Apple Pay Coming 10/20 for MasterCard Cardholders

Faster, more secure everyday payments. That’s Apple Pay. That’s Priceless. Today, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) announced that Apple Pay will available for U.S. consumers via the iOS 8.1 update on Monday, October 20th. With 8.1, Apple Pay will be available to MasterCard cardholders on their iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3.

MasterCard Apple Pay (Photo: Business Wire)

The MasterCard Digital Enablement Service (MDES) enables MasterCard consumer credit or debit cardholders to use Apple Pay. In building a secure payment experience, Apple Pay leverages industry-standard EMV cryptography to ensure transactions can take full advantage of the most secure payments technology in the world. In order to further protect consumers, Apple Pay incorporates additional security features such as Touch ID or a passcode to authorize every payment and tokenization via MDES.

At a store, consumers can simply pay by just holding their iPhone near a contactless reader with their finger on Touch ID or enter a passcode and their transaction will be authenticated in seconds. For purchases within a merchant app, consumers will simply touch to pay and authenticate with Touch ID or passcode for a quick and seamless shopping experience.

Owners of the new iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 will be able to use their MasterCard consumer credit or debit cards from Bank of America, Capital One, Citi and Wells Fargo through Apple Pay starting October 20th. Cardholders with a MasterCard consumer credit or debit card from Barclaycard, USAA, PNC, Navy Federal Credit Union, US Bank, Fifth Third, First Hawaiian, First National Bank of Omaha, First Niagara, Key Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, SSFCU, SunTrust and Synchrony Financial, among many others will be able to use Apple Pay in the coming months. MasterCard is also working with its extended customer base and to date has signed hundreds of issuing partners whose consumer credit and debit cards will soon be capable of being loaded into Apple Pay for simple, secure everyday payments.

MasterCard cardholders will be able to make simple and secure payments for physical goods and services in the apps of top merchants including MLB, Panera Bread, Staples and Target. Contactless payments will be accepted today in stores at some of the most frequented U.S. retailers including Subway, Toys R’ Us, Walgreens, Whole Foods Market and all Apple Store retail locations in the US. To help consumers take advantage of Apple Pay, MasterCard has developed the MasterCard Nearby app, available in the App Store, which helps you easily find merchants near your current location that accept contactless payments.

“The simplicity of Apple Pay is what makes it compelling,” said Ed McLaughlin, chief emerging payments officer, MasterCard. “Along with simplicity, it is important that MasterCard cardholders enjoy a secure and private experience – along with all the rights and privileges of a genuine MasterCard transaction. We worked closely with Apple toward a vision of building a user-friendly, secure payment experience and delivered on that vision by providing the most secure combination of payment technologies ever deployed in Apple Pay to the benefit of our cardholders.”

For more information on Apple Pay, visit: http://www.apple.com/apple-pay/.

About MasterCard MasterCard (NYSE:MA), www.mastercard.com, is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Pioneers Blog and subscribe for the latest news on the Engagement Bureau.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20141016006280/en/