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China2 · Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Posts: 56

I was wondering if it would be possible to withdraw money from your Chinese ABC bank account with the Union Pay ATM card from an ATM cash machine in the UK? If it is, would I need to inform my bank here that I would be using the card in the UK so that they wouldn't block it?

Thanks

Alien abductee · Joined: 08 Jun 2014 Posts: 527 Location: Kuala Lumpur

Of course it's possible. How do you think those millions of Chinese travelers get cash? As long as the atm has the unionpay logo you should be able to get money from it. I've never informed my bank when i withdraw from an overseas atm and the cards never been blocked. You can inform them just to be sure but sometimes doing less is better when it comes to dealing with banks. check the unionpay website if you need more info.

MuscatGary · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2017 5:20 am Post subject:

Make sure your card has a magnetic strip on the back or it probably won't work. My card, issed 2 years ago has one and works in every country I've been to including the UK but other, newer teachers have a card with no strip and they don't work anywhere.

backtochina2017 · Joined: 28 Nov 2016 Posts: 123

As a backup, I would also get internet access to make purchases set up in case things don't work out.

hz88 · Joined: 27 Sep 2015 Posts: 162

Yes, it is possible. There is an annual withdrawal limit (not sure exactly what it is, but i have never reached it).

It does not work in all machines though, stick to Barclays and Lloyds. It wouldn't work in Nat West. When I was in Edinburgh it only worked in Bank of Scotland, none of the others. It won't work in the smaller machines that you find in garages, pubs etc (Link, I think?).

I have also used it in several places including Tesco for purchases, not cash. The receipt says 'Maestro Int' on it so it seems to process as a maestro transaction.

For those who seem to say that unionpay works everywhere, it doesn't. My family are from Ireland and it does not work anywhere in the ROI. I found this out when I went to see them. I also couldn't get it to work anywhere in Russia this year despite being told that I could.

Also don't take it for granted that the international withdrawal facility will have been turned on for you, its best to go to the bank and ask them to check.

Elicit · Joined: 12 May 2010 Posts: 244

I tested the annual limit last year and I got US 10k out before the machine decided to continually spit out the card. I was half expecting it because I read somewhere beforehand that the annual limit was being reduced.

Funnily enough, I have recently (this week) used a second identical card (same issuing bank) in the same ATM in my home country and it won't let me withdraw anything at all.

Perhaps it is this international withdraw function. Anybody know if you can walk into any branch in any province with your passport and card number and get this international function switched on, or must it be in the branch you opened the account in?

coffeespoonman · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 512 Location: At my computer...

The yearly limit as of 2016 is 100,000 yuan.

Also, it's best if you check Unionpay's website before you go traveling. There's a list of countries and banks who accept it. Generally there are few issues, but some countries don't accept Unionpay at all, for example Ireland, or many Balkan countries. You can really find yourself in trouble if you end up in one of those countries planning to withdraw cash. Also, in some countries (i.e. Czech Republic) there are only a few banks that accept the card, and you've got to find a specific ATM.