Apple’s mobile payment service is gradually being expanded to more countries across the globe. It’s available in less than a dozen countries so far with Russia being the latest. Apple Pay has formally been launched in Russia today with support for Sberbank customers and Mastercard cardholders. They can now make contactless payments using their supported Apple devices at participating merchants across the country.
“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,” said Alexander Torbakhov, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Sberbank.
Sberbank customers can easily set up Apple Pay using the Sberbank Online mobile app. They can pay using Apple Pay and continue to receive all bank benefits that they get for using its credit and debit cards.
With its expansion into Russia, Apple Pay is now available in 10 countries across the globe. Apple launched the payments service back in 2014, it works with iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and later as well as the Apple Watch. The list of supported countries now includes the United States, Canada, Australia, and China. The company’s arch-rival Samsung has already expanded its mobile payments service – aptly called Samsung Pay – into Russia.