Just in time for holiday shopping, Apple expanded its mobile payment service and wallet Apple Pay to now support 66 more banks. Apple Pay also finally launched support for BJ's Wholesale Club store cards, which Apple previously announced it would do during its Worldwide Developers Conference back in June.
Up until this point, Kohl's has been the only retailer to add support for Apple Pay to its store cards, although JCPenny is expected to launch support in the spring of 2016.
Although retailers have been slow to add support, Apple Pay continues to expand to be accepted by more and more banks. With the addition of the latest 66 banks joining its growing roster, the total number for supported banks is now at 850.
The list does not include major nationwide banks, and instead features local institutions. However, this list does feature Anheuser-Busch Employees' Credit Union.
Some of the banks include: American Federal Credit Union, Bank of Colorado, Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, ChoiceOne Bank, Diamond Credit Union, Farmers Bank, First Alliance Credit Union, Hondo National Bank, Intrust Bank, Local Government Federal Credit Union, Pinnacle Bank Texas, South Shore Bank, TruWest Credit Union, and Wilson Bank & Trust.
Apple Pay is expected to continue to expand in 2016. The mobile payment service will be accepted in stores like Starbucks and KFC. Walgreens recently began to support reward cards via Apple Pay, so users can expect to see more participating establishments such as Dunkin' Donuts and Panera Bread.
Apple is also reportedly planning to launch Apple Pay in China in February 2016.
Source: Apple Insider
Photo: Mike Mozart | Flickr
