Link, operator of the UK cash machine network is delighted to announce that China Unionpay ("CUP"), the Chinese card scheme, is now connected to the Link network.
This means that over 1.8 billion Chinese cards can now be used to obtain cash through all of LINK's 64,000 cash machines.
Edwin Schooling Latter, Managing Director of the LINK Scheme said "The LINK Scheme is delighted to be opening the UK cash machine network to Chinese cardholders, be they business or tourist visitors, resident students(1) or sportsmen and spectators coming to the 2012 Olympics."
Jianbo Cai, First Executive Vice President from China Unionpay added, "It is exciting to have CUP cards accepted on all the cash machines of the LINK ATM Scheme. From now on, Chinese travellers will enjoy more secure and convenient cash services in the UK, which will contribute to the economic and trade exchanges between China and the UK."
To mark this occasion a celebration lunch was held yesterday at the Institute of Directors in London. Among those attending were representatives of LINK, China Unionpay, the Chinese Embassy, Think London, the Central Bank of China and UK Trade and Investment.
The event included a ceremonial cash withdrawal at an ATM specially installed in the Institute of Directors for the event by CashBox plc.
(1) The UK Office of National Statistics estimates that 141,000 Chinese tourists visited the UK in 2007, spending an estimated £181 million. In addition around 100,000 Chinese students study for more than one year in the UK and each of them is estimated to spend around £25,000 per year.