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Do UnionPay cards from Russia work in Malaysia?

Malaysia · Money and Prices
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Yes, UnionPay cards from Russian banks work in Malaysia, but with significant limitations. In 2026, only cards from Rosselkhozbank (RSHB) and ATB function fully. Cards from Gazprombank, Tinkoff, Russian Standard, and other banks issued earlier no longer work. Our personal experience shows that paying directly with a UnionPay card is rarely successful, but withdrawing cash is quite feasible.

CIMB ATM — one of the best for withdrawing cash from UnionPay without commission

Where can you pay with UnionPay in Malaysia

Unfortunately, UnionPay acceptance in Malaysia is very limited. During our last trip along the Langkawi-Penang-Ipoh-Pangkor-Malacca-Kuala Lumpur route, we were able to pay by card only in a few places:

  • Chain supermarkets KK Super Mart
  • Duty Free stores in Langkawi
  • Some cafes in Penang
  • A large supermarket on Pangkor Island
  • In Kuala Lumpur — only for the airport metro fare

In Ipoh and Malacca, we couldn't pay with UnionPay at all. Therefore, we don't recommend relying on cashless payments — it's better to have cash ringgit with you.

Withdrawing cash from UnionPay: fees and best ATMs

Withdrawing cash is much better. There are many ATMs that accept UnionPay, and they work without issues. The main question is the fee. Here are the key points:

  • Issuing bank fee (e.g., RSHB): under the "My Card Plus" tariff, it is 4% of the amount (minimum 70 yuan) for yuan cards and 1.5% (minimum 250 rubles) for ruble cards. Free withdrawal only if the card turnover in the previous month exceeded 30,000 rubles.
  • ATMs without commission: We have repeatedly checked and confirm that MayBank and CIMB ATMs do not charge an additional fee for withdrawals. This makes them the best choice.
  • What to avoid: Never withdraw money from Euronet ATMs — they have exorbitant fees.

Life hack: To minimize losses on fees, withdraw a large amount at once — at least 1000 ringgit from a yuan card and at least 880 ringgit from a ruble card. And at the first opportunity, try to pay directly by card, which is more profitable than withdrawing cash.

Which UnionPay card to choose for a trip to Malaysia

We recommend using a UnionPay card in yuan. It is most profitable to top it up by buying yuan on the exchange. This minimizes conversion losses. Detailed calculations and comparison of all options (rubles, yuan, dollars, euros) are provided in a separate guide.

Tariffs and fees for UnionPay cards from Russian banks (valid for 2026)
Bank and tariff Card issuance Maintenance Cash withdrawal fee Payment fee
Rosselkhozbank / My Card Plus Free (first ruble card), 380 yuan / $55 / €45 for foreign currency cards Free 4% (min. 70 yuan) for yuan cards, 1.5% (min. 250 rubles) for ruble cards. Free if turnover >30,000 rubles/month. No commission
Gazprombank / Universal (not working) 5000 rubles (refundable) Free 450 rubles per transaction No commission

Important: PIN codes in Malaysia are six-digit. If your card has a 4-digit PIN, simply add two zeros at the end (e.g., 1234 → 123400).

We have detailed all the nuances of using Russian cards, cash, and currency exchange in our reliable and honest guide in the article Currency of Malaysia (ringgit): exchange rate, exchange, bank cards, what to take and where to change. We recommend reading it in full to plan your budget without unnecessary losses.

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