Apple Pay Launches for HSBC in Australia, Adds 22 New U.S. Banks

HSBC is now offering Apple Pay support to its Visa and MasterCard credit card customers in Australia. In related news, the contactless payment system also added 22 new U.S. financial institutions to its support rolls.

MacRumors:

HSBC said the majority of its customers’ credit card payments are already contactless and it expects Apple Pay will be quickly embraced as part of the wider shift towards tap-and-go payments.

“Our customers have told us they want to be able to use Apple Pay in Australia, and we’re proud to be able to make this service available to them,” said Graham Heunis, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, HSBC Australia. “HSBC has introduced Apple Pay in five other markets and we’re looking forward to another successful launch here.”

HSBC offers an Apple Pay web page on its site, which guides its customers through adding a card to the Wallet app on their iPhone and iPad for use with Apple Pay.

While a growing number of Australian banks now support Apple Pay, a number of the larger banks in the country are still holdouts. Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Westpac Banking Corporation, NAB, and Bendigo and Adelaide have resisted supporting the payment system.

U.S. Banks Add Apple Pay Support

22 U.S. banks and credit unions have also recently began offering Apple Pay support to their customers. The financial institutions are:

• 1st Constitution Bank
• Alerus Financial N.A.
• Bank of Cashton
• Bank of New Mexico
• BankStar Financial
• Central National Bank & TrustCompany
• Chevron Federal Credit Union
• Citizens Community Bank
• Connexus Credit Union
• DATCU
• Department of CommerceFederal Credit Union
• First Bank Blue Earth
• First National Bank of Pana
• First US Community CreditUnion
• Legacy Bank
• Manasquan Bank
• Market USA Federal CreditUnion
• Midstates Bank N.A.
• Security State Bank ofHibbing
• Skyward Credit Union
• The Bank of Bennington
• Two River Community Bank

Apple’s contactless payments system works with the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, and iPhone 7 Plus; all Apple Watches; iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2, and both iPad Pro models. Macs are the latest addition to the compatibility list, as they can now use Apple Pay as of the debut of macOS Sierra.

Adding Your Credit or Debit Card to Apple Pay

Users can add their credit or debit card to Apple Pay, by doing the following:

• iPhone users running iOS 9 can go to the Wallet app and tap the “+” icon in the upper right-hand corner to begin, and then just follow the prompts. Users of iPads with Touch ID can add a card to the service to use in apps by going to “Settings” -> “Wallet & Apple Pay” to add a card there.
• Apple Watch users will need to enter the Watch app on their iPhone, Tap on the “Wallet & Apple Pay” option, and then tap the “Add Credit or Debit Card” option.