Single-purpose prepaid cards
Can only be used within the issuing company or its affiliated group, brand chain, or franchise system.
Common applications include:
Retail: shopping cards from supermarkets or department stores (e.g., RT-MART Card, Suning Card)
Hospitality and dining: hotel gift cards, chain restaurant vouchers (e.g., Starbucks Gift Card)
Consumer services: beauty salon cards, gym memberships, car wash cards, home cleaning service cards
Multi-purpose prepaid cards
Issued by licensed third-party payment institutions, these cards are accepted across industries, companies, and regions, often through UnionPay-enabled POS terminals.
Usage covers:
Malls, supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants
Nationally networked merchants, such as Shangtong Card, Fu Card, and Shandong Yikatong
Industry-specific prepaid cards
Telecom: prepaid SIM cards (e.g., China Mobile’s “Shenzhouxing”) for phone credit
Public transportation: city transit cards (e.g., Beijing Yikatong, Shenzhen Tong) for buses and subways
Online services: game cards, e-commerce gift cards (e.g., JD eCard) for account top-ups
International applications of prepaid cards
Travel and cross-border spending: multi-currency travel cards like UK’s Post Office Travel Money Card (supports 22 currencies) and Wise Travel Card (40+ currencies, low fees) are widely used globally.
Salary and contractor payments: companies use payroll cards to pay employees or freelancers, especially useful for unbanked workers (e.g., McDonald’s in the U.S.).
Gifts and customer rewards: branded gift cards (e.g., Visa/Mastercard gift cards) are popular in retail and dining; Japan’s Suica and Pasmo are often gifted due to their wide usability.
Online and digital services: cards like Europe’s Paysafecard enable secure, anonymous online payments for platforms like Twitch or Spotify.
Financial inclusion and budgeting: prepaid cards offer banking alternatives for the unbanked (e.g., 41% of Italians use them) and help youth manage spending without overdraft risk.
Transportation prepaid cards with expanded use
Public transit: core payment tools in cities worldwide—Japan’s Suica and Pasmo work on subways, buses, ferries, and offer transfer discounts.
Retail and daily spending: integrated into convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart), fast food outlets, vending machines, and bookstores—Korea’s T-Money and Singapore’s EZ-Link support such transactions.
Tourism services: tourist versions like Pasmo Passport allow access to attractions, souvenirs, and luggage storage, often with partner discounts.
Multi-scenario integration: Hong Kong’s Octopus Card is accepted in parking lots, school cafeterias, public pools, and even pet clinics; London’s Oyster Card works at some pubs and newsstands.
Digital integration: modern cards can be linked to Apple Pay or Google Wallet, enabling contactless mobile payments for transit and shopping.
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