China UnionPay

UnionPay is China’s bank card network: set up in 2002, backed by the country’s banks, and now accepted in 183 countries and regions. For an online merchant operating in The West, UnionPay charges will look unfamiliar compared to those made with other card brands. In this article, I’ll explain who is behind the network, how its cards are recognized and processed online, where the fraud liability sits, and how UnionPay stands against other brands like Visa and Mastercard.