Open Settings, tap Wallet & Apple Pay, then remove the old card and add the new one
To change your bank on Apple Pay, you remove the card tied to your old account and add a card from your new bank. The process takes about five minutes and happens entirely on your phone. Apple Pay does not transfer a card from one bank to another — you delete the old one and register the new one separately.
Your old card stops working for Apple Pay transactions the moment you remove it, but the bank account itself is unaffected. Any pending transactions tied to that card will still process normally. You can add multiple cards from different banks at once, and switch between them when you pay.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Wallet app or Settings, find Wallet & Apple Pay, and tap the card you want to remove, then select Delete Card.
- Add your new card by tapping the plus icon in Wallet or going to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay > Add Card, then scanning or typing the card number.
- Your bank may ask you to verify the card through a code sent to your phone or a small deposit to your account — this is normal and takes one to three business days.
- Removing a card from Apple Pay does not close the bank account or affect any automatic payments already set up with that card.
- You can keep multiple cards active on Apple Pay and choose which one to use each time you pay.
Step-by-step: removing your old card
Open the Wallet app on your iPhone or iPad. Look for the card you want to remove and tap it once to select it. Tap the three dots (or the menu icon) in the upper right corner of the card.
Scroll down and tap Delete Card. Confirm by tapping Delete again when prompted. The card is now removed from Apple Pay, though your bank account and any recurring charges tied to that card remain active.
If you cannot find the Wallet app, you can also remove the card through Settings. Go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, tap the card, then scroll down and tap Delete Card. The result is the same either way.
Step-by-step: adding your new card
Open the Wallet app and tap the plus icon in the upper right corner. Select Credit or Debit Card. You can either scan the card with your phone's camera or tap Enter Card Details Manually and type the number, expiration date, and CVV.
After you enter the card details, Apple Pay will contact your bank to verify the card. Your bank may send you a code via text or email, or ask you to confirm the card through your bank's app. Follow your bank's instructions — this step is required and usually takes less than a minute.
Once verified, the card appears in your Wallet and is ready to use. If your bank requires additional verification (like a small test deposit), you will see a message explaining what to do next. This secondary verification can take one to three business days.
What happens if your bank declines the card
If Apple Pay shows an error when you try to add the card, your bank may have flagged it as suspicious or the card details may be incorrect. Check that the card number, expiration date, and CVV match exactly what is printed on the card. Spaces and dashes should not be entered.
If the details are correct, contact your bank directly. They may need to approve the card for Apple Pay use, or there may be a fraud hold on the account. Most banks have a customer service number on the back of the card or on their website. Tell them you are trying to add the card to Apple Pay and ask them to clear any blocks.
Once your bank approves it, try adding the card again. If the problem persists, ask your bank whether they support Apple Pay — a small number of banks and credit unions do not.
Keeping multiple cards active at once
You do not have to choose just one card. You can add as many cards as you want to Apple Pay, and they will all appear in your Wallet. When you pay with Apple Pay at a store or online, your phone will show you which card is set as the default, and you can tap a different card if you prefer.
This is useful if you have a checking account at one bank and a credit card from another, or if you want to keep an old card active while testing a new one. Each card works independently — removing one does not affect the others.
Changing your default card for payments
If you have multiple cards in Apple Pay, you can set which one is used by default. Open Settings, go to Wallet & Apple Pay, and tap Default Transaction Card. Select the card you want to use most often.
Even with a default set, you can always choose a different card at the moment of payment. When you hold your phone to a payment reader or complete an online purchase, your phone will show the default card first, but you can swipe or tap to pick another one.
Troubleshooting: card removed but still showing in Wallet
If you deleted a card but it still appears in your Wallet, try closing the Wallet app completely and reopening it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer models) to close all apps, then tap Wallet again.
If the card still appears after you restart the app, restart your phone. Hold the power button until you see the shutdown screen, then slide to power off. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on. Open Wallet and check whether the card is gone.
If the card persists after a restart, contact your bank. In rare cases, the bank may need to deactivate the card on their end before it fully disappears from Apple Pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a card from Apple Pay close my bank account?
No. Removing a card from Apple Pay only stops it from working for contactless payments on your phone. Your bank account stays open, and any automatic payments or recurring charges tied to that card will continue to process normally. You are only removing the card from the app, not from the bank.
Can I add a card from the same bank I just removed?
Yes. You can add a new card from the same bank without any problem. This is common when you get a replacement card due to expiration or fraud. Just add the new card the same way you would add any other card, and your bank will verify it.
What if I want to switch back to my old card later?
You can add it back to Apple Pay anytime. Open Wallet, tap the plus icon, and add the card again. Your bank will verify it just like the first time. There is no limit to how many times you can add and remove cards.
Do I need to tell my bank before I add a new card to Apple Pay?
No, but some banks may flag the addition as unusual activity and send you a verification code or call you to confirm. This is a security measure. If your bank contacts you, confirm that you are adding the card to Apple Pay, and they will clear it for use.
Can I use Apple Pay while I am waiting for my new card to be verified?
Not with the new card. You can only use cards that have been fully verified. If you have another card already in Apple Pay, you can use that one while your new card is being verified. Verification usually takes less than a minute, but some banks may take up to three business days.