Taishin Bank is pitching its Richart card to Double-Ten online shoppers by folding ChatGPT, Notion, Claude and other AI subscriptions into the same points bucket as Shopee, momo and Coupang, a move that highlights how Taiwanese issuers are racing to keep young cardholders inside bank-controlled rewards rails instead of fintech wallets.
What Richart changed for October
Under the bank’s “digital fun swipe” tier, eligible merchants—including major marketplaces and streaming services—can earn up to 3.3 percent back in Taishin points when cardholders select the correct rewards plan. The October calendar also advertises a new-card gift: applicants approved by Oct. 31 who spend NT$2,000 within 30 days can claim a 20-inch suitcase, a standard holiday acquisition tactic as e-commerce platforms launch National Day sales.
Why AI merchants matter
Including AI software alongside games and video subscriptions signals that banks view recurring SaaS charges as everyday spend, not niche corporate expenses. For consumers who already pay for ChatGPT or Canva in dollars, routing charges through a Taiwan-issued card can simplify foreign-exchange reporting and unlock local dispute channels.
Comparison sites note that several October new-card campaigns share an Oct. 31 application deadline but differ on approval windows—Richart requires approval by Nov. 10, while competitors stretch into late November. Card bloggers warn that bank-specific landing pages are required to secure channel gifts.
Competing holiday mechanics
Cathay United Bank’s Shopee co-brand card is running a separate October spend ladder: a single purchase of at least NT$6,500 can earn 650 Shopee coins, but registration opens only on Oct. 20 at 4:00 p.m. and is capped at 1,500 cardholders. That staggered login is typical of Taiwan’s holiday card wars, where marketing teams throttle liability.
First Bank and E.Sun also refreshed October cashback caps on dining and night-market categories earlier in the week, showing issuers balancing acquisition against margin pressure after interchange discussions in the legislature.
Consumer checklist
Cardholders chasing Double-Ten deals should confirm which reward plan is active in the banking app, whether AI merchants count toward monthly caps, and if registration is required after purchase. Missing a login window can void an otherwise qualifying transaction—a frustration Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission has urged banks to disclose more clearly.
For households consolidating subscriptions, Richart’s merchant list offers a single statement view, but points are not cash unless converted under bank rules. Read the fine print on expiration and monthly ceilings before shifting ChatGPT billing away from a direct U.S. card.
Issuer economics
Banks earn interchange on online volume while funding points from marketing budgets. Adding AI vendors expands the addressable basket without raising headline cashback rates, helping margins compared with blunt 5 percent category bonuses. If October web sales meet expectations, expect rivals to copy the AI merchant list into November campaigns tied to year-end travel.