UnionPay withdrawals in Macau to require ID, face recognition checks

Security checks at Macau automated teller machines (ATMs) will soon be a little more intrusive as the special administrative region seeks to tighten its restrictions on cash flows out of mainland China.

Holders of mainland China-issued UnionPay bank cards will have to scan their identity cards at ATMs and also pass facial recognition scans before they will be able to withdraw cash, the Macau government announced over the weekend.

The new technology will cover “all ATM machines in Macau, namely those installed in and around casinos.” The security checks, however, will only apply to users whose bank cards were issued in the mainland.

“Customers with bank cards issued in Macao and other regions do not need the above procedure and can carry out the withdrawal as usual. Financial institutions will closely monitor the situation of customer use,” the government said a statement.