LINE Pay launches new electronic payment service in Taiwan

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — LINE Pay unveiled its new electronic payment service, LINE Pay Money, Wednesday (Dec. 3) to enhance mobile payment for over 13.1 million users across Taiwan. Users can access top-ups, transfers, bill splitting, and bill payments by updating the LINE app to version 15.18.1 or higher. The LINE Pay app must be updated to version 4.9.0 or higher to access the new payment features.

Ting Hsiung-chu (丁雄注), chairman of LINE Pay, a mobile payment platform popular in Taiwan, emphasized the comprehensive integration of daily payment needs. Ting highlighted the company's commitment to expanding application scenarios for electronic payments across Taiwan's retail and service sectors. The service features bank account linking with 19 partner banks, including major institutions like Cathay United Bank (國泰世華銀行).

The 19 partner banks include CTBC Bank (中國信託銀行) and Taipei Fubon Bank (台北富邦銀行), two of Taiwan's largest commercial banks. Users can link their bank accounts directly to LINE Pay Money for seamless fund transfers and payment transactions. The integration allows real-time balance updates and instant payment processing across participating financial institutions in Taiwan.

The new "quick transfer in chat" function allows users to complete money transfers directly within LINE chat rooms. The feature includes an added note function for transparency, enabling users to specify payment purposes and transaction details. Users can send money to friends and family without leaving their conversation threads on the messaging platform.

The "friend bill splitting" feature supports both equal and custom amounts for shared expenses among multiple users. The feature makes expenses easier to manage during social gatherings, group trips, and shared dining experiences. Users can divide costs proportionally or assign specific amounts to individual participants within their friend groups.

Users can pay for over 5,000 types of bills through the "lifestyle bill payment" feature integrated into LINE Pay Money. The feature covers utilities, parking fees, telecommunications, and other recurring expenses commonly paid by Taiwan residents. Users can manage multiple bill payments within a single platform, eliminating the need for separate payment systems.

The "ride code" function will debut on the Kaohsiung MRT (高雄捷運), southern Taiwan's metro system, starting Sunday (Dec. 15). The feature enables users to travel without physical cards or wallets by scanning their LINE Pay Money account balance. Users can also use accumulated LINE POINTS to pay for metro fares on the Kaohsiung rapid transit system.

LINE Pay Money members will seamlessly transition their previously linked credit cards to over 650,000 LINE Pay locations nationwide. Existing users can continue using their payment methods at participating merchants across Taiwan without re-registration or additional setup. The transition ensures continuity for millions of users already familiar with LINE Pay's payment infrastructure and merchant network.

Users can enjoy exclusive promotional offers until Tuesday (Dec. 31) to celebrate the LINE Pay Money launch. Promotions include a chance to win up to 88 LINE POINTS, the platform's rewards currency, and a NT$30 (around US$0.97) top-up bonus. The top-up bonus applies to users linking their accounts with 16 designated partner banks during the promotional period.

LINE Pay advises users to use credit cards if they encounter stores not yet accepting LINE Pay Money balance payments. The company acknowledges some merchants may require additional time to upgrade their payment systems to support the new service. Users can continue using previously linked credit cards at over 650,000 locations during the transition period. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31)