UOB has announced an expansion of its payment capabilities for customers travelling to China, a rapidly growing spending corridor for the bank.
The enhancements include a refreshed UOB UnionPay Card, which now offers zero foreign exchange fees worldwide and zero transaction fees on eligible Alipay and WeChat Pay transactions in China.
Additionally, UOB plans to roll out China QR payments through its UOB TMRW app by the end of 2026, allowing payments at over 100 million acceptance points in China without administrative fees.
The bank’s strategic move is part of its effort to strengthen its cross-border payments ecosystem across ASEAN and beyond. UOB has consistently ranked first in ASEAN for Visa and Mastercard cross-border consumer credit card billings for three consecutive years.
In the first half of 2026, the bank saw a more than 20% year-on-year increase in cross-border payment transactions, driven by cards, QR payments, and cross-border transfers.
Pratik Bhattacharjee, Head of Group Cards and Payment Products at UOB, stated, “As consumers travel, work and transact more across borders, they increasingly want one trusted banking relationship that can support them wherever they go.”
He emphasised that the bank’s leadership in cards and payment capabilities, coupled with its extensive ASEAN network, positions it well to meet these needs.
The enhancements come as China becomes an increasingly popular destination for ASEAN travellers, with over 10 million arrivals from ASEAN countries in the first eight months of 2025.
UOB’s customer card spend in China grew by more than 40% year-on-year in the first half of 2026. The bank’s efforts aim to provide a seamless and richer travel experience, integrating more payment experiences into customers’ existing UOB relationships.
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