How to change your bank account in Apple Pay
You can change the bank account linked to Apple Pay by removing the old card and adding a new one. The process takes a few minutes and happens entirely in the Wallet app on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. You do not need to contact your bank — Apple handles the change on its end, though your bank may send you a confirmation that a new card was added to a digital wallet.
The reason you might change accounts is straightforward: you switched banks, closed an old account, or want to use a different card for your daily payments. Apple Pay stores the card information securely and never shares your actual card number with stores or apps — it uses a unique code for each transaction instead. When you swap cards, that security stays in place.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Wallet app, tap and hold the card you want to remove, then swipe left and tap Delete to take it off Apple Pay.
- Add your new card by opening Wallet, tapping the plus sign, selecting Credit or Debit Card, and following the prompts to enter your card details.
- Your bank may ask you to verify the new card by confirming a small deposit or answering security questions — this usually takes one to three business days.
- If you have multiple cards in Apple Pay, you can set which one is your default by opening Wallet, tapping the three dots on a card, and selecting "Make This My Default Card."
- Removing a card from Apple Pay does not close your bank account or affect your card itself — it only stops Apple Pay from using that card for payments.
Removing your old card from Apple Pay
Start by opening the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad. You will see all the cards you have added to Apple Pay displayed as a stack. Find the card you want to remove and tap it once to bring it to the front of the stack.
Once the card is in front, tap the three dots (or three lines, depending on your device) in the upper right corner of the card. A menu will appear with several options. Look for "Remove Card" or "Delete Card" — the exact wording varies by iOS version, but the function is the same. Tap it, and Apple will ask you to confirm. Tap "Remove" or "Delete" again to finish. The card is now off Apple Pay, though your bank account itself remains open and the physical card still works in stores or online.
If you are using an Apple Watch, the process is similar but happens in the Wallet app on the watch itself. Open Wallet, swipe to find the card, swipe left on it, and tap the trash icon to remove it.
Adding your new card to Apple Pay
Open the Wallet app and look for a plus sign (usually in the upper right corner or at the bottom of the screen, depending on your iOS version). Tap it. A menu will appear asking what you want to add — select "Credit or Debit Card."
You now have two options: you can hold your iPhone or iPad's camera over the front of your card and let Apple read the card number automatically, or you can tap "Enter Card Details Manually" and type the information yourself. The camera method is faster and makes fewer mistakes, but manual entry works just as well. Either way, you will need to enter your card number, expiration date, and the three-digit security code on the back.
After you enter the card details, Apple will ask for your billing address. Type it in exactly as it appears on your bank statement — mismatches can slow down verification. Once you submit the address, your bank will receive a notification that a new card was added to a digital wallet. Some banks verify when ready; others send you a text or email asking you to confirm the addition.
Verifying your new card with your bank
Your bank may ask you to verify the card before it works in Apple Pay. The most common method is a small test deposit: your bank deposits a few cents (usually between one and five cents) into a linked account, and you log into your bank's app or website to confirm the amount. Once you confirm, the card is fully active in Apple Pay.
Some banks skip the deposit method and instead send you a code via text message or email. You enter that code into the Apple Pay setup screen, and verification is complete. A few banks use security questions instead — they may ask you to confirm your address, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or other information only you would know.
Verification usually takes one to three business days, though some banks do it when ready. If your bank does not verify the card within a week, contact them directly — there may be a hold on your account, or they may need additional information from you.
Setting a default card if you have multiple cards
If you have added more than one card to Apple Pay, you can choose which one is your default — the card that charges automatically when you tap to pay without selecting a specific card first. Open the Wallet app and find the card you want to make default. Tap the three dots on that card and select "Make This My Default Card." From that point on, that card will be the one Apple Pay uses unless you manually select a different one at the payment terminal.
You can change your default card as many times as you want. This is useful if you have a rewards card you want to use for most purchases but a different card for specific stores or situations.
What happens to your old card after you remove it
Removing a card from Apple Pay does not affect the card itself or your bank account. The physical card still works at stores, gas pumps, and ATMs. Your bank account stays open and active. You are only telling Apple Pay to stop using that particular card for digital payments.
If you removed the card because you are closing the bank account, you will want to contact your bank separately to close the account. If you removed it because you got a new card from the same bank (for example, your old card expired and the bank sent you a replacement), you can add the new card to Apple Pay using the steps above.
If you removed a card by mistake, you can add it back to Apple Pay at any time by following the "Adding your new card" steps above.
Changing your card on Apple Watch
If you use Apple Pay on an Apple Watch, the process is slightly different because the Watch has its own Wallet app separate from your iPhone. When you add a card to Apple Pay on your iPhone, it does not automatically appear on your Watch — you have to add it to the Watch separately.
Open the Wallet app on your Apple Watch and tap the plus sign. Select "Add Card" and choose whether to use the camera or enter details manually (the Watch will use your iPhone's camera if you choose the camera method). Follow the same verification steps as you would on your iPhone. Once verified, that card is ready to use on your Watch.
If you want to remove a card from your Watch only (but keep it on your iPhone), open the Watch's Wallet app, swipe to the card, swipe left, and tap the trash icon. The card stays in Apple Pay on your iPhone — you are only removing it from the Watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tell my bank before I add a new card to Apple Pay?
No, you do not need to contact your bank first. Your bank will be notified automatically when you add the card, and they may send you a confirmation email or text. If your bank has fraud detection enabled, they might flag the addition as unusual activity, but this is rare and resolves quickly once you verify the card.
What if Apple Pay says my card is not supported?
Some banks and card types cannot be added to Apple Pay — this is a limitation set by your bank, not by Apple. Debit cards, credit cards, and prepaid cards from most major banks work, but some smaller banks or credit unions may not support Apple Pay yet. Contact your bank to ask if they support Apple Pay, or try adding a different card if you have one.
Can I have the same card on both my iPhone and Apple Watch?
Yes. Add the card to your iPhone first, then add it separately to your Apple Watch using the Watch's Wallet app. The card will work on both devices independently — you do not have to do anything special to sync them.
Will changing my card in Apple Pay affect my subscriptions or recurring payments?
It depends on how the subscription is set up. If the subscription is tied to your Apple ID (like an app subscription or iCloud storage), it will continue to charge the new default card you set in Apple Pay. If the subscription is tied to a specific card (like a streaming service you signed up for), you may need to update the card in that service's settings separately. Check your subscription settings if you are unsure.
What if my new card is not verified after a week?
Contact your bank directly. There may be a fraud hold on your account, your address may not match their records, or they may need additional information from you. Your bank's customer service can tell you exactly what is holding up verification and how to fix it.