Add money to apple pay with bank account

Keep cash in your Apple Pay Wallet

Updated on December 10, 2021

What to Know

  • Set up Apple Pay Cash: Tap Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Apple Cash and follow the instructions.
  • Add money: Open Wallet, tap Apple Pay Cash card > three horizontal dots > Add Money, enter amount and account, and tap Add.
  • Check balance: Open Wallet, tap Apple Pay Cash card > three horizontal dots. Under Add Money is your balance.

If you have an iPhone, Apple Pay is the easiest way to send money to other iPhone users and pay with your phone or Apple Watch. If you don't want to use a credit card with it, you can add money to the Apple Pay Cash card from a debit card.

How to Add Money to Apple Pay Cash

If you live in a supported country, this is how you add money to your Apple Pay Cash account.

Money can only be added to Apple Pay Cash for users in supported countries. While this feature will presumably roll out to more supported countries in the future, adding cash to Apple Pay can only be done in the United States.

  1. Make sure Apple Pay Cash is set up. Tap Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, and tap the Apple Cash toggle to enable it. Follow the instructions to verify your identity.

  2. An Apple Pay Cash card should be added to the Wallet app. Open the Wallet app and tap the Apple Pay Cash card.

  3. Tap the three horizontal dots in the upper right corner to access the Cash card settings.

  4. Tap Add Money and enter the amount to add to your card from the bank account associated with your Cash card. Choose an amount from the QuickBar at the top of the dial pad, or type in a custom amount. Tap the Add button.

    The bank account associated with the card can be seen on the same settings page and switched at any time.

How to Check Apple Pay Balance

If someone sent you money or you want to see the balance of you Apple Pay Cash card, it's displayed in the upper right hand corner of the Apple Pay Cash card so you can see it as soon as you open the Wallet app.

  1. Open the Wallet app and tap your Apple Pay Cash card.

  2. Tap the three horizontal dots in the upper right-hand corner to see the card settings.

  3. Displayed under the "Add Money" option is your balance.

What Are the Different Parts of Apple Pay?

There are three different parts of Apple Pay that you should be aware of in discussing how to add money to it.

  • Wallet app: appears on iPhones and iPads and is where Apple Pay and Apple Pay Cash reside.
  • Apple Pay: used to make online and contactless payments as simple as pushing a button to confirm it. Apple Pay uses an existing debit or credit card to pay businesses or for services.
  • Apple Cash: allows money to be sent from one person to another, stored in your digital account, and used for purchases anywhere Apple Pay is accepted. This is the part where you can add money to Apple Pay.

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Apple Pay¹ and Apple Cash² offer convenient ways to make contactless payments in person, online and in-apps, or to send money within the US to other Apple customers. If you’re new to Apple Pay, this guide is for you.

We’ll look in detail at how to add money to Apple Pay and Apple Cash, as well as covering how to use Apple Pay when sending money internationally with a Wise account.

How to add money to Apple Pay: step by step

It’s probably helpful to start off with a quick round up of your options with Apple, when it comes to spending and making payments.

There’s Apple Pay, which is the Apple feature which lets you make contactless payments through your smart device, in person and when shopping online. And there’s also Apple Cash.

Apple Cash is a digital card which is held in your Apple Wallet app — it’s a default setting so you don’t need to manually add it if you have an Apple US account.

Apple Cash is where you’ll be able to receive payments from others through Apple, where any cashback you earn from an Apple Card³ will be deposited, and also the primary way of paying when you send money to others through your Apple Wallet or Messages.

How you use Apple Pay and Apple Cash is a little different, so we’ll break down your options next.

Apple Pay: adding a card for contactless payments

With Apple Pay you’ll have the option to fund transactions with either any balance you hold in your Apple Cash account, or any linked card or other payment method. We’ll look at how you can add money to Apple Cash in just a moment — first let’s start with how you add a card to Apple Pay⁴:


Step 1. Open Wallet on your iPhone or smart device

Step 2. Tap Debit or Credit card, then Continue

Step 3. Follow the prompts to add your new card — you may be able to do this simply by scanning your card with your phone’s camera

Step 4. Your bank or card issuer may ask you to complete a verification step to confirm it’s you who has added the card

Step 5. You’re ready to use the card you’ve added with Apple Pay


Once you have a card added to Apple Pay you don’t need to add money to the Apple Pay balance — instead, Apple Pay just deducts the money you need when you make a payment, directly from your preferred linked card.

Apple Cash: how to add money to Apple Cash

Apple’s in-built virtual card, the Apple Cash card, is the default funding method when you send a payment to someone through Apple Messages or Wallet. It’s also where you’ll find any money sent to you through Apple, and where Apple Card cash bank is deposited.

You can use Apple Cash through Apple Pay to make contactless payments, too. However, if you don’t hold enough of a balance in your Apple Cash account you’ll be able to add more easily⁵:


Step 1. Open the Wallet app and tap the Apple Cash card

Step 2. Tap More, and select Add Money

Step 3. Enter an amount to add — from a minimum of 10 USD

Step 4. Tap Add and select the card you want to use to fund the payment

Step 5. Confirm and you’re done


To add funds to your Apple Cash balance with a card you’ll need to first add the card following the steps set out above. Cards must be US issued debit or eligible prepaid cards — credit cards can’t be used to load money into Apple Cash.

Costs and fees of adding money to Apple Pay

Apple Pay doesn’t charge a fee for adding a card to your Wallet, or for making a transfer within the US. However, that doesn’t mean there are no fees at all when you use Apple Pay.

Here’s a look at some of the most common Apple Pay costs:

ServiceApple Pay US fee⁶ ⁷
Add a card to Apple Pay No fee
Make a contactless payment with Apple Pay

Apple Pay does not charge a fee

However, you will still pay any relevant charges from your bank or card issuer, such as cash advance fees, or interest for credit card use.

Make a contactless payment in a foreign currency with Apple Pay

Apple Pay does not charge a fee

However, you will still pay any relevant charges from your bank or card issuer, such as foreign transaction fees. 

Choose a debit card with no foreign transaction fee, like the Wise international debit card, to avoid this cost⁸.

Add funds to Apple Cash No fee
Receive funds from others into Apple Cash No fee
Withdraw funds from Apple Cash

Withdraw to a bank account in 1 - 3 working days for free

Or pay a 1.5% fee, from 0.25 USD to 15 USD for an instant transfer to an eligible card

Send money abroad using Apple Pay with Wise

Add money to apple pay with bank account

Apple Cash offers easy ways to send payments from your phone to other people based in the US. However, if you’re sending money in a foreign currency or to anyone overseas, you’ll need a different solution.

The Wise account can help. Open a free personal Wise account online or in the Wise app, and send money to 80+ countries with a low, transparent fee and the mid-market rate. Pay for your transfer using Apple Pay, to send your fast, secure international payment through Apple Pay and Wise.

We also mentioned that any foreign transaction fees applied by your card issuer will still be levied when you spend internationally with your card and Apple Pay. Beat foreign transaction fees with the Wise international debit card.

Get your card online or in-app for a one time fee, and add it to Apple Pay for contactless spending with the mid-market rate in 174 countries.

You can hold and exchange 50+ currencies in your Wise account — and there’s no foreign transaction fee to pay when you spend any currency you hold.

Get a Wise account
in minutes

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

Common questions about adding money to Apple Pay

Let’s dive into some frequently asked questions about how to add money to Apple Pay.

Can you add money to Apple Pay without a debit card?

You can add money to Apple Pay/Apple Cash in several ways. You can use a linked debit card — but if you’re wondering how to add money to Apple Pay without a debit card, the good news is that you may also be able to have someone else send you a payment through Apple Pay, which is then deposited into your Apple Cash account.

If you have an Apple Card it’s also good to know that any cashback you earn while spending with the Apple Card is also deposited into your Apple Cash account for convenient spending.

Can you add money to Apple Pay with a gift card?

Wondering how to add money to Apple Pay with a gift card? Unfortunately, you’re out of luck. You can not add money to Apple Cash with a gift card — even if the gift card is also in your Apple wallet.

Can you add money to Apple Pay in another currency?

No. You can only add money to Apple Cash using a US debit card, or an eligible US prepaid card.

However, if you want to make a payment overseas and pay using a foreign currency card you hold on Apple Pay, you can do so with a Wise account.


Using Apple Pay and Apple Cash is easy, once you’re all set up. Follow this simple guide to adding a card to spend with Apple Pay, and depositing funds into your Apple Cash account with your linked card.

And if you’re sending or spending money internationally, check out Wise for low cost overseas payments with the real mid-market exchange rate.


Sources:

  1. Apple Pay
  2. Apple Cash
  3. Apple Card
  4. Apple Support - How to set up Apple Pay
  5. Apple Support- How to add money to Apple Cash
  6. Apple Support - Transfer money in Apple
  7. Apple Discussions - Fees
  8. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Sources checked on 09.22.2022


This publication is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content in this publication. The information in this publication does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from TransferWise Limited or its affiliates. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

Can I add money from my bank to Apple Pay?

iPhone: Open the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card, tap the More button. , then tap Add Money. iPad: Open the Settings app, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, tap your Apple Cash card, then tap Add Money. Apple Watch: Open the Wallet app, tap your Apple Cash card, tap Card Balance, then tap Add Money.

Why can't I add money from my bank account to Apple Pay?

Contact your card issuer to see if they support Apple Pay. Update to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS, watchOS, or macOS. Make sure that you are in a supported country or region. Check that your device is compatible with Apple Pay.

How do I add money to Apple Pay without debit card?

How to Add Money to Apple Pay Without Debit Card: Use a Credit Card.
Go to the app drawer and open the Wallet app on your iPhone..
Now, select the Apple Cash Card on your iPhone Wallet app..
On the Apple Cash Card, you'll find an option that says Add Money. ... .
Enter an amount of money that you want to add to Apple Cash..

How do I add money to Apple funds?

Add money to your Apple Account balance.
Open the App Store app..
Tap your photo, initials, or the sign-in button at the top of the screen..
Tap "Add Money to Account.".
To add funds instantly, tap the amount that you want to add. ... .
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the purchase..