Apple Pay Launches in 13 More European Countries, Sparkassen and Volksbanken in Germany Later This Year

[MacRumors]

Apple Pay is officially going live in 13 additional countries today, including Greece, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia, bringing Apple's mobile payment system to millions more users across Europe.

Finally #ApplePay is available in Romania 🙏 pic.twitter.com/pgjZUJjPWX - Ciprian Redinciuc (@cyupa89) June 26, 2019

In Slovakia, for example, users can already load cards onto their Apple Wallet from Boon, Edenred, J&T Banka, Monese, N26, Revolut, Slovenska sporitelna, Tatra banka, and mBank.

It's a similar story in many more countries, based on screenshots posted by Apple users on social media this morning.

Apple Pay now also appears to support a number of popular bank cards across Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, and Slovenia.

Ahoj #applepay! Welcome to Slovakia and welcome to George!#ApplePaySlovakia #BankingHasAName pic.twitter.com/b77E5KJNFl - George (@myGeorgeWorld) June 26, 2019

Apple Pay has been gradually expanding across Europe and the Middle East, launching in Poland, Norway, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Austria, and Iceland over the last year.

The mobile payment system allows iPhone 6, 6s, 6, 7, 8, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, 7 Plus, 8 Plus, SE, X, XS, XS Max, and XR users to make payments for goods and services in retail stores using an NFC chip built into their iPhones.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in March that Apple Pay would be available in more than 40 countries and regions by the end of 2019, although Apple's website has yet to be updated with the full list. Apple Pay first launched in the United States in October 2014. You can view the full list of Apple Pay countries and regions on Apple's website.

Update: Sparkassen and Volksbanken banks in Germany will also support Apple Pay later this year. (Thanks, Kai!)

Article Link: Apple Pay Launches in 13 More European Countries, Sparkassen and Volksbanken in Germany Later This Year

 

[deathnite]

Woohoo! Apple Pay for everyone.

 

[L-Viz]

Apple pay is the best payment method. I use it where I can and I avoid businesses, that refuse to offer it. Their loss.

 

[dragje]

This is very good news for people living in Europe, including myself, living in Amsterdam the Netherlands where Apple Pay just recently was released. I use Apple Pay on daily bases, in supermarkets, restaurants and for many other little things. I must say that I find paying with Apple Pay using my Apple Watch (3th generation) much more convenient than using my iPhone instead. Your watch is all-ready their for usage. Press twice, hold in in front of the cash-machine and you’re done, versus an iPhone which in most situations is still somewhere in my jacket. None the less, very convenient.

Also something nice I discovered. In Apple’s wallet app you can also see where you've payed your bills. This information won’t stay stirred for months but it’s pretty handy if you all ready made a payment and you like to find the specific store after you’ve left. Because not only the name of the store will be within your wallet app but also the location, together with the option to click on it so Apple Maps will give you directions towards the store.
Very happy with this way of making payments.

 

[djcerla]

Apple Pay on a Watch is simply Apple at its best. It just works like magic.

I hope more website will offer it for online purchases.

 

[rmoliv]

Yes, it’s been up since about 3 am here. Now how long is the waiting for Apple Cash and Apple Card gonna be? Five more years?

 

[matrix07]

Apple should make Apple Pay Cash available as well but it is a good start.

Next, Octopus-card-compatible Apple Wallet in iOS 13 will be just as convenient when I visited Hong Kong again.

 

[samwa3]

Great. Which European countries are not yet supported, or is Europe finally completely Apple Pay-enabled so to speak?

And I hope they'll bring Apple Card here rather sooner than later.

 

[rmoliv]

Great. Which European countries are not yet supported, or is Europe finally completely Apple Pay-enabled so to speak?

And I hope they'll bring Apple Card here rather sooner than later.

Moldova
Belarus
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Serbia
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Albania

 

[catean]

Great. Which European countries are not yet supported, or is Europe finally completely Apple Pay-enabled so to speak?

Europe as a continent is still missing some countries, but European Union is fully supported now.

 

[ZipZilla]

Hello Apple? Southeast Asia for Apple Pay?

 

[mauriciomatos]

To have it available is one thing, to have the banks offer the service is another thing. Here in Portugal, it seems to only be available to foreign cards for now, such as Revolut.

 

[catean]

To have it available is one thing, to have the banks offer the service is another thing. Here in Portugal, it seems to only be available to foreign cards for now, such as Revolut.

Revolut is issuing local BIN cards. So if you have your address in the Revolut app in Portugal, you will receive a card with a Portugal BIN (Bank Identification Number).

 

[Khedron]

Apple Pay on a Watch is simply Apple at its best. It just works like magic.

I hope more website will offer it for online purchases.

Apple Pay on a watch is a convenience, but the scenario in the article photo is a joke. In what universe is holding your phone to a terminal easier than tapping a card.

When Apple make the Watch function without needing an iPhone it will be great.

 

[IIGS User]

Still no Apple Pay in Puerto Rico.

We got your back, Latvia, Russia, and the bulk of Europe.

But hey, even though the PR banking system is part of the US banking system.....

 

[EdgyCommie]

Hello Apple? Southeast Asia for Apple Pay?

We have it here in Singapore

 

[SidricTheViking]

Wonder when this will be reflected on Apple’s site? https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207957

 

[samwa3]

To have it available is one thing, to have the banks offer the service is another thing. Here in Portugal, it seems to only be available to foreign cards for now, such as Revolut.

While more bank support would of course be great, using "foreign" bank isn't really a problem as long as it is inside SEPA. For example you could use N26. I also use a foreign bank as my main account.

 

[MisterSavage]

Apple Pay on a watch is a convenience, but the scenario in the article photo is a joke. In what universe is holding your phone to a terminal easier than tapping a card.

This universe. If I'm waiting in line I'll probably be using my iPhone when I'm waiting. When I get to the front of the line it's just two button taps to pay with Apple Pay instead of getting something out of my wallet. Even though I have an Apple Watch if my phone is already out I just pay with that.

 

[Jimmy James]

Welcome to the 21st.

 

[eddimax]

Wonder when this will be reflected on Apple’s site? https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207957

I am wondering it too. Even they already made local Apple Pay website for every new country

Croatia
https://www.apple.com/hr/apple-pay/

Lithuania
https://www.apple.com/lt/apple-pay/

Slovakia
https://www.apple.com/sk/apple-pay/

and so on....

 

[rmoliv]

Wonder when this will be reflected on Apple’s site? https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207957

It is now.

 

[Khedron]

This universe. If I'm waiting in line I'll probably be using my iPhone when I'm waiting. When I get to the front of the line it's just two button taps to pay with Apple Pay instead of getting something out of my wallet. Even though I have an Apple Watch if my phone is already out I just pay with that.

So you go from waiting in line using your phone, which is fine, to completing and packing your purchase all without your phone ever leaving your hand?

I can see that working if you're just ordering a Starbucks or something but for actual shopping it seems inconvenient.

 

[Awesome discussion]

Whats very important is that Apple Pay in Germany will support Direct Debit Cards (Lastschrift/Bankeinzug) and not just Debit Cards (which are basically Creditcards). This is huge because Credit Cards only make up for 5% (including Debit Cards) where Direct Debit Cards do account for 95% of all non-cash transactions.

 

[ipedro]

Apple has really been accelerating their ApplePay business. At this rate, it'll soon be effectively accepted worldwide. While Facebook is busy trying to make their Libra currency a thing, Apple is already established. ApplePay is one step away from rolling out Apple Cash which is its own virtual currency — but in Apple's case, with the backing of one billion devices on which it'll be pre-installed and with a worldwide network of real retail places where it’s accepted to purchase real things.