TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's non-cash payment adoption remains heavily concentrated in six major municipalities, creating a stark digital divide that the National Credit Card Center (NCCC, 聯卡中心) is working to bridge. The center announced Tuesday (Sept. 16) plans to collaborate with local governments across Taiwan's smaller administrative regions to expand digital payment infrastructure and achieve more balanced nationwide distribution of non-cash payment systems.
Big data analysis revealed a striking imbalance, with credit card transactions in Taiwan's six major municipalities accounting for 93.87% of all activity while non-municipal regions represent merely 7%. This disparity underscores Taiwan's significant urban-rural digital payment divide. The center has prioritized bridging this gap since 2023, launching outreach efforts in June by visiting 16 non-municipal local governments to establish strategic partnerships.
Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC, 金管會), the nation's financial regulator, reported that non-cash payments reached NT$8.3 trillion (around US$275.5 billion) in 2024, with credit cards comprising 56% of transactions. The center assists local governments in prioritizing merchant credit card acceptance, addressing challenges where many non-municipal businesses reject applications due to operational complexities or fraud concerns through government mediation and educational sessions.
Center officials emphasized that promoting non-cash payments demands sustained long-term commitment and outlined plans for establishing continuous partnerships with non-municipal governments across Taiwan. They believe accelerating digital payment adoption in rural areas will create multiple benefits, including enhanced consumer convenience, expanded customer bases for businesses, stimulated economic development, and improved governmental efficiency alongside greater fiscal transparency. ◼