If you use the peer-to-peer Apple Pay Cash payment feature to send money to friends and family in an instant through Messages, you will need to sign up for the newly announced Apple Card because Apple has ended support for sending money using a regular credit card.

Debit cards can still be linked with Apple Pay Cash.

The Cupertino company informed Apple Pay customers yesterday that the change takes effect immediately for all customers who have upgraded their iPhone and iPad devices to the new iOS 12.2 software and their watches to watchOS 5.2 beginning March 25, 2019.

Apple noted in the email communique that it’s making the change in order to help its customers avoid cash advance fees that may be charged by their issuing bank.

To illustrate the point, the message advertises a new Instant Transfer option that lets you withdraw your Apple Pay Cash balance to an eligible Visa debit card in the Wallet app within minutes of your request (it could take up to 30 minutes, Apple says).

That being said, using the Instant Transfer option also incurs a one percent fee (up to $10 per transaction) that gets automatically deducted from your transfer.

As mentioned, Apple Pay Cash continues to work with debit cards. The feature also offers free ACH bank transfers in select countries, according to the updated terms and conditions.

“You can continue to send money for free with Apple Pay, with no fees at all, using your debit card or your Apple Pay Cash balance,” the terms read.



Apple Pay Cash is a service provided by Green Dot Bank.

Is this policy change a sly trick on Apple’s part designed to encourage customers to sign up for the new Apple Card, do you think?

Let us know by leaving a comment below.