Which Banks Support Apple Pay in India? Axis Bank and What Comes Next

Supported banks and cards

Axis Bank: what's included

Axis Bank is India’s third-largest private sector bank and the first to offer Apple Pay. Its Visa and Mastercard credit card customers can add eligible cards to Apple Wallet from the Axis Bank app or directly in the Wallet app.

• Rewards and benefits on your Axis Bank card continue to apply when you pay with Apple Pay.
• Only eligible cards can be added, so not every card in Axis Bank's range works yet.
• Axis Bank says customers will be able to pay at merchants, in apps and online over the next few weeks.

Once your card is added, see how to set up and use Apple Pay in India for paying in shops, in apps and on the web.

Why HDFC, ICICI and SBI Card are missing

India’s largest card issuers were not part of the launch. According to TechCrunch and MediaNama, the sticking point is money. Apple charges card issuers a small fee on each Apple Pay transaction, reported at 15 to 20 basis points (0.15 to 0.20%). The bigger banks reportedly countered with about 10.

Apple has not confirmed these numbers, and neither Apple nor the banks have announced dates. Given how many iPhone owners hold HDFC, ICICI and SBI cards, expect pressure on both sides to settle.

RuPay and debit cards

RuPay

RuPay, the card network run by NPCI, is not supported. That leaves out many government-bank debit cards and the RuPay credit cards that people link to UPI apps. Apple has not said whether RuPay support is planned.

Debit cards

The launch covers credit cards only, including from Axis Bank. Most Indians pay from their bank account with UPI rather than with a debit card, which is why Apple Pay’s biggest gap is UPI itself. We cover that in Apple Pay vs UPI.

How to check your card

1. Open the Wallet app on your iPhone and tap the plus sign.
2. Choose to add a credit or debit card and follow the steps. You can scan the card with the camera.
3. Your bank verifies the card before it's activated. If it isn't eligible, Wallet tells you at this step.

Axis Bank customers can also start from the latest version of the Axis Bank app, which adds the card to Wallet directly.

If your bank isn't supported

• Keep paying with UPI, which works at far more shops than contactless terminals do.
• Tap your physical contactless card. Up to ₹5,000 it usually doesn't need a PIN.
• Ask your bank directly. Customer demand is what pushes issuers to sign up.

For the full launch picture, including devices and merchants, go back to the complete Apple Pay India guide.