The so-called Travel Cashcard is an ideal alternative to traveler’s checks and cash. Wirecard’s solution for United Money targets Chinese nationals who plan to travel abroad and are seeking a widely-accepted and convenient payment method, which can be managed via an online account. Currently, United Money manages close to 100 exchange offices in major airports, business districts and upscale communities nationwide and serves millions of consumers.

Jiang Zhongmo, founder of United Money, said “We are delighted to offer our customers a reliable and secure payment solution, which is backed by trusted industry leaders Wirecard and Visa. As experts in the field of foreign currency exchange, we are confident that Wirecard’s digital payment solution will fulfill the expectations of our customers, whether they are first-time or experienced travelers. We welcome this innovative and forward-thinking solution by Wirecard.”

The digital card supports currencies from the most-visited regions of the world: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the UK, US and Eurozone. Consumers can load the cards before traveling, locking in exchange rates. United Money, one of the first officially recognized currency exchange companies in China, offers additional services in VAT refund processing and banknotes wholesale.

“As a global company at the forefront of digital financial innovation, we understand the barriers that are faced when paying in a foreign currency,” said Grigoriy Kuznetsov, EVP of Global Financial Services at Wirecard. “This is why we are proud of the collaboration with United Money, a market leader in China in the area of currency exchange. We look forward to developing further innovative solutions for United Money.”

“Multi-currency Visa travel cards are a great option for consumers travelling internationally who want a convenient, secure payment alternative to cash,” said Rajiv Ramanathan, Head of Products, Asia Pacific, Visa. “Visa’s role as a global payments network is about creating the right industry standards for people to pay digitally wherever they choose to travel, and we’re proud to work with United Money and Wirecard on this new solution.”

The multi-currency cards allow users to lock in favorable exchange rates before traveling, presenting an attractive opportunity for millions of Chinese travelers currently fulfilled by cash or traveler’s checks. A study by Coresight Research on Chinese outbound tourists found that foreign exchange rate fluctuations, especially unfavorable ones, will affect frequent travelers’ decisions when choosing a destination. By using the Wirecard-issued multi-currency Visa card, travelers can avoid this problem and take advantage of favorable exchange rates instead.