With Apple Pay over a year old now in the United States, we’re still seeing Apple add new partner banks and credit unions across the country to support its mobile payment service. In the latest expansion, over 50 additional participating partners have been added to now work with Apple Pay on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Still waiting for your bank to make the jump? These are the latest to join:
Alternatives Federal Credit Union
Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union
Artisans’ Bank
Bank of Eastman
Bank of Rantoul
Bridgeview Bank Group
Carson Bank
Calumet Bank
Catholic & Community Credit Union
Central State Bank
Charter Oak Federal Credit Union
Cincinnati Police Federal Credit Union
Citizens First Ban
Cornerstone Bank
Cornerstone National Bank
Credit Union of America
Drummond Community Bank
Education Employees Credit Union
First Community Credit Union (MO)
First Federal Bank of the Midwest
First Piedmont Federal Savings and Loan Association
Genisys Credit Union
German American
Gorham Savings Bank
Greenwood Credit Union
Houston Texas Fire Fighters Federal Credit Union
Hudson River Community Credit Union
InTouch Credit Union
KV Federal Credit Union
Lexington Postal Credit Union
Macatawa Bank
Maine Family Federal Credit Union
Marion State Bank
Missouri Bank
Missouri Credit Union
Mocse Credit Union
Municipal Employees Credit Union of Oklahoma City
Mutual Bank
Newaygo County Service Employees Credit Union
Oak Trust Credit Union
Peoples Bank
Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union
PyraMax Bank
Settlers Federal Credit Union
The Bank
The Provident Bank
Tri City National Bank
TwinStar Credit Union
UMassFive College Federal Credit Union
United Equity Credit Union
United Savings Credit Union
University of Kentucky Federal Credit Union
Upper Peninsula State Bank
Weokie Credit Union
In addition to these 54 new partners, Apple turned on support for over 70 more partners at the end of last month. Since then we’ve also seen Kohl’s become the first retailer to let customers use their store credit card with Apple Pay as Kohl’s Charge card was recently added.
Apple also announced that Apple Pay would expand outside of the US and UK by the end of this year into Canada and Australia for American Express cardholders while Spain, Singapore, and Hong Kong are planned for next year under the same partnership.
And if you’re looking for more places to use Apple Pay, it was recently announced that Starbucks will be bringing support to its stores starting this year (it’s already an option within the app but not in stores) as KFC and Chili’s have signed on for 2016.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
For a list of participating banks, US & UK, see here:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204916
These updates are starting to get meaningless – 50 more banks, 50 more credit unions… it could be 500 or 5,000. What we really want to hear is 50 more retailers accept Apple Pay, 50 more websites etc. I’d love to use it more, but barely anyone accepts it.
Amen brother. I was about to post the very same thing, but you beat me to it.
I disagree. These are really PSA for people who are still waiting for their banks to support AP. A lot of times banks do not make announcements till weeks after support starts. For retailers all you need to do is simply ask. it makes little sense to post about retailers unless they are big name since there a lot more retailers then banks.
And those that do have employees who are clueless that they even offer it AND/OR have no idea how it works. Cannot tell you how many times I pay for something at Walgreens or Subway with my Apple Watch only to have the kid behind the counter stare at me in wonder and awe, asking how I did that. More retailers need to accept Apple Pay and those who do need to seriously school their employees of (a) its existence so they don’t have a dumbfounded look on their faces when a customer asks them if they accept Apple Pay, and (b) how it works.
I’ve stopped using it at Subway. At my main subway, the little machine is pulled all the way to the cashier’s side and they do all the swiping, so it’s not convenient to be like “hey lemme just grab that reader from you.” At the second Subway, the reader is out for the customer to operate. However, at both locations, whenever I pull out the phone, they usually push the button for the Subway QR code thing. I have to explain, “no, not that QR app thing, just press your credit card button.” If I have to explain it every time, I won’t bother.
Again, this is a complete lack of educating on the part of the retailer towards their employees. I also run into the occasional cashier at Panera with the dumbfounded look on their face when I pay for something using my Watch. These retailers have to understand how bad this looks to customers when their employees, especially young ones, are not embracing new technology. Once Apple blankets the market with Apple Pay (if it happens), then retailers will have no choice but to educate their employees on it. This whole piece meal thing is getting them nowhere.
Agree with Mark. It’s great that Apple are working with the seller groups but this makes me wonder if they are not getting enough traction with the big boys, I hope they do as I hope Google and other also do. Basically we need modern and secure ways to pay.
I heard that 85% of the worlds credit card fraud is in the USA. Not surprised given retailers use a signature only and don’t even ask for ID or even look at the signature… In Europe they have been using PIN and chip, the card never leaves your sight so no cloning is possible. Given USA’s tech skill bases and educated population I wonder why the banking side is so backwards?
Except the fact that it practically doesn’t work anywhere in the EU, particularly in Germany. Maybe by the end of this century?
My bank isn’t on the list. I’ve been trying since April to persuade them to start with Apple Pay. What should I be doing to persuade them effectively?
Switch banks. Yes, really. We shouldn’t be married to our bank, no matter how long you have a history together. And if it’s private banking, then stay with them and simply open a checking account at a participating bank that does support Apple Pay.
I know people who have moved because they had a slow Internet connection. Yes, really.
No need even to switch banks. Just get a credit card at a bank that supports Apple Pay. How hard is that? Someone could have done that a year ago if they really wanted to use Apple Pay.
No need to completely switch banks. Just get a credit card at a bank that supports Apple Pay. How hard is that? Seems silly someone has been waiting for a year for their bank to support Apple Pay when they could have gotten a card in a week and been using Apple Pay for a year already.
No local bank supports Apple Pay, and I want it for my debit card (not a credit card).
Aha! Never thought of this scenario; thanks for enlightening me. You’re the second person to do so today. Hmm, perhaps Apple should investigate Gift Cards to work with Apple Pay?
Having a credit card just for Apple Pay and paying off the balance every month is substantially no different than using a debit card. Besides, there are so few places to use it, the balance will be really low every month anyway.
How about add 50 more stores including Walmart and Target.
OK This is great and all but what about increasing the number of stores / point of sale terminals that support Apple Pay? The numbers are still dreadful and it’s been out for over a year now…
LOL @ a bank calked “The Bank” — they couldn’t come up with a better name than that?
Oh LAWD! Ally Bank is still not on the list.
Lots of filler banks and credit unions but it is impressive the bank/Credit Union penetration. The top 6 banks, 14 out of the top 15. 9 of the top 10 credit unions, plus 19 out of 20. There are still some larger holdouts that are the real story. Such as Ally Bank which promises support soon. And Fidelity.
The merchant growth has seen some significant additions recently. Rite-Aid, Best Buy and Kohl’s especially plus Eat24 and Fandango Apps. For Kohls having the store rewards/payment card being built into Apple Pay for retail and their app means you are not losing any discounts by using Apple Pay. I shopped at Macy’s quite a bit using Apple Pay but was leaving some discounts on the table by not using their store card. With Kohl’s that is no longer the case. JC Penney is rumored to have a similar arrangement coming soon. Target with Red Card, Sears, and others could emulate Kohl’s.
On the app level, with Foodler, Eat24, the ChowNow apps, eating take out and paying with Apple Pay is a breeze.
So merchant acceptance is growing, not fast enough for some people’s patience but definitely growing.