- UnionPay payment is available in about 90% of the merchants in Asia Pacific 
and Europe 
- 80% of merchants in the US now accept payments with UnionPay credit cards 
- More special offers unveiled for the Chinese National Day holiday

UnionPay International ("UPI"), the global leading payment provider, announced 
recently that the number of merchants outside mainland China accepting UnionPay 
services has surpassed 28 million, with an increase of two million in the first 
half of the year alone. Meanwhile, UPI has further expanded its existing 
cashback rewards program, with eight of China's major commercial banks issuing 
UnionPay cashback rewards cards. All 28 million overseas merchants are covered 
in the cashback rewards, as well as other promotion programs offered by UPI.

According to statistics from the China National Tourism Administration, the 
number of outbound tourists during the upcoming Chinese National Day holiday is 
estimated to reach a new record high. Teaming up with a range of institutions, 
UPI has released various promotions for cardholders to enjoy a global trip 
while spending less. These promotions include cashback rewards, discounts at 
merchants and digital "red envelopes" in the UnionPay mobile application, as 
well as a special offer for a 30% discount for UnionPay cardholders only in 80 
travel destinations worldwide.

Every payment gets a cashback reward 

The UnionPay acceptance footprint has expanded to 174 countries and regions. In 
the Asia Pacific and Europe regions, UnionPay payment is available in about 90% 
of the merchants; meanwhile, some 80% of merchants in the US now accept 
payments with UnionPay credit cards. Statistics from UPI also reveal a growing 
acceptance rate in emerging travel destinations such as Russia, where the 
entire country will accept UnionPay payments within the year; Africa, where 50 
countries and regions accept UnionPay payments; and India, where acceptance 
coverage has increased by 700,000 merchants in the first half of 2019.

In July, UnionPay unveiled its first cross-border cashback rewards program, 
with eight commercial banks in China successively launching cashback rewards 
credit cards, including the Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of 
China. Cardholders shopping at overseas or online merchants accepting UnionPay 
services enjoy 1% cashback reward for each purchase, with the maximum reward 
capped at 1,000 yuan per month. The rewards are available in conjunction with 
other promotion benefits.

Special offers for Chinese National Day holiday

UPI has launched widely accessible promotion benefits for the upcoming "Golden 
Week" holiday. In addition to cashback rewards, cardholders of 10 specific 
banks receive extra cashback rewards of up to 20% while shopping abroad with 
UnionPay credit cards. 

Additionally, UnionPay's National Day holiday promotion covers every part of an 
overseas trip, from transportation to sightseeing. The promotion is available 
when booking hotels on agoda.com and Travelzoo, renting cars at Hertz in 
several Asian countries, and even visiting museums in the US, such as the 
Guggenheim Museum. It also extends to shopping at some 300 renowned malls 
including the Galleries Lafayette and King Power Duty Free in Thailand, where 
UnionPay cardholders receive a rebate of up to 16,000 Thai Baht when the amount 
purchased reaches a certain limit.

Promotions are also available for users of the UnionPay mobile application. 
According to statistics from UPI, the total amount of UnionPay app users has 
surpassed 200 million, and over 3 million merchants in 46 countries and regions 
accept UnionPay mobile payment services, including QR code-based and NFC-based 
payments. During the Golden Week holiday, app users receive virtual "red 
envelopes" containing reward money after shopping with UnionPay cards or the 
UnionPay app at over 5,000 merchants in the US, Australia and Asia. 

About UnionPay International

UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay focused on the 
growth and support of UnionPay's global business. In partnership with more than 
2,000 institutions worldwide, UnionPay International has enabled card 
acceptance in 174 countries and regions with issuance in 56 countries and 
regions. UnionPay International provides high quality, cost effective and 
secure cross-border payment services to the world's largest cardholder base and 
ensures convenient local services to a growing number of global UnionPay 
cardholders and merchants.

SOURCE  UnionPay International