How to use Apple Pay in Malaysia: supporting banks and setup

Apple Pay is the Apple® mobile payment service, which lets you use your phone or smart device to tap and pay in stores, and to shop online more conveniently.

If you have an Apple phone, watch or other smart device you might be interested to learn how to use Apple Pay in Malaysia. This guide covers how to set up Apple Pay on your phone, watch, iPad or Mac, plus a look at the benefits of Apple Pay so you can weigh up whether it’s right for you. Also, we’ll cover why getting the Wise card can be the easiest way to start using Apple Pay.

Is Apple Pay available in Malaysia?

So - the most important question: is Apple Pay available in Malaysia?

Apple Pay launched in Malaysia back in August 2022¹, offering Apple device users more secure and convenient ways to pay in major on and offline stores including Shopee, KFC, McDonald’s, Starbucks, U Mobile, Uniqlo and Watsons.

In total there are now more than 90 Apple Pay countries, with Apple Pay supported by over 11,000 banks and network partners around the world. In Malaysia, Apple Pay cards are offered through major banks like HSBC and Maybank and non-bank providers like Wise, allowing customers to make mobile payments with their eligible credit and debit cards. We’ll look at which banks support Apple Pay in Malaysia² in full, later.

Apple Pay benefits

Let’s take a quick look at some of the key benefits of Apple Pay so you can weigh up whether or not the service is right for you.

• Apple Pay is free to download and use - you just pay any fees you’d pay when using your physical card, with no Apple charge on top
• Add one or more credit or debit cards to your phone, watch or Apple device, to make contactless mobile payments in person
• Use Apple Pay online, and avoid completing your card and shipping details every time you buy
• No need to carry physical payment cards with you - all you need is your phone
• Apple Pay payments are secure, and require verification - so nobody other than you can use your phone to pay
• You’ll still earn any rewards, points or cash back you would when paying with your physical card
• Use Find My iPhone to lock, locate or turn off Apple Pay if your phone is lost

Apple Pay supported banks and cards in Malaysia

Wondering which are the Apple Pay supported banks and Apple pay supported cards in Malaysia? The full list of banks and providers at the time of writing are as follows²:

• Wise⁶
• AmBank (Mastercard and Visa credit cards)
• HSBC
• Maybank (American Express, Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards)
• Standard Chartered Bank (Mastercard and Visa credit cards)
• RHB Bank Berhad (Visa credit and debit cards)

More banks and cards are likely to follow, so do check with your own bank to see if your card can be added to Apple Pay for convenient spending.

How to set up Apple Pay - for Malaysians

Do you have an Apple device and a card from a bank or provider which supports Apple Pay? Setting up Apple Pay is pretty easy, and once you’re done it’ll make mobile payments a breeze.

Here’s how to set up Apple Pay Malaysia³:

1. Open the Apple Wallet (for iPhone) or the Apple Watch app (if you want to make Apple Watch payments)
2. Tap the + button, and select Add card
3. Tap Continue and add your card following the prompts - you can use your phone’s camera to scan your card for convenience
4. Confirm your card with your bank - verification may be required at this stage

Once you have your card added to Apple Pay, you can use it to pay more or less anywhere you see the contactless symbol displayed, and online in stores which accept Apple Pay payments.

In stores, just double click the side button or home button, depending on the iPhone type you have, or double click the side button on your watch. The default card will appear, and you can hold your device close to the payment terminal to complete the transaction. If you have more than one card added to Apple Pay you can toggle between them before paying if you need to.

Apple Pay limits

When using Apple Pay Malaysia in stores, you may need to enter your phone or device PIN, sign your receipt or use other forms of verification at for certain purchases, when requested by the merchant or card issuer.⁴

For online payments, there may be limits which are imposed by your bank or card issuer. Apple Pay limits are set for security and to keep your card and account safe.

An easy way to start using Apple Pay and save money when travelling - order a Wise card

The Wise card lets you spend in 40+ currencies at the mid-market rate including CNY, JPY, GBP, and SGD so you know you'll be getting a great deal in over 150+ countries. Simply create a free Wise account, order a card and top-up MYR to get started.

Virtual cards are free and can be added to your Google or Apple Pay wallet, while a physical Wise card can be ordered for a low fee of 13.7 MYR. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as two free ATM withdrawals to the value of 1,000 MYR each month, before low fees start.

While abroad, you can choose to spend with directly in MYR and let auto-conversion do the trick, or convert to your desired currency with your Wise account. Either way, you’ll get the exchange rate you see on Google, with low, transparent fees from 0.77%.

💳 Get your Wise card today

Pricing/fees: Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Here’s how to order a Wise card and link it to Apple Pay:

1. Register a Wise account online or in the Wise app
2. Get verified by uploading your ID document⁷
3. Open a currency balance in the currency of your choice, and add funds
4. Order a physical card and pay the low, one time fee
5. Generate your Wise virtual card in the Wise app
6. Your virtual card is available for immediate use - your physical card will arrive in the mail a little later
7. Tap on the Card tab, select your new card and tap on Add to Apple Wallet ⁶

Frequently asked questions

Still unsure about Apple Pay? Here are a few more common questions and answers.

Is Apple Pay safe?

Apple Pay is considered to be safe to use. With Apple Pay you won’t need to carry around cash, or even your physical card, which can increase safety and convenience. And, as you’d expect, Apple has put in place high levels of security for Apple Pay to make sure users can transact without worrying.

These measures include thorough authentication and verification which means nobody other than the device owner can use Apple Pay, and the option to turn off Apple Pay remotely if your phone or device is lost or stolen.

How to use Apple Pay on an Apple Watch?

You can easily use your Apple Watch and Apple Pay Malaysia together to pay even without getting your phone out of your pocket. Once you have added a card to Apple Pay you’ll be able to set up your Apple Watch for mobile payments. Then just double tap the side button when you want to pay in a merchant, and hold the watch near the payment terminal. Once the payment is processed, the watch will beep and buzz so you know it’s gone through.⁵