Bank accounts offering a UnionPay card from the UK

MothballsWallet

Hi everyone, I don't usually visit this part of the forum, but after finding a few threads on this forum ("Is it possible to get a unionpay card issued in the uk?", "Halifax Bank and Nationwide BS exchange rates!" and "Unionpay Prepaid/Debit Card") using a Google search, I was wondering if you might be able to guide me on a similar question please?

My wife and I are looking to go to the far east (we're talking China, Hong Kong, Singapore, places like that) for a while later in the year, and she's read on some travel forums that it would be a good idea to get a UnionPay physical debit/credit card to use just in case our Visa and MasterCard ones aren't accepted (this is possible in some places).

We've already been in contact with:

• HSBC International to ask if they offer an account that has a UnionPay card and we were told that they didn't (AFAIK, we don't qualify for the Premier or Jade levels in their product line).
• STICPAY - they do offer a UnionPay STIC Card, but this is currently not available due to COVID19 (although they don't tell you this until after you've signed up for a STICPAY account), and no mention of when they'll restart.
• Mifinity - similar idea to STICPAY, but I can't get hold of them to ask the question: no one answers the Belfast area phone number we found (028 9587 0100) and we've had no reply to our voicemails, email or tweet.

We're going to our nearest Bank of China branch next Friday to see if they can help with an account.

We've also looked at ICBC, but there's a page on their website from before COVID19 that says they've stopped issuing new and replacement UnionPay cards to their customers (but no idea when they'll restart). Be aware that your antivirus may flag their web link as a Phishing link - this is, AFAIK, a false positive since the link I've giving is their official website and they do use Chinese characters in the URL (I've reported this to Avast! One as well for them to check).

Can anyone here advise where we can apply for an account in the UK that has offers UnionPay physical debit/credit cards please as some of the threads and articles we're finding are now out of date?

Many thanks in advance,

MothballsWallet

Marchitiello

not not sure if this would help you/is actually available in the UK or only once you land there: 
https://m.unionpayintl.com/ph/servicesProducts/products/unionPayCard/prepaidCard/

MothballsWallet

@Marchitiello Thanks for the suggestion - we did start by looking at that site, but they had a London phone number (which doesn't get answered, just goes almost straight to an EE voicemail box) and an email address (which also doesn't get answered).

[Deleted User]

Have you considered Alipay and WeChat Pay for China and Visa/Mastercard plus cash for the rest?

lyic

I think try to get a UnionPay card in UK is not a good idea, and there no any institution issues it. The reason is

1. In HK and SG. If the merchant doesn't support V/M, then all cards must not be supported.

2. Yes, in China, places that support V/M are not much, and even UnionPay POS is not particularly widespread. Because the mainstream non-cash payment is Alipay or WeChat Pay (with QR Code).

landsberger64

Amon Bank used to offer UnionPay - I don't know if they still do. 

MothballsWallet

@landsberger64 I did google for Amon Bank, and found Amon Wallet, which is a crypto wallet and card, but no mention of whether their card is Visa, MasterCard or UnionPay. Plus, it's crypto-based, and I don't trust anything in crypto.