Apple Pay is now available in Australia with ING and Macquarie bank

Last month both ING Direct and Macquarie have implemented support for Apple Pay in Australia. ING Direct and Macquarie customers can use Apple Pay for purchases in participating stores and locations with an eligible device. Apple Pay support at the two banks comes more than a year after Apple Pay first became available in the country through a partnership with American Express.

The service is available in retail stores on iPhone SE, 6, 6s, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, 7, 7 Plus, and older devices using the Apple Watch. In-app and web purchases can also be made using the aforementioned devices, a supported iPad, or one of Apple’s new MacBook Pros.

How to use Apple Pay with your iPhone

Using Apple Pay in stores happens in seconds with your iPhone and Apple Watch. Just hold your iPhone near the reader with your finger on Touch ID, or double-click the side button on your Apple Watch and then hold it near the reader.

You can also make easy and secure purchases within selected apps using Apple Pay and your eligible cards. Checking out is as simple as placing your finger on Touch ID.

Also use Apple Pay in stores and within selected apps is available on participating websites in Safari. Whether you’re shopping on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, you can use Apple Pay without having to create an account or log in. So paying on participating websites happens with just a touch and is quicker, easier and more secure than ever before.
Apple Pay is safe and secure

When you make a purchase, Apple Pay uses a device-specific number and unique transaction code. So your card number is never stored on your device or on Apple servers, and when you pay, your card numbers are never shared by Apple with merchants.

Apple Pay doesn’t keep transaction information that can be tied back to you. Your most recent purchases are kept in Wallet for your convenience, but that’s as far as it goes.

Apple Pay works with eligible Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit and debit cards from selected financial institutions. Just add your participating cards to Wallet and you’ll continue to get all the rewards, benefits and security they offer.

How to set up Apple Pay on your iPhone

Here’s what you need to use Apple Pay

• Your eligible device
• A supported card from a participating card issuer
• The latest version of iOS, watchOS, or macOS
• An Apple ID

You can add up to eight cards on any device. If you want to use Apple Pay with more than one device, you need to add your card to each device. After you set up Apple Pay on iPhone or Apple Watch, you can use your cards on websites in Safari on your Mac, while signed in to iCloud.

• Go to Wallet and tap Add Credit or Debit Card.
• Follow the steps to add a new card. If you’re asked to add the card that you use with iTunes, just enter its security code.
• Tap Next. Your bank or card issuer will verify your information and decide if you can add your card to Apple Pay. If your bank or issuer needs more information to verify your card, they’ll ask you for it. When you have the information, go back to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay and tap your card.
• After your bank or issuer verifies your card, tap Next and start using Apple Pay.

Participating Banks

While ANZ and many smaller banks support Apple Pay in Australia, three of the country’s major banks, including Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, and Westpac, are currently embroiled in an ongoing dispute with Apple that has seen the banks refusing to accept Apple Pay.

The banks have asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to give them permission to negotiate with Apple to gain access to the NFC chip in the iPhone, allowing the iPhone to be used with the banks’ own NFC-based payment solutions.

Apple does not allow third-party services to access the NFC chips built into its most recent devices for security reasons and has argued that the banks’ challenge is harmful to consumers and would stifle innovation in mobile payments.

The ACCC sided with Apple in an initial ruling, but both sides are continuing to submit arguments and the banks recently re-submitted their application asking for permission to work together to make a deal with Apple. You can know more about the participating banks here

Apple Pay is available in 13 countries, including the United States, UK, China, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, France, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, Japan, New Zealand, and Spain.