NEW DELHI, Feb. 26 (GeokHub) — Apple is in discussions with leading Indian banks and global card networks as it prepares to introduce its Apple Pay digital payments service in India, according to a Bloomberg News report cited by Reuters.
Sources familiar with the matter said Apple is in talks with ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and Axis Bank as it targets a mid-2026 launch timeline.
India represents one of the world’s fastest-growing digital payments markets, driven by rapid smartphone adoption and the widespread use of unified payment systems. A successful rollout of Apple Pay would mark a significant expansion of Apple’s financial services footprint in Asia’s third-largest economy.
While Apple devices already support contactless payments in several global markets, India’s payments ecosystem is highly competitive, with strong domestic players and deep integration of real-time payment platforms.
- Industry analysts say Apple will likely need strong local banking partnerships and compliance with India’s regulatory framework to ensure seamless integration.
Strategic Importance for Apple
The potential Apple Pay launch comes as Apple continues to strengthen its presence in India, both as a key manufacturing hub and as a major consumer market. The company has steadily expanded retail operations and local production in recent years.
A successful Apple Pay rollout could deepen customer engagement within Apple’s ecosystem, encouraging more users to adopt its services alongside hardware products.
Apple has not publicly confirmed the discussions.
