Thunes, a global payments platform, has announced the launch of faster, more reliable and more transparent payments into mainland China. This comes after strengthening its partnership with UnionPay International (UPI).
Through this expanded partnership, Thunes has created a direct technical connection between its global payments network and UnionPay’s system. This strengthens support for UnionPay MoneyExpress and makes cross-border payments into China faster and smoother.
This direct connection gives Thunes’ members—including banks, neobanks, super apps, gig platforms, digital wallets, and money transfer services—easy access to UnionPay cardholders at 79 major Chinese banks, such as ICBC, ABC, Bank of China, CCB, Bank of Communications, and China Merchants Bank.
Even though China is the world’s second-largest economy, sending money there has often been slow and complicated, with hidden fees and extra steps like recipients having to manually declare funds.
Thunes’ direct connection with UnionPay removes these issues. The partnership enables a smooth Pay-to-Card experience, with funds credited in real time or within 12 hours.
Using Thunes’ Direct Global Network, members can offer an experience similar to a local payment. Exchange rates are locked in upfront, and funds are sent directly in RMB to UnionPay debit cards in mainland China with no manual steps needed.
Aik Boon Tan, Chief Network Officer at Thunes, said: “Establishing a direct connection with UnionPay International is a game-changer for our Direct Global Network. This goes beyond access, it represents a high-speed, direct-to-card rail into a leading economy without the friction of traditional cross-border payments. Our Members around the world can offer their customers a truly domestic-like payment experience to a massive base of UnionPay cardholders, ensuring that sending money to China’s mainland is as simple as sending a text message.”
UnionPay MoneyExpress is a key part of UnionPay International’s cross-border remittance strategy, offering a safe and efficient way to send money into mainland China.
The partnership with Thunes makes this service even stronger by better connecting global financial institutions with UnionPay cardholders in China. The new integration ensures users receive benefits such as locked-in exchange rates and fast settlement delivered reliably worldwide.
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