Himalayan Bank and UnionPay, a Chinese bankcard association, entered into a partnership in Kathmandu, which allows UnionPay card holders to use automated tellers or swipe machines of Himalayan Bank to settle payments or withdraw cash.

Himalayan Bank currently has 900 swipe machines and 72 ATMs. Besides, 950 additional swipe machines of the bank´s partner, Alpine Cards, and 1,100 ATMs of its partner network, SCT, will also accept UnionPay cards.

During the agreement signing ceremony, Chinese ambassador Yang Houlan said that two countries have witnessed growing interactions in economy, trade and tourism, and people’s demand for high quality electronic payment services is growing.

“Being chosen as a partner of UnionPay in Nepal is a great honor for the bank,” Ashoke SJB Rana, CEO of Himalayan Bank, said at the agreement signing ceremony. “We now can benefit from this partnership as the card has Asian focus and ownership.”

UnionPay currently has around three billion members in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and other Asian countries. The latest agreement means these card holders can easily use those here in Nepal.