#Germany #Frankfurt #UnionPay #SplendorPlus #Bank of China

UnionPay International and Bank of China's SplendorPlus Debit Card Launch

On September 25, 2025, UnionPay International (UPI) and its Frankfurt branch of the Bank of China proudly announced the launch of the SplendorPlus debit card, marking its debut in the European market. This card, specifically tailored for German residents traveling to China, is a timely response to the surge in tourism flowing to the Chinese mainland. Its objective is to offer affordable and seamless cross-border payment solutions, ensuring smooth transactions for travelers.

The SplendorPlus card aims to consolidate cross-border connectivity and enhance long-term institutional cooperation. By merging the strength of the Bank of China's established brand with the expansive global reach of UnionPay, this card provides customers with convenient shopping experiences both domestically and internationally, particularly when making payments in China. A standout feature for cardholders is the attractive 1% cashback reward for transactions made through the UnionPay network within mainland China.

UnionPay's services are widely accessible across Germany's prominent tourist locations, including airports, shopping districts, and outlet villages. Their reach extends to retailers such as department stores, duty-free outlets, restaurants, hotels, and car rental services. Additionally, through its partnership with Epay, UnionPay is now accepted via QR code payments at major retail chains like Müller, Galeria, and Heinemann.

Under the Project Excellence initiative, the SplendorPlus is already widely accepted in China, covering over 1.31 million merchants across various sectors including transportation, dining, shopping, and entertainment. UnionPay is reinforcing its impact with partnerships with 213 offline merchants combined with 166 leading online platforms, thereby fostering increased international card acceptance and facilitating users in making both physical and digital retail payments.

This collaboration seeks to integrate the benefits of SplendorPlus with existing card products, enhancing the competitiveness of the dual debit cards offered by UnionPay and the Bank of China. Starting from October 1, 2025, existing debit cards bearing dual currencies will be upgraded to the SplendorPlus card. The cashback reward will be promoted and available via UnionPay's U Rewards mobile platform, with expectations that this initiative will significantly improve cardholders' payment experiences while simultaneously stimulating card issuance volumes and transaction activities.

In 2024, UnionPay International launched its Project Excellence, aiming to develop more nuanced and diversified payment services. By early 2025, the program was expanded to cover three core areas: improving acceptance scenarios, product modernization, and enhancing international reach. These enhancements are specifically aimed at simplifying payments for foreign customers in China. Transaction data shows the effectiveness of this program, with the volume of cross-border payments made using UnionPay cards issued abroad increasing by an impressive 103% year-on-year, along with a 31% uptick in transaction value.

UnionPay has rolled out targeted products tailored to meet the diverse needs of users. The SplendorPlus card is specifically designed for long-term visitors and locals seeking cross-border payment solutions, combining global acceptance with China-focused optimized functionalities. Currently, it is offered by 56 institutions across 20 global markets, widening UnionPay's international footprint, which now encompasses hundreds of millions of cards issued across 84 countries and regions. For users who prefer mobile devices, UnionPay provides over 200 standard digital wallet options available across 37 markets.

Additionally, UnionPay is expanding its tax refund services, offering instant cash refund options at airports and urban centers. It actively promotes cross-border QR code interoperability and establishes agreements with networks across 19 countries and regions, enabling international customers to utilize familiar payment tools while in China. This collaboration will continue to enhance the convenience and accessibility of payment options for foreign tourists and merchants alike.