Apple Pay Now Available in Puerto Rico
The expansion to Puerto Rico opens new doors for mobile payment accessibility
Apple Pay is spreading its wings even further, with the payment service now landing in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. With this expansion, merchants across the island can finally accept Apple Pay, bringing seamless, tap-to-pay convenience to shoppers and businesses alike.
For over a decade, Apple Pay has been a staple in the U.S., but Puerto Rico was left out of the loop. Until now, the only way Puerto Ricans could use Apple Pay was by linking it to accounts with major U.S. banks — no local bank supported it. That all changed recently thanks to a major player: Banco Popular, one of Puerto Rico’s largest banks. Their announcement of Apple Pay support has opened the floodgates, allowing countless iPhone and iPad users to easily add their local cards to the Apple Wallet and pay with a simple tap at any store that accepts Apple Pay.
This move isn't just a local win, it's a key part of Apple's grand plan to dominate the global payments landscape. With Apple Pay already live in over 80 countries and used by a staggering estimate of 500 million people worldwide, according to Statista, their ambition to compete with giants like PayPal, Google Pay, and Stripe is clear.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
And their strategy seems to be paying off.
Just look at the U.S., where Apple's VP of Apple Pay and Wallet, Jennifer Bailey, stated in 2024 that merchant acceptance of Apple Pay has exploded from a mere 3% at launch to over 90%. This success story hints at the potential for similar widespread adoption in Puerto Rico now that a major local bank is on board.
Bringing Apple Pay to Puerto Rico is a big deal. It offers locals a faster, more secure way to pay and puts Puerto Rico in line with the growing trend toward contactless payments. Apple’s partnership with Banco Popular could be the start of a more connected and cash-free future on the island.
