Jd.com set to launch online credit card product

Jd.com, a leading Chinese B2C e-commerce company, said Wednesday it will launch a virtual credit card product for personal users, in a move to tap into the consumer financing services sector.

According to an e-mail sent to the Global Times, users can use the service to shop first, then pay later. The highest credit could reach 15,000 yuan ($2,474.13) and the payment could be paid within 30 days, or in installments from three to 12 months.

Jd.com said it could finish the application and credit within one minute, faster than conventional banks.

Xu Ling, who is from jd.com's consumer financing services, said the services could cover all the physical shopping goods in the website, but not for virtual products, gold and jewelry.

Xu also said the company has no cooperation with banks.

The company will open the beta phase on Thursday and Friday, with approved users able to activate services on Saturday.

Insiders said the move is to increase the amount of the company's online payment accounts. However, the company does not have an online payment system like taobao.com and Alipay, which will challenge its further development.

Earlier this year, Liu Qiangdong, CEO of jd.com, said the company needs further development in logistics, technology and Internet financing.

In January, jd.com has loaned more than 1 billion yuan to online sellers.

Earlier this month, jd.com filed to raise $1.5 billion in an IPO in the US, the largest by a Chinese Internet company, showing major ambition to expand its online retail market.