MasterCard May Support Apple Pay in Canada, Brazil and Asia This Year

Monday February 29, 2016 2:12 pm PST by Joe Rossignol

Apple Pay is supported by large financial institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, and China, but the mobile payments service can only be used with non-bank-issued American Express credit cards in Australia and Canada. Apple Pay does not support big banks in either country.

Apple-pay-mastercard

That could soon change in at least Canada, as MacRumors has learned that MasterCard has Apple Pay support in that country on its 2016 roadmap. The information is based on an unverified internal document, however, so the plans cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt until other evidence surfaces.

MasterCard credit cards are issued by a number of Canada's largest banks, including BMO, CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank, and TD Canada Trust, while store-branded MasterCards are available from large retailers such as Canadian Tire, Costco, and Walmart. Most of these stores and institutions also offer Visa, but their plans remain unknown.

MasterCard is also looking to support Apple Pay in Brazil, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore in 2016, according to the document. Apple previously announced that its Apple Pay partnership with American Express will expand to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Spain this year, while Brazil and Japan would be entirely new markets.

Earlier this month, a hidden "NetworkInterac" string was uncovered in iOS 9.2.1 code that hints at Apple Pay support at Canada's big banks. Interac is Canada's official debit card network, adopted by the country's largest financial institutions nationwide. TD already stirred speculation in October when it inadvertently listed Apple Pay as a method of payment on its website, before quickly removing it.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Apple is preparing to launch Apple Pay in France, and it could make an announcement by September 2016 -- perhaps at WWDC in June. The original report did not specify when Apple Pay will become available in French stores, nor did it have information about which French banks and participating issuers will support iPhone payments upon launch.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay

Tags: Brazil, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, MasterCard

Top Rated Comments

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salamence502

51 months ago

My heart's been broken so many times with these Canada rumours that I'll believe it when I'm able to add my cards :(

Rating: 6 Votes

fischersd

51 months ago

Whoever wrote that doesn't seem to understand that Amex is the only credit card company that operates individually in Canada (hence how they were able to negotiate a deal with Apple). All of the MC / Visa cards are issued through the financial institutions. Until the banks get their heads out of their asses and agree to a deal with Apple, we're stuck (and the rumblings were that the banks are negotiating with Apple as a group, so they have more bargaining power).

I'll believe it when it's finally announced - anything else is just vapourware.

Rating: 4 Votes

darcyf

51 months ago

I'd tap that.

Rating: 3 Votes

LoveToMacRumors

51 months ago

Yes, sooner the better

Rating: 2 Votes

anzio

51 months ago

Wrote what? The article seems to clearly indicate that the banks are the issuers of the cards.

Rating: 2 Votes

einsteinbqat

51 months ago

MasterCard and Visa do not issue cards in Canada. The banks do. So, unless something unexpected happens in 2016, the only thing MC and Visa can do is try to convince Canadian charter banks to talk to Apple.

Rating: 2 Votes

anzio

51 months ago

Basically, this is an article stating nothing. Or, at least, nothing new.

I'd call a new internal roadmap document that was leaked "stating something new", regardless of whether or not it is legitimate (this is a rumour website after all).

It's definitely stating something. If nothing else, it's stating that MasterCard is preparing the network for card verification/network changes even if it doesn't specifically mention the underlying financial banks.

Site-note: I'm almost certain that CTFS is independent, with the exception of Scotiabank owning a small chunk as of very recently. They most certainly would negotiate on their own, even if they were wholly owned by another big bank.

Rating: 1 Votes

Quicklite

51 months ago

I find it odd that it takes this long to roll it out. Wireless debit card will do before then.

Rating: 1 Votes

RedOrchestra

51 months ago

If credit cards are coming that means they must be on board

If Apple Pay gets into the big banks in Canada it will be because they will get next to nothing per transaction. Unlike the U.S. which has been light years behind with CC and Debit card security Canadian banks have been in the forefront with chips, pins, and tap-and-go - they are in no hurry to give money to Apple when they already provide secure services. Also pretty small demographic of iPhone users in Canada. Don't forget to exhale.

Rating: 1 Votes