It’s been too long ago, sorry 
It could be that the card had some initial PIN (like birthday or some part of the ARC number or something)… But that should have been mentioned somewhere when they sent you the card…
In my case, I picked up the card at a branch. At some point they inserted some number but maintained that there is no PIN that can be used for Cube credit cards. My Chinese is not perfect, but relatively ok, so I don’t think it was a pure misunderstanding issue.
I also maintain a bank account at Cathay and I have a normal bank card for that with which I can withdraw money. Still, I want to find out more about the Cube credit card.
Compared to my MegaBank card, I am already quite happy as I can use it at PX Mart, 7-Eleven and many other places that don’t accept MegaBank’s credit card. That was also an eye-opener, as I have never experienced that a Visa or Mastercard credit card wasn’t accepted due to the issuing bank. That just isn’t a thing anywhere in the world. The only thing that can happen is that some networks like Diners, JCB, UnionPay, Amex… are not accepted. Well, good to learn that Taiwan banking is very different - but great to also have this group to double check and give feedback i.e. about the Cube credit card Pin.
When I opened my bank account, I directly applied for a credit card. They gave me an ATM card and told me to destroy it as soon as my credit card arrives because the credit card would take over the function of the ATM card.
If you have a credit card and ATM card now, I guess it might be possible to also “combine” them - but not sure what the process would be…
Yeah, I think @Mataiou described this somewhere in this thread or in another: Those stores usually won’t say that they accept “VISA” or “Mastercard” (because then they would have to accept all of them), but instead they say “we accept [bank name] cards”…
Still, not sure if that’s really a sensible decision from a business point. Sure, they might save some fees due to special agreements with those specific banks whose cards they accept - but not sure if that’s worth it overall…
I applied for a combo cube card a while later after opening account. Went to branch to get the pin set. Someone helped me out - all can be done at an ATM. First use old card, then set pin on new card. Only then the old card could be destroyed (it doesn’t get deactivated apparently, you’re just free to destroy it).
Just go to a branch with both cards and ask for help. If you didn’t apply for a combo card… maybe you’re SOL.
Just to add the quote from their website:
附加功能-COMBO
國泰世華CUBE卡提供COMBO功能，您可依需求選擇是否附加結合金融卡功能之COMBO信用卡，讓您享有信用卡+金融卡雙卡合一的用卡體驗。
Additional functions - COMBO
Cathay United Bank’s CUBE card provides a COMBO function. You can choose whether to add a COMBO credit card with debit card functions according to your needs, allowing you to enjoy the credit card + debit card dual-card experience.
So it really seems that one can choose - the relevant term seems to be “COMBO”.
Probably another case of a “lazy employee” who will just tell you that something is not possible to get rid of you as fast as possible… If you want to try, better check at another branch. Or it’s really something that needs to be decided when applying for the card 
- Company: HSBC
- Card applied for: Live+
- Credit score/history before applying: 760+
- Date of application: Early Feb
- Date of follow up call: T+3
- Date of credit report check: T+12, T+14
- Date of approval: T+15
- Date of arrival: T+17
- Time from application to card received: Over 2 weeks
- Guarantor required? No
- Secured deposit required? No
- Apply where? Snailmail
- Credit limit given: Shared with existing card (no change)
Supporting documents provided:
- Scan of ARC
- Scan of passport
Applied because it looks like the categories have improved since introduction last year. Didn’t need to provide any finances because I already have a different HSBC card. They called to inquire about it - apparently they didn’t know about the other card until I mentioned it. Also still needed to provide a fake address in “home country” 
I thought they scrapped that moronic requirement, send a complaint email to customervoicetwm@hsbc.com.tw saying that
My story is I walked into the bank I use (國泰世華) and applied and then they gave me one. I also went back a year later to ask for a limit increase and it was approved. I don’t recall having to do anything special. I might have showed my passport or something. I think having a bunch of money in my checking account and having already established a relationship helped.
Nope. Not really.
What helped was when years ago they rejected foreigners for the Costco card.
Then some very smart person complained to Costco head office asking why they signed an exclusive deal with a bank that discriminates against foreigners (including Americans.)
After caving… Cathay realized that foreigners became a juicy client (most likely because it was the only/first credit card they could get without a guarantor or guaranteed deposit.)
Fast forward to today… you don’t even need an account with them to get a card.
Ok. Maybe it was because I’m so cute. People were complaining about credit cards then too, it was only five years ago.
- Company: American Express
- Card applied for: Platinum Charge Card
- Credit score/history before applying: No history
- Date of application: T
- Date of credit report check: T+2 business days
- Date of follow up call: T+2
- Date of approval: T+4
- Date of arrival: T+7
- Time from application to card received: 2 weeks
- Guarantor required? No
- Secured deposit required? No
- Apply where? Online
- Credit limit given: 300k
Supporting documents provided:
- Taiwanese bank passbooks
- Overseas brokerage statements
- Overseas bank statements
- Overseas American Express account numbers
Important note, I didn’t have a salaried job in Taiwan nor overseas.
They asked for statements showing I had a 6-month average cash balance of 1.5 million for the charge card and 900k for the credit card. Foreign currencies and foreign bank statements are accepted.
Interestingly, they claimed it had to be a cash balance. Money market funds and short-term securities did not qualify(?). Stock/bond funds or ETFs did not qualify either. Not sure if they were telling me to fk off or not.
A few days later, I was approved and received the card via registered mail. Nice little silver box. Slightly better than the US AE welcome package. My only complaint is the Taiwan AE transfer/redemption website is as ugly as Taiwan’s buildings. Oh, and you cannot add it to ApplePay.
How do you guys know they checked your credit score? I can check through the app but need to pay for the report every time
On the website you can set up email alerts when your credit data is accessed.
Yup. I just got a call from a nice chap at Fubon bank asking if I would like a loan. I don’t even bank with Fubon but have the Fubon Coscto Credit card which I rarely use.
I replied I am just about retired and turn 65 in August and I don’t think they want to do a loan till death do us part.
We both had a good chuckle as he admitted he did not know my age. Maybe they don’t check that before they call.
Update on this one: the 1% cashback bonus when auto payment is enabled has finally arrived. First you have to call them to enable it, then it takes 3+ billing cycles to appear in your account, and it will always lag by those three billing cycles.
- Company: CTBC
- Card applied for: China Airlines Co-branded Signature Business Card
- Credit score/history before applying: No Score. I’ve got a CC with another TW bank, but haven’t held it for the 3 months required to receive a score.
- Date of application: T
- Date of credit report check: T+2
- Date of follow up call: T+1, but couldn’t pick up, wasn’t called again
- Date of approval: T+6
- Date of arrival: T+9
- Time from application to card received: 9 days
- Guarantor required? No
- Secured deposit required? No
- Apply where? At the branch
- Credit limit given: NT$15萬
Supporting documents provided:
- ARC
- Business Card
- 3 months of bank statements
- 3 months of paystubs
- 2024 Tax certificate
Walked into the branch and told the guard I wanted to apply for a credit card. I was not given a number, but told to take a seat and someone will be with me shortly. After a short (10min) wait, I got approached by a sales rep.
Interesting enough, I wasn’t asked for my passport. This might be because I already have a bank account with CTBC. The sales rep also tried to upsell me to the Infinity Business Card, but I wasn’t interested as I’m not sure the rewards would exceed the annual fee(NT$8,000) for me.
yes, usually if they are smart they won’t ask for it.
2 successes this month.
Called Fubon and asked them to increase my credit limit (I wanted to buy a scooter on a credit card installment deal without maxing out my credit limit).
Have had their costo card about a year and a half and my credit score is 760. They sent me a link to upload supporting documents (I used last year’s income tax records). Got bumped up from 60k to 150k a few days later.
As a contingency I also applied for the Cathay Cube card (showed bank book and same tax docs) and they also approved me for 150k, it took about 2 weeks to get the follow up call and a few more days to get the card in the mail.
Most local banks also ignore this. Maybe maybe helps if you got them with the bank themselves vs the securities department, otherwise nah.
It’s easier to get the card than the account today. Yet without the account the card (CUBE) is sort of useless (less rewards). So you can say it’s pretty hard to get a decent credit card now (with most banks).
Yeh just go HSBC and get the cashback one and connect it with JKO pay. Works just about anywhere and you get 3% cashback on all jko payments