards with built-in CPUs that perform dynamic encryption, providing a more secure verification method compared to the static information verification of magnetic stripe cards and greatly reducing the risk of counterfeit card fraud; payment tokenisation technology, which protects the security of user privacy information; and the embedded security chips in mobile terminals to achieve financial-grade encryption, ensuring that no user data is retained on the mobile manufacturer's servers. UnionPay Cloud QuickPass also introduces risk compensation and prepayment mechanisms, offering 72-hour lost card protection services. In case of individual unexpected incidents, UnionPay can quickly resolve users' financial losses and protect their legal rights.

2. Does UnionPay issue cards internationally?

Yes. UnionPay issues cards in 83 countries and regions outside the Chinese mainland, with its issuance volumes ranking among the top in markets such as Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Mongolia, and Pakistan. Additionally, UnionPay has launched over 200 wallet partnerships in 36 countries and regions, including mainstream wallets in Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. UnionPay's global products are designed for cross-border compatibility, enabling seamless use across the global UnionPay acceptance network.

3. What is the UnionPay Borderless Digital Bank Card?

The UnionPay Borderless Digital Bank Card is UnionPay's first digital bank card, developed in collaboration with commercial banks, leading mobile device manufacturers, key merchant partners, and payment institutions. The service does not require a physical card and can be issued and managed entirely online through platforms such as the Cloud QuickPass app and participating banks' mobile apps, offering users an end-to-end experience from card application, usage, to transaction management.
Cardholders can deploy the digital card across a wide range of payment scenarios, including e-commerce, public transport, and mobile wallets, while enjoying dedicated card benefits, thus claiming an interconnected digital payment ecosystem.

4. What is the Interchange++ pricing model?

Interchange++ is a highly transparent payment pricing model. This model accurately tracks the interchange fees and card network settlement fees incurred for each transaction and allows for cost pre-estimation before the payment is completed. With this precise, transaction-level pricing model, merchants can clearly understand the actual cost breakdown for each payment.

5. Does Antom charge an initial system fee or monthly service fee?

Antom's basic acquiring products do not charge any system installation fees, monthly service fees, technical integration fees, or account cancellation fees. If you would like to learn more about specific service terms and fee structures, please contact our business team, who will provide a customised service description based on your business needs.