This news will bring a sigh of relief to HSBC customers who are caught cash-less overseas because their new HSBC ATM cards linked to the China-based UnionPay bank clearing system are much less widely accepted than the former Cirrus and Plus. UnionPay gives HSBC greater access in China and charges cheaper fees than Plus and Cirrus. The bank claims it’s because they were obliged by HKMA rules and greater customer protection, to introduce chip technology cards. One glance at one of the Cathy Pacific blogs shows this explanation does not convince the scores of pilots stranded overseas unable to withdraw cash in recent months.
The 10 no-UnionPay countries
The problem, as HSBC eventually admitted, is that UnionPay has not yet reached several countries. These nine are: Argentina, Brazil, France, Greece, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Panama and Turkey.
The Netherlands is also currently not covered by UnionPay’s ATM network, so I make that 10 countries. I’m repeating this again, dear readers, because even if you go to an HSBC branch in these places, you will not be able to extract your cash with your card, even if you have been good customers and registered your card before you set off. That’s another new requirement “for your protection.”
Here’s a typical letter from a frazzled HSBC customer. “I read your articles on HSBC overseas cash withdrawals as I am currently having many of the problems you describe. Unfortunately, I am in one of the nine countries listed (Brazil) where HSBC don't think anyone would fancy withdrawing their money from an HSBC ATM. Thank you for writing about all the more frustrating by the whole "world's local bank" nonsense!”