Apple Pay Will Soon Launch in 16 More Countries, Including Bulgaria and Croatia

[MacRumors]

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.

Now, mobile banking service Monese has revealed that Apple Pay is also coming soon to its cardholders in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Many of these countries are located in Eastern Europe.

We will soon bring #ApplePay - an easy, secure and private way to pay - to customers in:🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇨🇾 Cyprus 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇬🇷 Greece 🇱🇹 Lithuania 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇲🇹 Malta 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇴 Romania 🇸🇰 Slovakia🇸🇮 Slovenia pic.twitter.com/QFleLbs0Jl - Monese (@monese) May 15, 2019

Apple Pay is also nearing launch in the Netherlands, Hungary, and Luxembourg for a total of 16 upcoming countries. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that Apple Pay will be available in more than 40 regions by the end of 2019.

Apple Pay first launched in the United States in October 2014 and has since expanded to dozens of countries and territories. The service can be used anywhere contactless payments are accepted with a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch, and it is also accepted by select apps and websites.

Article Link: Apple Pay Will Soon Launch in 16 More Countries, Including Bulgaria and Croatia

 

[AaronM5670]

Yet still no mention of Apple Pay Cash outside of the US...

 

[Evan Davis]

Has anyone tried the new Express Travel settings in Apple Pay? I've turned mine on, but haven't needed to travel today.

 

[Mizu7]

Soon could be one hour or one year

 

[Mike MA]

While people in the US can already use Apple Pay Cash...

 

[wp3gi]

Everywhere except Puerto Rico!

 

[newyorksole]

Wow it’s really taking off. Seriously love Apple Pay / Apple Pay Cash and cant wait for Apple Card.

Extremely convenient and easy.

 

[Spock]

I wish my smaller hometown bank would support it. I asked them about it and said they have no plans to offer Apple Pay in the future. I’ve been considering changing banks.

 

[stonekirby]

The Netherlands...finally, can't wait to try it out!

Although I can't complain, I'd love to have that Apple Card thingie too...oh well.

 

[Kaibelf]

Yet still no mention of Apple Pay Cash outside of the US...

That’s because Apple Pay Cash is backed by a bank. It took forever for these foreign banks to even agree to basic Apple Pay.
[doublepost=1557925693][/doublepost]

I wish my smaller hometown bank would support it. I asked them about it and said they have no plans to offer Apple Pay in the future. I’ve been considering changing banks.

I ended up going to a credit union for that reason.

 

[baneslo]

Iphone XS is premium phone with premium fuctions... But most importatnt of them don't work outside of US. If you expect someone will expensive phone for 1.2k € you need to offer him all functions available to work in his country. I am big fan of Apple but i am still using Iphone 7 plus and still wondering if i upgrade to latest iPhone or take some other make.

 

[Sasparilla]

Nice to see Apple continuing to push ahead with this.

 

[lcgarza10]

And Mexico

Everywhere except Puerto Rico!

 

[skinned66]

Good stuff, I loved using Apple Pay when I had it.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I’m in the US, and I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I’m seeing NFC in more and more locations. Maybe about 50% of places I shop. Not amazing, but getting better. I still rarely use it, because I often don’t notice till I already have my card out (or don’t want to draw attention by paying with my watch, and then sometimes it doesn’t work... haha). But when I start getting that 3% back I’ll definitely make the effort

 

[IIGS User]

Everywhere except Puerto Rico!

1: At first I thought you were joking or miss informed. Then I did my own research and was honestly floored that Apple Pay simply is not supported in PR. I always knew the relationship between governments in PR and the mainland were an odd circumstance, but wow.

I asked my medical team recently about travel outside the mainland, and they recommended PR for it's availability of advanced medical care should the need arise, and the fact that my health insurance is accepted as "in network" in most hospitals on the island. My insurance has generous overseas and medical evacuation coverage anyway, and I also purchase evacuation insurance when I travel due to my heart condition.

Oddly enough, I can also legally carry a concealed firearm in PR due to my previous and current employment. But I guess I better bring my AMEX....

 

[MisterSavage]

This is great but I'm surprised that it's taken so many years after Apple Pay's launch for this to happen.

I wish my smaller hometown bank would support it. I asked them about it and said they have no plans to offer Apple Pay in the future. I’ve been considering changing banks.

My credit union took forever to support it. You could sign up for a card with no annual fee from a place like Chase without having to change banks.

I’m in the US, and I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but I’m seeing NFC in more and more locations. Maybe about 50% of places I shop. Not amazing, but getting better. I still rarely use it, because I often don’t notice till I already have my card out (or don’t want to draw attention by paying with my watch, and then sometimes it doesn’t work... haha). But when I start getting that 3% back I’ll definitely make the effort

I make it a point to use Apple Pay everywhere I can and things are SO much better than they used to be. I use it almost every day but there are still plenty of places I can't use it. It's nice to see big places like Target and CVS starting to catch up.

 

[NBAasDOGG]

The Netherlands won’t get it anyway!
Pretty sure Afghanistan will be first...

 

[Iphtashu Fitz]

And yet big chain stores in the US like Home Depot still won't accept any contactless payment...

 

[DeanL]

Yet still no mention of Apple Pay Cash outside of the US...

Because in a lot of countries like Canada, we have better solutions like Interac E-Transfer, which doesn't even require interaction from the recipient if they have auto deposit on, and they get it directly in their bank account and not a 2nd debit card.

 

[Shalev]

What about israel!

 

[akbarali.ch]

The Netherlands won’t get it anyway!
Pretty sure Afghanistan will be first...

Haha, even i'm pretty sure Afghanistan will get it before India.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Iphone XS is premium phone with premium fuctions... But most importatnt of them don't work outside of US. If you expect someone will expensive phone for 1.2k € you need to offer him all functions available to work in his country. I am big fan of Apple but i am still using Iphone 7 plus and still wondering if i upgrade to latest iPhone or take some other make.

What features on the iPhone Xs are not supported outside the U.S.? In what country do you live?

 

[truthertech]

And yet big chain stores in the US like Home Depot still won't accept any contactless payment...

Yes, for some, and they are in an ever shrinking minority so the pressure will build. Apple Pay is now accepted at around 70% of locations in the US. The two biggest, Walmart and Kroger are desperately trying to get a foothold that they hope will hold against the coming Apple Pay tide. Kroger will fold first with all their grocery competitors jumping on board: Safeway, Whole Foods, Costco, Trader Joes, etc., Apple Pay friendly, and Kroger Pay a joke.

 

[cocky jeremy]

I wish my smaller hometown bank would support it. I asked them about it and said they have no plans to offer Apple Pay in the future. I’ve been considering changing banks.

Leave. And when you do, tell them why. The only way they'll ever pay attention.