Wise Becomes First Non-bank in Malaysia to launch Apple Pay and Google Pay for Cardholders

Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA, 20 September 2023 – Wise, the global technology company building the best way to move and manage the world’s money, has launched Apple Pay and Google Pay for its cardholders, becoming the first non-bank in Malaysia to offer it. 

Customers in Malaysia can now make contactless and fast transactions by simply adding the Wise card to Apple Pay or Google Pay on their iOS or Android devices, and use them to pay in-store, online or in-app, and on public transport both locally and internationally. 

Malaysia is driving the shift towards cashless payments usage in Southeast Asia, with 96% of consumers in the country using digital payment options such as contactless cards and mobile contactless, mobile wallets and QR code payments, according to Visa Consumer Payment Attitudes 2022 study. Among these, the popularity of mobile contactless payments took a leap, with Malaysia ranking third in the region for usage at 40%, after Thailand (51%) and Singapore (49%).  

“More and more customers want the ease and convenience of mobile contactless payments – and we’re excited to be the first non-bank in Malaysia to offer Apple Pay and Google Pay,” said Lim Paik Wan, Country Manager, Malaysia at Wise.

“As we celebrate four years in Malaysia, we have been working hard to expand our product offering and bring more localised features to our customers. We first launched low-cost and fast money transfers in Malaysia in 2019, and since then, we have expanded our services to include a multi-currency account and prepaid card, and the ability for customers to send funds to 11 more mobile wallets in Asia, including Malaysia’s Touch ‘n Go. The integration with Apple Pay and Google Pay is part of Wise’s ongoing efforts to enhance the user experience, and brings us one step closer to our mission, to build money without borders and make the world’s money faster, cheaper, easier and more transparent for people and businesses.” 

In addition to the physical card, customers can also add up to three digital cards to Apple Pay or Google Pay. These digital cards come with different card details for an extra layer of protection, and can be frozen after each purchase. Furthermore, customers can use them to manage their spending by using different cards for different expense types. With the Wise card, customers can hold and spend in over 40 currencies at the mid-market exchange rate and no foreign transaction fees. Wise also provides two free ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR per month so customers can spend like a local. 

Customers can now add their Wise cards to Apple Pay or Google Pay via the Wise app, by following the instructions below: 

1. Open the Wise app

2. Tap on the Card tab, where you can see all your available cards

3. Select the card you'd like to add then tap on Add to Apple Wallet or Add to G Pay.