China UnionPay Co equipped temporary merchants with POS machines so that bank cards could be used for purchases in the earthquake-hit areas of Sichuan Province, the company said today.

The country's sole bank card system want to ensure workers, many of whom live in other parts of the country but are returning to their devastated homes, can withdraw cash conveniently.

UnionPay will also re-issue lost bank cards to quake survivors quickly.

An 8.0-magnitude earthquake ravaged parts of Sichuan Province on May 12. More than 62,000 people were killed and another 23,775 are still missing.

The Shanghai-based company also launched a fund to support poor students hit by the quake. UnionPay will donate 2 million yuan annually for three years to help the students. The company has already give 6.23 million yuan for general quake relief.

(Shanghai Daily May 26, 2008)