Tanzania's switch organisation enables all its ATMs to accept UnionPay cards

26 May 2016

On 25 May, UnionPay International and Tanzania's bankcard switch organisation, Umoja, jointly announced that UnionPay cards (card number starting with 62) will be accepted at all ATMs that subordinate to Umoja. This will raise UnionPay cards acceptance coverage at the local ATMs from 30% to 50%, significantly expanding the card-using scope for UnionPay cardholders visiting Tanzania.

In recent years, Tanzania and China have entered into intimate cooperation in fields such as infrastructure construction, communications, consumer goods trading, and tourism. Now, China has become the largest trade partner and the second largest foreign investment country of Tanzania. With more and more Chinese enterprises and people visiting Tanzania, the demand for cross-border payment is growing. UnionPay International started its business in Tanzania in 2010, and since then, UnionPay has been recognised by many local mainstream institutions and merchants by virtue of its safe, convenient and cost-effective services.

As the only bankcard switch organisation in Tanzania, Umoja has 29 member banks, covering over 60% of the local banks. This cooperation between UnionPay International and Umoja has multiple meanings: first, it enables all the ATMs of Umoja’s member banks to accept UnionPay cards, and will promote all the POS terminals of these banks to accept UnionPay cards as soon as possible. Second, taking advantage of Umoja’s market share, UnionPay International is able to accelerate the issuance of UnionPay cards by these member banks, so as to provide local residents with new payment options. In addition, UnionPay International is also discussing with Umoja regarding the launch of contactless payment, mobile payment and other innovative payment products in Tanzania soon.

Currently, UnionPay cards can be used conveniently in 48 countries in Africa. In Tanzania, UnionPay cards are accepted at 40% of the local merchants, covering tourist attractions, shopping malls, hotels and airports that are most frequented by tourists. In South Africa, half of ATMs accept UnionPay cards; while in Mauritius, 90% of merchants and 70% of ATMs accept UnionPay cards. Meanwhile, UnionPay International has issued a variety of UnionPay card products in many markets according to their respective needs. For instance, UnionPay debit card, prepaid card and commercial card are issued in Congo and Mauritius. Through these efforts, UnionPay International endeavours to enhance the development level of Africa’s e-payment industry and to help the developing countries in the region to realise “financial inclusion”.

About UnionPay International

UnionPay International (UPI) is a subsidiary of China UnionPay focuses on international business. In partnership with more than 1,000 institutions worldwide, UnionPay International has extended its card acceptance to 157 countries and regions globally with issuance in over 40 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 localised services to a growing number of global UnionPay cardholders and merchants.

For more information about UnionPay International, please visit www.unionpayintl.com, like “UnionPay International” on Facebook, follow “@unionpay_intl” on Twitter, or download its official mobile application by searching “UnionPay International” in Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store.

Media contact: moc.ltniyapnoinu@RPIPU