In a move that’s sure to infuriate the big four banks currently engaged in a dispute with the company over the tap-and-pay service, Apple has signed a deal with credit card giant Cuscal and added support for addition 31 Australian banks.
The full list of banks expected to get Apple Pay support as a result of the deal includes Bank Australia, Teacher’s Mutual Bank, Credit Union Australia (CUA), Police Bank, Defense Bank and The Illawarra Credit Union.
Up until now, the only Australian banks offering Apple Pay support were ANZ Bank and American Express.
Apple recently doubled down on its decision to restrict use of the NFC chip in their iPhone handset, telling the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that the Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank are acting like a “hardcore cartel” seeking to delay the full arrival of the Apple Pay mobile payments system in the Australian market.
Expect the matter to develop later in the month when the ACCC decides whether to empower the CBA, NAB, Westpac and Bendigo to collectively negotiate with Apple.
