Seeing perhaps not too many good database marketing companies China to rely on for data, Discover Financial Services has announced the opening of a new subsidiary in Shanghai to support its own proprietary data analysis and modeling operations.

The new operation in Shanghai's Huangpu District will house a staff of 45 analysts, and Discover plans to double that workforce by 2009.

"This effort represents a wonderful opportunity for Discover and Shanghai together," said Wang Fude, general manager of the new operation. "Discover is able to hire top-notch area talent to build state-of-the-art information-based decision models and tools for our business, while Shanghai receives a new employer offering advanced opportunities in the financial services sector."

The opening of the technology center is Discover's latest foothold in China, where the company already has a long-term agreement with China UnionPay. In May 2007, Discover opened the Discover Financial Services Representative Office in Shanghai to support the UnionPay alliance, which gives Discover Network cardholders access to China UnionPay's merchant locations and ATMs across Mainland China.