Apple Pay launches in Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, more [u]
Apple on Wednesday began rolling out Apple Pay services in Portugal and Slovakia with financial backing from a number of large European banks including Monese and N26.
"Get Started with Apple Pay" App Store section shows up for users in Slovakia. | Source: Jezs Mikls via Twitter
Users in Portugal and Slovakia posted screenshots of the Apple Pay setup process to social media outlets. Others shared news of a special "Get Started with Apple Pay" section that appeared at the top of the Today page in regional App Stores early Wednesday.
The rollout in Slovakia is supported by a mix of local and mobile banks including Boon, Edenred, J&T Banka, Monese, N26, Revolut, Slovenska sporitelna, Tatra banka and mBank. In Portugal, Apple Pay is available only to users of larger banking services Monese, N26 and Revolut.
German online bank N26 was first to announce integration with Apple's service in March, promising at the time to deliver Apple Pay to Estonia, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia. UK-based mobile bank Monese followed suit in May, saying the integration will deliver Apple Pay to 13 new European markets including the Portugal and Slovakia.
Most recently, UK financial technology firm Revolut partnered with Apple at the end of May. Today's rollout marks the first expansion to Revolut's Apple Pay integration, which launched in France, Poland and the UK.
Revolut says that the launch covers Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Apple is expected to update its regional Portugal and Slovakia websites with a dedicated webpage informing users about the service and where to use it.
Today's Apple Pay rollout confirms in part reports over the weekend that claimed the payments solution would be made available to users in Greece, Portugal and Slovakia on Wednesday.
Updated with full list of countries supported by Revolut's expansion.
"Get Started with Apple Pay" App Store section shows up for users in Slovakia. | Source: Jezs Mikls via Twitter
Users in Portugal and Slovakia posted screenshots of the Apple Pay setup process to social media outlets. Others shared news of a special "Get Started with Apple Pay" section that appeared at the top of the Today page in regional App Stores early Wednesday.
The rollout in Slovakia is supported by a mix of local and mobile banks including Boon, Edenred, J&T Banka, Monese, N26, Revolut, Slovenska sporitelna, Tatra banka and mBank. In Portugal, Apple Pay is available only to users of larger banking services Monese, N26 and Revolut.
German online bank N26 was first to announce integration with Apple's service in March, promising at the time to deliver Apple Pay to Estonia, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia. UK-based mobile bank Monese followed suit in May, saying the integration will deliver Apple Pay to 13 new European markets including the Portugal and Slovakia.
Most recently, UK financial technology firm Revolut partnered with Apple at the end of May. Today's rollout marks the first expansion to Revolut's Apple Pay integration, which launched in France, Poland and the UK.
Revolut says that the launch covers Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Apple is expected to update its regional Portugal and Slovakia websites with a dedicated webpage informing users about the service and where to use it.
Today's Apple Pay rollout confirms in part reports over the weekend that claimed the payments solution would be made available to users in Greece, Portugal and Slovakia on Wednesday.
Updated with full list of countries supported by Revolut's expansion.
Comments
I only use Revolut Visacard abroad (USD, GBP, CHF and about 20 currencies) and save about 3% on payment (previous credit card companies: 1.5-1.75% fee & worse exchange rate of 1-1.5%). If you want to avoid the one-time costs of shipping, you can use my referral at the following link to order a free card (you have to verify your account with £ 10 but you can use this money once the card has arrived):
www.revolut.com/r/matthints
And just how many stores in Greece accept Apple Pay?
I know that Alpha Bank has an app that allows the user to pay with a smartphone through his or her Alpha Bank credit card, but it's never been approved by Apple, only Android. Submitted, but not approved. Hmmm, is Apple afraid of the competition?
Ah, here's an article about it (in Greek): https://www.cnn.gr/tech/story/182127/diathesimo-kai-stin-ellada-to-apple-pay
Only two British financial institutions and one German it seems. Wake up Greek banks!