Starting in January, Taiwanese will be able to use their domestic ATM cards to withdraw cash and check account balances at ATMs in Hokkaido, Japan, the Bankers Association of ROC (銀行公會) said yesterday.
In June, they will be able to use their cards to purchase goods at contract stores near tourist attractions in Hokkaido.
“The purpose is to promote cooperation between financial institutions in Taiwan and Japan, while enhancing travel convenience for Taiwanese visiting Japan,” Susan Chang (張秀蓮), head of the association, said in Taipei yesterday.
The association, with nine member banks participating in the program, yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan’s Hokkaido Bank Ltd and NTT DATA Corp.
The Bank of Taiwan (台灣銀行) and Hokkaido Bank will act as settling banks.
Yoshihiro Sekihachi, president of Hokkaido Bank, said Taiwanese tourists make a vital contribution to Hokkaido’s economy, amounting to nearly 280,000 of the 700,000 foreign tourists who visit the island.
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