FAQ for Service Enhancements of BOC Card (BOC Card (HKD) with “UnionPay” Logo)

1.	What is the difference between PLUS and UnionPay networks?
2.	Can I still use the PLUS network services if my BOC Card does not have the PLUS logo?
3.	Which network will be chosen for conducting transactions if there are both UnionPay and PLUS logos on an ATM?
4.	How will I be affected if the new BOC Card is not applicable tonetwork?
5.	What is the advantage of dual currency settlement?
6.	Can I enjoy the service enhancements if my BOC Card is linked to the HKD account only?
7.	What is Auto-transfer Service?
8.	Will all accounts linked to my BOC Card be covered once I activate the Auto-transfer Service?
9.	What is the exchange rate used for the Auto-transfer Service?
10.	How can I activate the Auto-transfer Service? Are there any services charges imposed?
11.	Please provide more details on how Auto-transfer works.
12.	Can I enjoy the new service with other BOC Cards?
13.	Will there be any increase in BOC Card annual fee due to the enhanced service?

What is the difference between PLUS and UnionPay networks?

Both PLUS network and UnionPay network provide international ATM services to BOC Card cardholders.
Provided by VISA International, the PLUS network allows you to withdraw cash or make balance enquiries at ATMs worldwide (including Hong Kong) displaying the PLUS logo. A service charge of HKD25 will be levied for each cash withdrawal.
Cash withdrawals and balance enquiries are also available at the UnionPay ATMs around the world (including Hong Kong). In addition, you can make purchase at merchant outlets displaying the UnionPay signs worldwide (including Hong Kong). A service charge of HKD15 or RMB15 (dependent on the currency type of your account debited) will be levied for each cash withdrawal while for retail purchase is free of charge.

2.	Can I still use the PLUS network services if my BOC Card does not have the PLUS logo?
	Though your BOC card does not have the PLUS logo on the back, you can still enjoy the service enhancements. Card renewal is not required.

3.	Which network will be chosen for conducting transactions if there are both UnionPay and PLUS logos on an ATM?
	In most cases, the UnionPay network is the preferred network, but it also depends on the default setting of the ATM.

4.	How will I be affected if the new BOC Card is not applicable tonetwork?
	Although thenetwork is no longer available for cash withdrawal and transfer in the Mainland of China after the effective date, you can still use the UnionPay network for cash withdrawals and balance enquiries. You can transfer fund in the Mainland of China through Phone Banking and Internet Banking.

What is the advantage of dual currency settlement?

If you have both your HKD account and RMB account linked to your BOC Card, cash withdrawals and retail purchases in RMB in UnionPay network will be debited from your RMB account whereas those in HKD and other foreign currencies will be debited from HKD account, allowing you to enjoy savings on currency conversion costs.
If you conduct RMB transactions at the UnionPay network after the new service is effective, please make sure that there is sufficient fund in your RMB account. You can exchange for RMB through our branches, Phone Banking or Internet Banking before conducting any transactions, or activate the Auto-transfer Service.
If you have both HKD and RMB accounts linked to your BOC Card and the Auto-transfer Service is not activated, cash withdrawals and retail purchases in RMB at the UnionPay network cannot be directly debited from HKD account.

6.	Can I enjoy the service enhancements if my BOC Card is linked to the HKD account only?
	You can still withdraw cash and make retail purchase at numerous networks (i.e. JETCO, UnionPay, PLUS and EPS) if you only have HKD account linked to your BOC Card. You may also activate the Auto-transfer Service if more than one HKD account is linked to the card. However, you are required to open an RMB account if you would like to enjoy the dual currency settlement service.

7.	What is Auto-transfer Service?
	Whenever you conduct transactions at the UnionPay network, the transaction amount will be directly debited from your other account linked to your BOC Card, provided that the outstanding balance of your transaction account is not sufficient. Manual fund transfer is not required.

8.	Will all accounts linked to my BOC Card be covered once I activate the Auto-transfer Service?
	All the accounts, including any HKD / RMB current / saving accounts, linked to your BOC Card will be covered once the Auto-transfer Service is activated. Please make sure that sufficient funds are maintained in all your related accounts for other preset financial arrangement (for example, autopay or cheque payment, etc).

9.	What is the exchange rate used for the Auto-transfer Service?
	The exchange rate for the Auto-transfer Service is subject to the latest RMB exchange rate announced by the Bank during the transaction.

10.	How can I activate the Auto-transfer Service? Are there any service charges imposed?
	You may activate this service for free at any of our branches after the effective date. The service will be activated immediately once you have filled in the required document.

Please provide more details on how Auto-transfer works?

Auto-transfer Service is applicable to UnionPay network. Once it is activated, it works as follows:

Accounts linked to the Card

Transaction process

All accounts in the card is either HKD account or RMB account

Transactions in HKD, RMB or foreign currencies：
The total transaction amount will be deducted from your primary account. If the balance in your primary account is not sufficient, the total transaction amount will be deducted from your first supplementary account and so forth.
If none of the linked accounts has sufficient funds to settle the total transaction amount, the transaction will be cancelled.

Both HKD and RMB
accounts are linked to the card

Transactions in HKD or foreign currencies：
The total transaction amount will be deducted from your HKD account. If there is an insufficient balance, the total transaction amount will be deducted from another HKD account (if any) linked to your BOC Card. If none of the HKD accounts has sufficient funds to settle the total transaction payment, the amount will then be deducted from your RMB account (exchange of RMB to HKD is involved).
If none of the linked accounts has sufficient funds to settle the total transaction payment, the transaction will be cancelled.

Transactions in RMB：
The total transaction amount will be deducted from your RMB account. If there is an insufficient balance, the total transaction amount will be deducted from another RMB account (if any) linked to your BOC Card. If none of the RMB accounts has sufficient funds to settle the total transaction payment, the amount will then be deducted from your HKD account (exchange of HKD to RMB is involved).
If none of the linked accounts has sufficient funds to settle the total transaction payment, the transaction will be cancelled.

12.	Can I enjoy the new service with other BOC Cards?
	For cardholders of BOC Card (HKD) with the CUP logo, they can enjoy the enhanced services without card replacement. For cardholders of BOC Card with PLUS logo, they can also enjoy the new functions after card replacement. The service enhancement is not be applicable to Fast Cash Card and BOC Card (RMB).

13.	Will there be any increase in BOC Card annual fee due to the enhanced service?
	Annual fee will be waived for “Flexi-Savings account”, i-Free, Prime or VIP cardholders. Generally, the annual fee is HKD50 if the primary account linked to the BOC Card is a HKD account. The annual fee is RMB50 if the primary account is a RMB account.


	If you have further enquiries, please feel free to visit our branches or call our customer service hotline at (852) 3988-2929 (Mon-Fri 9:00am – 7:00pm；Sat 9:00am – 1:00pm). We are committed to providing your with quality services.