Discover cardholders can soon use those cards to make mobile payments via Apple Pay.
The issuer announced yesterday (April 27) that Discover had reached an agreement with Apple to allow Discover’s cardholders to use Apple Pay for both the iPhone 6/iPhone 6 Plus and the Apple Watch starting sometime in the fall. Cardholders can also pay using an iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3.
“As the mobile payments landscape matures, Discover remains committed to giving cardmembers secure options for using their cards and mobile devices,” said Diane Offereins, Discover’s president of payment services. “Discover’s focus on simplicity and value for our cardmembers aligns well with the way Apple Pay makes purchases easy and convenient.”
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So what made Discover — the last of the major U.S. credit card companies to join Apple Pay — finally announce that it would be collaborating with the mobile payments provider? It’s the right time for its customers, Offereins said.
“We’ve been working with Apple in a very collaborative way,” she said, noting that it was always Discover’s intention to eventually accept the mobile payments option. “We just thought it was the right time. Apple is ready for us and we’re ready for Apple.”
Offereins said because the “mobile world is a very dynamic world right now,” it was the ideal time to help Discover’s cardholders have the opportunity to offer more mobile payments options. Customers have said they want Apple Pay, so Discover is giving them that option, Offereins said. She highlighted Apple Pay’s security and convenience as two perks the service will bring to its cardholders.
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“Clearly, security is probably the main focus. Apple Pay and the structure of Apple Pay we feel is very secure,” Offereins said, adding that outside of the usability, “security is leading the way.”
In adding Apple Pay as another payment option, Discover noted in its news release that Discover credit cardholders will still receive the same cashback bonuses and can still tap into the Freeze It security tool that allows them to stop new purchases, cash advances and balance transfers if their cards are lost or stolen. Discover debit cardholders will also be able to use Apple Pay.
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