ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NCR Atleos Corporation (NYSE: NATL) ("Atleos†), a leader in expanding self-service financial access for financial institutions, retailers and consumers, today announced that UnionPay cardholders can now withdraw cash at thousands of Cashzone ATMs across the UK, timed to coincide with Chinese New Year celebrations. UnionPay is one of the world's largest card schemes with card issuance in 84 countries and regions. Headquartered in Shanghai, it is also the major domestic. ...

Core Insights - UnionPay has made significant advancements in cross-border payment innovation in the Middle East with the introduction of a multi-currency card and a QR code interoperability project [1][4] Group 1: Multi-Currency Card Launch - UnionPay, in collaboration with ICBC Turkey, launched Turkey's first local multi-currency debit and credit card [2] - The card supports five currencies: Renminbi (RMB), Turkish Lira, British Pound, US Dollar, and Euro, and is usable across UnionPay's acceptance network in over 180 countries and regions [3] Group 2: QR Code Interoperability - UnionPay signed a strategic cooperation agreement with BKM, Turkey's national payment switching network, to enable QR code interoperability [2][5] - This cooperation allows UnionPay users to perform scan-to-pay transactions in Turkey and enables Turkish users to scan UnionPay QR codes globally [5][6] Group 3: Market Presence and Strategy - UnionPay has established a strong presence in the Middle East, covering 15 countries with extensive acceptance in the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, and Pakistan [7] - The company has partnered with local financial institutions for card issuance, achieving a cumulative volume of tens of millions of cards, solidifying its position as a key bank card brand in the region [8] Group 4: Future Outlook - UnionPay plans to deepen collaboration with regional financial institutions to enhance payment standard interoperability and technical systems, promoting cross-border economic exchanges and digital economic development [9]

Core Points - UnionPay International has launched a pilot cross-border QR payment system between China and Indonesia, supervised by the central banks of both countries [1][3] - The pilot allows selected users to complete transactions using UnionPay and Alipay apps at over 40 million QRIS merchants in Indonesia [2][3] - The project is part of a government-to-government initiative, with full operationalization expected by 2025 [3][4] Group 1 - The pilot was initiated with a transaction demonstration in Beijing using an Indonesian mobile payment application [1] - In Jakarta, users successfully completed transactions by scanning Indonesia's standardized QR code (QRIS) [2] - The current phase is limited to pre-approved participants and merchants, with plans for expansion after the trial [3] Group 2 - UnionPay has signed cooperation agreements with Indonesian financial entities and switch networks to facilitate the project [4] - QR payment transactions will be settled in local currencies as per the bilateral agreement [4] - UnionPay is also expanding its QR payment linkage to 19 other countries and regions outside of mainland China [4]

Core Insights - Freedom Holding's CEO, Timur Turlov, highlights an increase in cross-border e-commerce between China and Kazakhstan following a cooperation agreement signed in Beijing [1][5] - The agreement aims to enhance economic ties and facilitate payment systems between the two countries [2][5] Group 1: Agreement and Economic Ties - Freedom Bank, part of Freedom Holding, has partnered with Verum Payments and UnionPay Business to support Kazakhstan-China cross-border e-commerce [2][5] - The cooperation agreement was signed during Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's official visit to China, indicating strengthening relations between Kazakhstan and China [5] Group 2: Payment Systems and Infrastructure - The agreement will help establish payment channels and correspondent accounts in both yuan and US dollars, enhancing trade facilitation [3][7] - UnionPay Business will assist in developing the technical infrastructure necessary for these payment systems, while Freedom Bank will focus on expanding the payment system across Central Asia [7] Group 3: Future Opportunities - Turlov emphasizes the potential to create interoperable platforms that can facilitate cross-border financial flows while adhering to regulatory standards [4] - The company aims to collaborate with Chinese fintech firms and utilize various payment gateways, including WeChat, to streamline payments between the two nations [4] Group 4: Investment Context - Kazakhstan has been a key destination for China's Belt and Road Initiative, with significant investments totaling US$23 billion in the first half of 2025 [6] - The largest investment project in Kazakhstan is a US$12 billion aluminum complex led by East Hope Group, showcasing the scale of Chinese investment in the region [6]

Core Insights - The ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum 2025 was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with significant participation from UnionPay's leadership, highlighting the company's commitment to regional economic collaboration [1][4]. Group 1: UnionPay's Strategic Initiatives - UnionPay emphasizes its role as a key financial infrastructure and international card scheme, supporting national strategies and promoting regional trade and digital transformation in ASEAN and GCC countries [4][9]. - The acceptance network of UnionPay spans all ten ASEAN member states and all six GCC member countries, with over 90% merchant acceptance in ASEAN and nearly universal acceptance in GCC countries [5][6]. Group 2: Product and Service Expansion - More than 70 million UnionPay cards have been issued in ASEAN, with tailored products like the SplendorPlus Card for international visitors to China [7]. - UnionPay has launched over 40 digital wallets in response to the shift towards mobile payments, partnering with local banks and fintech companies [7]. Group 3: Cross-Border Payment Solutions - UnionPay has established partnerships with local payment networks in seven ASEAN countries, enhancing cross-border payment connectivity and contributing to the internationalization of the renminbi [8]. - The collaboration with Vietnam and Indonesia showcases UnionPay's commitment to government-to-government frameworks for payment interoperability [8]. Group 4: Economic Collaboration and Future Outlook - China, ASEAN, and GCC countries are enhancing cooperation through practical collaborations, with UnionPay positioned as a facilitator of economic digitization and regional integration [9]. - UnionPay aims to foster win-win partnerships and long-term value creation among China, ASEAN, and GCC nations [9].

Core Insights - UnionPay has significantly enhanced the cross-border QR payment interoperability between China and Cambodia, achieving over 200% year-on-year growth in QR payment value in Q1 2025, marking a record high [1][4]. Group 1: Partnership and Cooperation - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) and the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2023 to collaborate on financial innovation and payment systems [4]. - The QR payment connectivity project was implemented by UnionPay and Cambodian partners under the cooperation framework established by the two central banks [4]. Group 2: Payment System Expansion - In December 2023, UnionPay and NBC enabled payment acceptance on Cambodia's KHQR network for over 200 UnionPay partner wallets, including the UnionPay App and Chinese banking apps [4]. - The number of transactions in Q1 2025 grew by over 100% year-on-year, while the transaction value increased by over 200% [4]. Group 3: Cross-Border Payment Linkage - In March 2025, UnionPay and NBC announced the integration of Cambodia's Bakong wallets into UnionPay's global QR acceptance network and WeChat Pay's QR merchant network in China, establishing a two-way QR payment linkage with Southeast Asia [5]. - Bakong e-wallets have shown steady volume growth in various spending categories in China, becoming a preferred cross-border payment tool for Cambodian residents [5]. Group 4: Market Presence and Infrastructure - Since entering the Cambodian market in 2008, UnionPay has developed a comprehensive payment service system, with nearly all merchant POS terminals and 80% of ATMs in Cambodia accepting UnionPay cards [6]. - Local banks in Cambodia have issued hundreds of thousands of UnionPay cards, enhancing the acceptance network and local business offerings [6]. Group 5: Global Expansion and Future Plans - UnionPay has established or is advancing cross-border QR payment partnerships in 19 countries and regions, enabling over 10 million QR merchants overseas [7]. - The company aims to optimize payment experiences, expand merchant and user adoption for the two-way service, and deliver greater value to consumers [7].