Apple Pay

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Our credit union always strives to be on the frontline when it comes to technologies and services and with that in mind I am very happy to announce that on December 15 Apple Pay will become available to members in the United States, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Apple Pay is Apple’s new payment system, and it works via Near Field Communication, the same technology used when you sometimes swipe a card at the metro or at work to gain access. Apple pay has found a safe and secure way to transfer this system to make payments and it currently works in the United States, UK, Canada, and Australia, and is expected to launch step by step around the globe.

It requires that you have an iOS device like iPhone6, iPhone 6 Plus or an Apple Watch.

I have read into it and I find it a very well thought-out system. You feed your debit or credit card into it not by entering your card number –which could be hacked- but by taking a picture of it and sending it to Apple Pay. Then you call the number that appears on the screen to verify the card, and they ask you a couple of security questions to confirm that you own your account (like in the old days, they ask you to verify your last 2 account transactions). After that you’re good to go.

Your card number, name, and even financial institution are missing from any system that is visible to the outside world.

Look for these icons to pay with Apple Pay

This means that nobody can gain your name, account number, card number or even credit union name from your Apple Pay account. No, not even when you pay. You put your iPhone or Apple Watch near the Apple Pay or Pay Wave payment terminal until it beeps and it’s done. You get a receipt, no questions asked.

This is a great system that provides privacy and safety to your payments. Think of it as the Credit Union’s Christmas present to members.


Speaking of the holidays, for the rest of December I will be writing about the holidays around the world. I would love to hear how you spend Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa and New Year in your family, and in your country. Write to me at blog@oasfcu.org with the subject line “Holidays” between now and December 20 and I will publish as many as I get. Also, feel free to send pictures!