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Posted by admin, and filed under Union Pay
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Established in March 2002, UnionPay is a bankcard association established under the approval of the State Council and the People’s Bank of China. At present, the Shanghai-headquartered UnionPay has about 400 domestic and overseas associate members.
UnionPay has become the central and pivotal part of China’s bankcard industry, and plays an essential role in the industry development. As the bankcard association in China, UnionPay operates an inter-bank transaction settlement system through which the connection and switch between banking systems and the inter-bank, cross-region and cross-border usages of bankcards issued by associate banks could be realized. Based on the system construction and operation as well as the bankcard network, UnionPay actively collaborate with various industrial parties like commercial banks in the efforts to formulate and extend united UnionPay card standards and regulations, create independent bankcard brand, promote the development and application of bankcard, maintain an orderly bankcard acceptance market and prevent bankcard risks.
The establishment of UnionPay stands for the formation of a new industrial system – “joint stipulation of rules, joint popularization of business, joint expansion of market and joint standardization of orders”. It also indicates an intensive and scale development of China’s bankcard industry as well as a new phase of comprehensive and rapid development.
Ever since its establishment, UnionPay has actively responded to the social and economic development in China and the demand for bank cards, with its industrial mission and social responsibilities in mind. UnionPay brings its functions as a bankcard association into full play through cooperation with relevant parties of bankcard industry like commercial banks and professional institutions to blaze a new trail with Chinese feature for the development of China’s bankcard industry. By doing so, UnionPay has not only safeguarded the economic and financial security of China, but also promoted unprecedented and spanning development of China’s bankcard industry, and enabled China to be one of the fastest growing countries with greatest potential in the bankcard industry worldwide.
With the joint efforts of UnionPay and several commercial banks, the bankcard netted utilization in China has been continuously deepened. In addition to the increasing coverage in the eastern regions and large and middle-sized cities, UnionPay network also extends to the middle and western regions, the middle and small-sized cities as well as the rural area. In 2010, domestic UnionPay acceptance network accelerated extension to small and medium-sized cities and the broad rural regions, the numbers of bankcard networking merchants, POS terminals and ATM machines respectively increasing by 40%, 38% and 31%. A scale bankcard acceptance network has been taken shape in China. Along with the continuous deepening of netted utilization as well as ongoing improvement of bankcard acceptance environment nationwide, the bankcard transactions also grow rapidly. In 2010, interbank transaction amount of domestic bankcard reached 11.2 trillion Yuan, a year-on-year growth of 46%. The proportion of bankcard consumption in the total volume of retail sales of social consumables increased from 2.7% in 2001 to 35% at present(note).
In order to meet the growing demand for card use of the Chinese in overseas business, travel and study, and to extend the services of domestic commercial banks abroad via UnionPay network, UnionPay is dedicated to the construction of an international acceptance network. As of today, UnionPay cards have been accepted in 117 countries and regions outside China. Meanwhile, UnionPay also actively promotes issuance of UnionPay standard cards overseas, with a goal of providing payment convenience for foreigners in their work, travel and study in China. At present, 65 institutions in 17 overseas countries and regions have issued UnionPay card locally, with an accumulated card issuance volume of more than 10 million pieces.UnionPay cards are not only well accepted by the domestic cardholders, but also highly appreciated by cardholders in more and more countries and regions.
In response to the economic and social development in China and to fulfill the industrial mission and social responsibilities, UnionPay has joined hands with domestic commercial banks to create an independent bankcard brand – UnionPay card. In August 2003, UnionPay officially launched UnionPay card, its international and high-quality bankcard brand with independent intellectual property that meets unified business practices and technical standards. Thanks to the popularity of UnionPay cards, UnionPay brand also enjoys a high reputation in China. According to the investigation by A.C. Nelson, an international authoritative investigation institution, up to 100% domestic are familiar with UnionPay brand, a much higher rate than that of any other famous bankcard brand in China.
UnionPay strives to promote various bankcard-based innovative payment businesses to meet the increasingly diversified requirements for card use. Cardholders can not only use bankcards at ATMs and merchant POS terminals, but also pay utility bills, book air tickets and hotels, repay credit cards and transfer money, among others, via various emerging channels like Internet, mobile phone, fixed telephone, self-service terminal and digital TV. Under the joint efforts of UnionPay , commercial banks and other relevant institutions, a bankcard acceptance environment with broader scope, more fields and more channels is taking shape. It will meet the diversified requirements for card use of the Chinese people.
The Chinese government has paid close attention to UnionPay since its establishment. On January 16th, 2010, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, State President and CMC Chairman Hu Jintao made a special trip to visit UnionPay during his inspection tour in Shanghai, praising that UnionPay card independently developed by UnionPay promoted the development of bankcard industry and brought convenience to the mass people in our country, pointing out that bankcard industry was a promising industry and encouraging us to constantly expand our business fields, improve our service level, accelerate our internationalization process, and strive to establish “UnionPay” as one major bankcard brand worldwide. Premier Wen Jiabao has paid two visits to UnionPay. In his visit to UnionPay in May 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao highly appreciated the achievements obtained by UnionPay in the promotion of netted utilization, the construction of independent brand, the process of UnionPay internationalization and the innovation of bankcard payment. Premier Wen Jiabao also proposed the guidelines for the bankcard work under new circumstance: safety, unification, innovation and popularization.
As China grows stronger, it calls for a robust and independent bankcard industry, which entails concerted efforts made by the entire bankcard industry in China. UnionPay will, in line with the new requirements of the government, sufficiently exert its function as a card organization, and collaborate with commercial banks to maintain the discourse right and a dominant position in China’s bankcard industry, safeguard the economic and financial security of China, further promote the development of bankcard industry, as well as provide quality, safe and efficient bankcard service for the public. The ultimate goal of UnionPay is to become a bankcard association with national authority and trustworthiness as well as international competitiveness and influence, and to create an independent payment brand of China with global influence that serves China and more countries and regions.
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28th Mar 2012
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Tags: UnionPay
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Posted by admin, and filed under Union Pay
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Established in March 2002, UnionPay is a bankcard association established under the approval of the State Council and the People’s Bank of China. At present, the Shanghai-headquartered UnionPay has about 400 domestic and overseas associate members.
UnionPay has become the central and pivotal part of China’s bankcard industry, and plays an essential role in the industry development. As the bankcard association in China, UnionPay operates an inter-bank transaction settlement system through which the connection and switch between banking systems and the inter-bank, cross-region and cross-border usages of bankcards issued by associate banks could be realized. Based on the system construction and operation as well as the bankcard network, UnionPay actively collaborate with various industrial parties like commercial banks in the efforts to formulate and extend united UnionPay card standards and regulations, create independent bankcard brand, promote the development and application of bankcard, maintain an orderly bankcard acceptance market and prevent bankcard risks.
In order to meet the growing demand for card use of the Chinese in overseas business, travel and study, and to extend the services of domestic commercial banks abroad via UnionPay network, UnionPay is dedicated to the construction of an international acceptance network. As of today, UnionPay cards have been accepted in 117 countries and regions outside China. Meanwhile, UnionPay also actively promotes issuance of UnionPay standard cards overseas, with a goal of providing payment convenience for foreigners in their work, travel and study in China. At present, 65 institutions in 17 overseas countries and regions have issued UnionPay card locally, with an accumulated card issuance volume of more than 10 million pieces.UnionPay cards are not only well accepted by the domestic cardholders, but also highly appreciated by cardholders in more and more countries and regions.
UnionPay strives to promote various bankcard-based innovative payment businesses to meet the increasingly diversified requirements for card use. Cardholders can not only use bankcards at ATMs and merchant POS terminals, but also pay utility bills, book air tickets and hotels, repay credit cards and transfer money, among others, via various emerging channels like Internet, mobile phone, fixed telephone, self-service terminal and digital TV. Under the joint efforts of UnionPay , commercial banks and other relevant institutions, a bankcard acceptance environment with broader scope, more fields and more channels is taking shape. It will meet the diversified requirements for card use of the Chinese people.
The Chinese government has paid close attention to UnionPay since its establishment. On January 16th, 2010, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, State President and CMC Chairman Hu Jintao made a special trip to visit UnionPay during his inspection tour in Shanghai, praising that UnionPay card independently developed by UnionPay promoted the development of bankcard industry and brought convenience to the mass people in our country, pointing out that bankcard industry was a promising industry and encouraging us to constantly expand our business fields, improve our service level, accelerate our internationalization process, and strive to establish “UnionPay” as one major bankcard brand worldwide. Premier Wen Jiabao has paid two visits to UnionPay. In his visit to UnionPay in May 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao highly appreciated the achievements obtained by UnionPay in the promotion of netted utilization, the construction of independent brand, the process of UnionPay internationalization and the innovation of bankcard payment. Premier Wen Jiabao also proposed the guidelines for the bankcard work under new circumstance: safety, unification, innovation and popularization.
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21st Dec 2011
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Tags: Union Pay
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Posted by admin, and filed under Union Pay
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The first step in applying for a credit card is gaining access to your credit score. Once you know your credit score and how your score rates, you can then make the appreciate decision on the type of credit card you can qualify for. In the UK, there are two major credit scoring companies, Experian and Equifax. You can obtain your credit report and corresponding credit score from these two companies. The UK Credit-Card Centre provides access to your credit report through both Experian and Equifax. CreditExpert helps you to challenge anything with which you disagree; helping you to manage your credit rating. You also have the option to order your Experian credit score. This information will give you further guidance and an indication of how your Experian credit check may influence a lending decision. CreditExpert also saves you time and trouble if you become a victim of ID fraud.
A recent report from CIFAS has found that, on average, it takes victims more than 15 months to discover their identity has been stolen and over 300 hours to clear their name. CreditExpert’s weekly alerts mean that you quickly learn about any changes to your Experian credit report. Experian’s Victims of Fraud team will help you to resolve any problems.The first step in applying for a credit card is gaining access to your credit score. Once you know your credit score and how your score rates, you can then make the appreciate decision on the type of credit card you can qualify for. In the UK, there are two major credit scoring companies, Experian and Equifax.
You can obtain your credit report and corresponding credit score from these two companies. The UK Credit-Card Centre provides access to your credit report through both Experian and Equifax. CreditExpert helps you to challenge anything with which you disagree; helping you to manage your credit rating. You also have the option to order your Experian credit score. This information will give you further guidance and an indication of how your Experian credit check may influence a lending decision. CreditExpert also saves you time and trouble if you become a victim of ID fraud. A recent report from CIFAS has found that, on average, it takes victims more than 15 months to discover their identity has been stolen and over 300 hours to clear their name. CreditExpert’s weekly alerts mean that you quickly learn about any changes to your Experian credit report. Experian’s Victims of Fraud team will help you to resolve any problems.
The advantages of rewards credit cards are obvious, cash back, shopping rewards, travel rewards all from using your credit card for everyday purchases. The more you spend, the more reward points you accumulate, and the more ‘free’ stuff you get. But lurking in the background is some ugly facts that must be evaluated before you make the plunge into the world of reward credit cards. First of all, most rewards credit cards come with an annual fee. This fee can be substantial, and over the course of a few years can eat into the benefits that you might achieve with a rewards credit card. Secondly, not all rewards are equal. Air miles points earned on the British Airways American Express card may be worth more in terms of real savings than the shopping benefits of the Egg card. You need to be aware of the value of points, and how they are earned. And finally, rewards credit cards usually have a higher annual interest rate (APR).
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20th Dec 2011
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Tags: Credit Card
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Scores can range from 300 to 850. But even though 300 is technically the lowest credit score possible, it’s very unlikely you would hit it even if you tried. To get that you literally would have to do everything wrong and have absolutely zero positive credit history whatsoever.
In the real world, the lowest credit score you can possibly get will probably be around the high 300′s. For example if you:
- Just went through a bankruptcy and for the first time it is showing on your credit report
- If you have defaulted on multiple debts and had little to no payment history on those accounts prior to default (i.e. applying for a loan and defaulting a couple months later)
- You have recently gone through a foreclosure and have had severe late payments and/or defaults on at least one other line of credit
In those types of situations, you may fall into the 300′s but the odds are slim (only 2% of the population has a score between 300 and 499). Needless to say, hitting the rock-bottom lowest FICO score of 300 is literally unheard of.
But either way… even if you’re not at the absolute worst, you might as well be since anything under 600 is mostly useless when it comes to getting a credit card (unsecured), a mortgage, or car loan.
How to improve a low credit score?
Surprisingly, you can make your way from the poor credit category to the “fair” category (scores in the mid-600’s) sometimes in just a year or two, as long as you make the right moves. Here are 5 things you definitely will want to do:
- Maintain your good standing accounts, if you have any – Have any accounts you haven’t screwed up yet or are still open? Good. Then make sure they stay that way.
- Open secured accounts – You can have the lowest possible credit score on earth and still qualify for secured credit cards, which is a card where you put up a deposit. Same holds true for secured loans, which you can get through a bank or credit union. If you’re fronting the cash, you can typically get approved regardless of how bad your credit score is.
- Check your credit reports – Is it possible you are being penalized for something incorrectly? Make sure you check your credit reports, to ensure the negative information that is weighing you down is accurate.
- Consider credit repair services or self-help guides – Sometimes you can get negative entries deleted from your credit report due to technicalities in how they were reported.
- Have patience – As your negatives start to age, your low credit score should begin improving even if you were to have no new accounts. Unfortunately you can’t speed up the clock, but at least it’s reassuring to know that every month that goes by, your bad debt is a month older in the eyes of the credit scoring formula.
How high will you need to go?
The lowest credit score to buy a house with a mortgage might be as low as 620. But I stress that’s a big might because even though FHA underwriting guidelines don’t have a minimum score set in stone, if you are below 620 you will not be eligible for automatic approval and have to jump through many hoops with a manual process, which may not even yield results.
But in reality, in this economy it can be hard to get approved with anything below a 700. However if you are buying a foreclosure directly from a bank, with that same bank also providing the mortgage, they have been known to bend over backwards to get the approval so they can get that foreclosed home off their books.
The lowest credit score to get a credit card that is unsecured will likely be at least 650. With that type of score, you might be able to qualify for an entry level card for fair credit. For the good reward cards you see advertised on TV, plan on having a 700 or above. If you are in the low 600’s or below, you may need to go with a secured card.
The lowest credit score to get a car loan ultimately depends on what type of interest rate you are willing to pay. To get those 0% offers you see advertised on new cars, you will probably need to be in the 700’s. If you’re in say, the 500’s, it still is possible to get a car loan but you will have to pay through the roof with an excessive APR rate.
Have a low score yourself? Then please share in the comments what it is and the circumstances that got you there.
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15th Dec 2011
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