Apple Pay Now Available to Irish Visa Cardholders

Today, Visa announced that Visa debit and credit cardholders from Ulster Bank can now use Apple Pay, giving users an easy, secure and private way to pay. Apple Pay can be used with any of the contactless point-of-sale terminals which are already used by Visa cardholders every day throughout Ireland.

Visa’s 2016 Digital Payment study shows that there is high consumer demand for mobile payment solutions, with over 80% of people (age 18-24) in Ireland already using their mobile device to monitor their money or make payments, indicating that uptake of Apple Pay will be significant.

Security and privacy is at the core of Apple Pay. When you use a credit or debit card with Apple Pay, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device, nor on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element on your device. Each transaction is authorised with a one-time unique dynamic security code.

Philip Konopik, Country Manager, Ireland, Visa, commented:

“Consumer demand for mobile contactless payments combined with the fact that an overwhelming percentage of people in Ireland own a smartphone means that the pieces of the puzzle are coming together for a shift from plastic to digital. With today’s launch of Apple Pay, it is clear that mobile solutions will fast become a preferred way to use a personal credit or debit card.”

At the moment, 1 in 5 face to face transactions are already contactless today in Ireland.[1] Apple Pay can be used wherever Visa contactless payment is accepted.

At launch, people who bank with Ulster Bank will be able to load their Visa debit or credit cards into Apple Pay.

Apple Pay is easy to set up and users will continue to receive all of the rewards and benefits offered by credit and debit cards. Apple Pay works with iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and later, iPhone SE and Apple Watch.

Online shopping in apps accepting Apple Pay is as simple as the touch of a finger with Touch ID, so there’s no need to manually fill out lengthy account forms or repeatedly type in shipping and billing information. When paying for goods and services within apps, Apple Pay is compatible with iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro.

[1]This Visa data is as of September 2016.