Visa wins China approval for bank card business

After 40 years in China, Visa gets the People's Bank of China's green light to operate a domestic bank card clearing business, following rivals Mastercard and American Express.

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Oct 13, 2026

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Visa wins China approval for bank card business

After 40 years in China, Visa gets the People's Bank of China's green light to operate a domestic bank card clearing business, following rivals Mastercard and American Express.

In brief

After 40 years in China, Visa gets the People's Bank of China's green light to operate a domestic bank card clearing business, following rivals Mastercard and American Express. Visa received approval from China's central bank to establish a domestic bank card clearing business, marking a major step into a market it…

Visa gets China's approval

Visa announced Tuesday it received approval from the People's Bank of China to set up a bank card clearing business in the country.

Rivals already approved

Mastercard and American Express have already received approvals in recent years. American Express got its processing license in June two thousand twenty after PBOC approval in two thousand eighteen.

Visa's long China history

Visa's long China history

Visa CEO Ryan McInerney said the company has been an active contributor to China's payments landscape for more than forty years, working with Chinese banks on dual-branded cards.

“For more than 40 years, Visa has been an active contributor to China's dynamic payments landscape”

Timing tied to Trump visit

Beijing approved Visa's license ahead of the APEC Leaders' Meeting in Shenzhen next month, where Xi Jinping and Trump are expected to meet. The move suggests Beijing wants to show progress for American businesses.

What comes next for Visa

Visa said it looks forward to taking necessary steps pursuant to PBOC regulations to begin operating domestically in China, after applying for the license in May two thousand twenty.

The one thing

Visa received approval from China's central bank to establish a domestic bank card clearing business, marking a major step into a market it has served for four decades through partnerships.

Read the original on CNBC

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