Payment Systems. In Russia & other FSU countries:

Headquartered in Shanghai, China UnionPay (CUP) was founded in March 2002. As a bankcard association established with the approval of the State Council and under the approval of the People's Bank of China, CUP carries out functions of a bankcard association to boost up China to be one of the countries with the fastest growth and the greatest potential in bankcard industry.

CUP formulates and extends unified bankcard standards and regulations, providing fundamental and high-efficient services like inter-bank information switch, settlement data processing, risk management and fraud prevention. CUP also cooperates with commercial banks to create independent bankcard brand in order that the bankcard industry shall be guided scientifically and initiatively to safeguard the national security of economy and finance.

The acceptance network of CUP cards covers nationwide, and is extended to many countries and regions in Asia, Europe, America, Africa and Oceania.

By the end of September 2009, it has issued 1.9 billion cards globally.. Number of domestic CUP merchants totaled 1350 thousand with 2110 thousand POS terminals, and ATMs reached 180 thousand, increased by 9, 9,7and 4,7 times respectively over the end of 2001 (prior to CUP's establishment). Bankcards are well accepted at large merchants in medium and large cities, and the number of merchants accepting bankcards in small cities also increased rapidly.