The Taiwan Money Card is a ?contactless? payment card, which is usually intended for small purchases and is held within a few inches of the vendor?s card-reader machine, without actually touching it. The card is jointly issued by the Kaohsiung city government, Cathay United Bank and E. Sun Commercial Bank, in co-operation with MasterCard Taiwan.
In December 2007 it became valid for use in the Mass Rapid Transit urban-rail system of Kaohsiung, Taiwan?s second-largest city, located in the south of the island. Kaohsiung?s Taiwan Money Card is valid for a broader range of services than any other card in Taiwan. Apart from the Mass Rapid Transit, it can also be used for 385 different bus lines in the Kaohsiung area, as well as in a range of small businesses, such as convenience stores and gas stations. Two types of card are available, including one that in effect works as a credit card, with overdraft protection of up to NT$700. Cathay United Bank has issued about 140,000 cards, while E. Sun Bank has issued 70,000 cards.
Apart from the Kaoshiung card, the Easy Card (issued by the Taipei Smart Card Corp) is in use in Taipei, and the Taichung eCard (issued by the Taiwan Smart Card Corp) is in use in Taichung County in the middle of the island.
