What banks participate in Apple Pay in South Africa?
In simple terms, it is a contactless payment method that involves multiple banks worldwide. Essentially, this payment method has been created to streamline the payment process for Android and Apple mobile device users.
The emergence of this advancing payment method worldwide has grown rapidly. It is important to note that many banks and financial institutions have agreements related to this payment method. Apple Pay was officially launched in October 2014 and has since expanded to Europe and North America.
However, despite its widespread acceptance, Android continues to dominate the market in terms of users. As of 2021, iOS accounted for 15.84% of operating systems, while Android gathered 83.71%.
Apple Pay in South Africa started in March 2021 after much speculation. Find out more about this payment method in this African country by reading on.
What is Apple Pay in South Africa?
Apple Pay in South Africa is a payment service offered by Apple through which iOS users can make contactless payments. South Africa accepts Apple Pay. In fact, several banks have joined this global initiative.
All iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iPhone users can use Apple Pay to make online payments as long as they have a bank card synced with the service.
Which banks allow Apple Pay in South Africa?
As mentioned earlier, Apple Pay in South Africa requires a credit card. Therefore, banks have established agreements for this payment method. Some of the South African banks listed on Apple include Absa, Nedbank, and Discovery.
Absa and Discovery accept Visa cards. On the other hand, Nedbank accepts American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. Although the country’s largest bank, FNB (First National Bank), did not participate in Apple Pay’s initial launch, it currently offers this service to all South Africans.
Similarly, Investec Bank allows its customers to link their Visa cards to contactless payment methods. This option greatly simplifies Apple device purchases.
Advantages of Apple Pay in South Africa
As you can see, several banks allow Apple Pay in South Africa. Some of the key advantages of this contactless payment method are:
- Convenience: Apple Pay in South Africa, as well as in the rest of the world, allows users to make quick and secure purchases using their Apple devices for payment. This eliminates the need to carry a debit card or wallet everywhere. It is undoubtedly an advantage when protecting our money.
- Security: This payment method has advanced security measures to protect personal and financial data. Instead of real-time card information sharing, Apple Pay uses biometric authentication to authorize transactions.
- Privacy: Apple Pay does not store information about the mobile device or personal data. All transactions have their own account number, providing increased privacy.
- Wide acceptance: Due to the increasing number of banks accepting Apple Pay in South Africa, this payment method is accepted at various retail stores, online businesses, and more.
Integration with apps: Apple Pay also integrates with many third-party apps, making it easier to pay for shopping apps, food delivery services, transportation, and more. This provides users with a seamless and hassle-free shopping experience.
Why is Apple Pay so convenient in South Africa?
Apple Pay’s expansion into the South African market is closely related to the pandemic. After the lockdown, many people adopted digital payment methods. Apple joined Samsung Pay as one of the most popular payment options in South Africa.
It is expected that Apple Pay will continue to grow in South Africa as this payment method is one of the most reliable and secure in the world. Some of the actions you can perform with this payment method include:
- Online and in-store purchases.
- Acquiring products and services from apps and websites using Apple devices.
- No need for cash or touch buttons.
Furthermore, Apple Pay can be set up to be used on different Apple devices. For this, you need to follow the steps provided by each bank.
What is the difference between Apple Wallet and Apple Pay?
This is a common question among financial product users in South Africa. Simply put, Apple Wallet is a system where you can register all your bank cards to use them within Apple Pay.
How to pay with Apple Pay in South Africa?
Paying with Apple Pay in South Africa is straightforward. Whether at stores or other establishments, you should:
- If you need to use a default card, press the side button twice if your iPhone has Face ID.
- If you want to pay with a different card, tap the default card to display other available cards.
- Hold the top of your iPhone device close to the payment reader until a notification appears on the screen.
This way, contactless payments are possible at a variety of stores and establishments.
We hope this information has been very useful to you.
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