Linking American credit cards to Wechat in China

[red259]

Since the last time I was in mainland China digital payment systems have really taken off. I have heard that it is now possible to link american credit cards to wechat if you download it while in china. Has anyone done this? The ability to do so would allow me to use credit cards in a whole lot more places and would help to cut back on some cash withdrawals. 

[JaeJae12]

You can probably link your CC but I wouldn’t advise it, as you will be using the CC to charge money to your WeChat wallet... and if you ever have any balances or what so, you would need an chinese government ID # added to be able to take the money out etc ( send/withdraw)

[SBR249]

Yes, I have a US-issued Visa from Capital One currently linked to my WeChat wallet. You don't need to have downloaded WeChat while in China. International version of the software has the wallet function as well, it's just not activated. If you know anyone in China, you can ask them to send you a hongbao with a token amount of money in any currency, that will activate the wallet feature on your end and give you access to the functions. 

But I do have to caution that WeChat knows where your CCs are issued and many mainland merchants do not accept foreign CCs or non-UnionPay CCs or CCs at all. In those cases, your US-issued card will not show up as a payment option even when you have it linked to your WeChat wallet. If you travel in China a lot and want to use digital wallets, I'd say the best thing to do is to open a local bank account with one of the Big 4, put some money in it, and ask for a UnionPay debit card. That will be the most widely accepted payment method. 

[red259]

---

@SBR249wrote:

Yes, I have a US-issued Visa from Capital One currently linked to my WeChat wallet. You don't need to have downloaded WeChat while in China. International version of the software has the wallet function as well, it's just not activated. If you know anyone in China, you can ask them to send you a hongbao with a token amount of money in any currency, that will activate the wallet feature on your end and give you access to the functions. 

But I do have to caution that WeChat knows where your CCs are issued and many mainland merchants do not accept foreign CCs or non-UnionPay CCs or CCs at all. In those cases, your US-issued card will not show up as a payment option even when you have it linked to your WeChat wallet. If you travel in China a lot and want to use digital wallets, I'd say the best thing to do is to open a local bank account with one of the Big 4, put some money in it, and ask for a UnionPay debit card. That will be the most widely accepted payment method. 

---

I just want to make things easy. Last time I was in China I used cash and had a citigold citi bank account which did not charge me for atm withdrawals, but since then digital payments have really taken off and I'd prefer to do that if possible. Would I be able to open a chinese bank with something like a Bank of China branch in NYC? Looking at their website they say you can use the debit card in china to pay for things but there is a small charge. I don't know what they consider a small charge though. Also, what about using an app like Didi? 

[SBR249]

It's actually very easy to just walk in and open a bank account in China. The verification requirements are minimal and the paperwork is not too hard if you do it in person. If you are going to be in China frequently or for more than just short leisure trips then it's definitely a viable way to go and many expats recommend it.

I don't think a bank account with an overseas branch of a Chinese bank is equivalent to a mainland Chinese bank. Capital controls in China are very strict and offshore accounts, even those denominated in CNY, are not treated the same as onshore accounts. In the same way, UnionPay cards (credit or debit) issued abroad is not the same as UP cards issued in mainland. I don't think your way would work. 

As for apps like Didi, I really have no idea. 

[Anonymous]

Wechat supported this quite a while ago, they already got this feature around 2014 or 2015. Visa/MasterCard/JCB are accepted, Amex currently not.

However note that Wechat may limit the amount of a single transaction made by these cards, you may have to contact your bank to get the travel notification set up and/or fraud prevention mechanisms cleared up, and not all merchants accept foreign cards through Wechat.

[Anonymous]

---

@red259 wrote:

Would I be able to open a chinese bank with something like a Bank of China branch in NYC? Looking at their website they say you can use the debit card in china to pay for things but there is a small charge. I don't know what they consider a small charge though. Also, what about using an app like Didi? 

---

 Not sure if it's possible to open a Chinese bank account from here, but there would be some potential issues arising even if it is possible. You may need to do international wire transfers to fund the account unless you have the cash. Checked BoC site and seems they offer a MasterCard debit card, the issue is that if the debit card is not UnionPay, it would still have relatively low acceptance.

Didi accepts foreign cards, seems that you can do it in the app, just make sure your bank gets notified and be prepared to contact your bank if they block the transaction.

[red259]

---

@Anonymous wrote:

Wechat supported this quite a while ago, they already got this feature around 2014 or 2015. Visa/MasterCard/JCB are accepted, Amex currently not.

However note that Wechat may limit the amount of a single transaction made by these cards, you may have to contact your bank to get the travel notification set up and/or fraud prevention mechanisms cleared up, and not all merchants accept foreign cards through Wechat.

---

Are you referring to the chinese version of wechat or the international version. I have been told that people with the international version have been unable to link their american credit cards but those who downloaded wechat in china were able to do so. 

[TiggerDat]

When linking your US card to WeChat just make certain that your name is spelled exactly the same as your card.  If it doesn't work the first time then try to capitalize all letters.  If you already have one card linked to your WeChat account this is especially important!

One thing mentioned before is that you can get a local bank card, however in recent times there have been some changes, so you might want to bring your social security card with you to do so.  Some banks are a little harder than others to open accounts at and this also depends on certain cities too.  It is not as easy as it used to be to open accounts.  It used to be super easy.  I had to bring my FEC with me this time to open an account, however they did say something to the effect that I might have been OK with my SS card.  Also be aware that some banks don't have the capability to transmit your Passport Number to WeChat or Zhifubao, so use a big bank.  You might also want to consider one of the big private banks, not a state owned bank, as they might be easier to open the account at.  Zhifubao is also very popular for use in China, so with a China bank account then you would be able to use both.  Apple Pay is also used and I have seen a few places that accept it, you can even connect your China Bank account to it.

One thing to remember is that Discover is widely accepted in China, more than Visa or MasterCard.  Businesses may tell you they don't take Visa or MasterCard and thus don't take Discover, however they might not be knowingly telling your the truth.  Discover uses the UnionPay network to process their payments in China, so if you see the UnionPay logo on the door it might still work!  I have had it work in places where they say it won't.  Sometimes you have to make them try it.  If they ask for a PIN, just hit enter!  (I believe this is the right way, but ask Discover just in case, usually if you put in a PIN it becomes a cash advance type transaction.)

[Anonymous]

Although Discover is Union Pay, last month when I was in China it basically only worked in the same places my Visa cards worked. I was pretty disappointed since having a card that works in China was the main reason why I applied for Discover in the first place.

The issue seems to be that Discover isn't chip and pin by default, and most places in China that are set up for chip and signature already take any foreign card. The places that don't take foreign cards can't get the Discover card to work.