Apple continues to roll out Apple Pay on a global scale, this time in Russia. It also is adding support to 26 new banks in the U.S., two in the U.K. and to Desjardins shoppers in Canada. Taiwan is rumored to be the next country to offer Apple Pay.
Apple is growing its support network by announcing that Apple Pay will expand to 26 new banks and credit unions in the U.S and Visa and debit cards for Desjardins shoppers in Canada. Also, the mobile wallet leader launched in Russia this week with the support of Sberbank, according to 9to5Mac.
Only Mastercard credit or debit cardholders with Sberbank are currently supported in Russia. According to Alexander Torbakhov, deputy chairman of the executive board of Sberbank: “Apple Pay is driving the popularization of contactless payments in Russia and globally. Many of Sberbank clients actively use new technologies, and an increasing number of them will prefer cash-free and contactless payment using their smartphones.”
Russia is the 10th country to offer Apple Pay after Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.
In the U.K., Apple Pay is now supported by 22 banks after adding The Co-operative Bank and Metro Bank earlier this month, and Apple Pay is now available in the U.K. territories of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man.
Apple Pay can take time to roll out in new countries as Apple must negotiate with local banks and obtain regulatory approval.
Taiwan could be the next country to be announced by Apple as the nation’s four big banks are preparing to support Apply Pay. Here is a full list of Apple Pay’s newly supported banks and credit unions in the U.S.: