THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

MUMBAI, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Axis Bank on Wednesday announced the launch of Apple Pay for its credit card customers in India, becoming the first Indian bank to offer the service across both Mastercard and Visa networks.

The new facility will allow Axis Bank Mastercard and Visa credit cardholders to make secure and contactless payments using Apple devices, including iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad. Support for Mac will be introduced soon, the bank said.

The service is expected to become available to customers over the next few weeks for payments at stores, within apps and online, expanding the range of digital payment options available to the bank's credit card users.

Customers can add their eligible Axis Bank credit cards to Apple Wallet either through the Axis Bank mobile banking app or directly through Apple Wallet. Once added, the cards can be used with Apple Pay, while customers will continue to receive the rewards and benefits associated with their Axis Bank cards.

The launch comes as digital payments in India increasingly move towards mobile-first, contactless and tokenised transactions. Axis Bank said the introduction of Apple Pay strengthens its digital payments portfolio and reflects its focus on technology-led payment solutions.

"India is at a significant inflection point in payments, where technology, intelligent security and changing customer expectations are reshaping how people transact," Axis Bank Managing Director and CEO Amitabh Chaudhry said.

The launch, he said, brings greater choice and flexibility to credit card customers while combining innovation with security and convenience.

Apple Pay is designed with security and privacy features that ensure actual card numbers are not stored on the device or Apple servers and are not shared with merchants. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned to the card, encrypted and stored in the device's Secure Element, a certified chip designed to safeguard payment information.

Jennifer Bailey, Apple's Vice President of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet, said the service would provide Indian consumers with a convenient way to make everyday payments while maintaining security and privacy.

"Apple Pay makes everyday payments with a card easy, secure, and private," Bailey said, adding that users can tap to pay in stores without an additional app, PIN or OTP and make online purchases without repeatedly entering payment information.

The service will be supported by Mastercard and Visa through their respective tokenisation technologies. Mastercard said its technology would protect Apple Pay transactions with unique, cryptographically secured tokens, ensuring card details are not shared with merchants.

Gautam Aggarwal, President, India and South Asia, Mastercard, said the introduction of Apple Pay for Axis Bank-issued Mastercard credit cards would expand secure contactless payment options for Indian consumers.

Suresh Sethi, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa, said the launch brings together Visa's payment network and tokenisation capabilities, Apple's payment experience and Axis Bank's scale.