CIMB Malaysia Launches Apple Pay Support After Four-Year Wait

Long-Awaited Integration Goes Live

CIMB Malaysia customers can now add their credit cards to Apple Pay, ending a nearly four-year gap since the digital wallet service became available in the Malaysian market. The bank had previously indicated it would enable Apple Pay support in the second half of 2023, but the rollout arrived only this week.

The bank announced the integration on July 21, opening access to Apple's contactless payment platform for holders of most CIMB Visa and Mastercard credit products. Customers can provision their cards through the CIMB Octo mobile app using an "Add to Apple Wallet" function, or directly through the Wallet app on compatible Apple devices.

Coverage and Exclusions

According to CIMB's official documentation, the majority of its Visa and Mastercard credit card portfolio now works with Apple Pay. Two products remain outside the integration: the CIMB Petronas Visa Infinite-i and the CIMB Petronas Platinum-i cards. The bank has not disclosed a timeline for adding these Islamic finance products.

Debit cardholders face a longer wait. CIMB confirmed that Apple Pay remains unavailable for all debit cards issued under its brand, as well as for Platinum Business Cards and Fuel Tanker Cards. This credit-only approach mirrors the phased rollout strategies other Malaysian banks have adopted with digital wallet platforms.

Cashback Incentive Through September

CIMB is running a promotional campaign to encourage adoption. The bank introduced a cashback programme that rewards customers who complete five qualifying Apple Pay transactions, each valued at a minimum of RM50. The offer runs through September 14, 2026.

The promotion's structure favours customers who hold multiple card types. CIMB has allocated different cashback amounts to Mastercard and Visa products, meaning customers who own both card brands and meet the transaction threshold can claim the full RM118 cashback. The bank has not published the individual cashback breakdown for each card network.

Competitive Landscape

CIMB's entry into Apple Pay support places it among the later adopters in Malaysia's retail banking sector. Several domestic and international banks activated the service in 2022 when Apple officially launched the platform in the country, capitalising on growing consumer preference for contactless and mobile-first payment methods.

The delay had left CIMB customers reliant on alternative digital wallets or physical cards at point-of-sale terminals equipped for NFC payments. With Apple Pay now active, the bank closes a feature gap that had been a recurring point of customer feedback on social media and app store reviews.

The timing aligns with broader shifts in Southeast Asian payment behaviour. Mobile wallet penetration across the region has accelerated since the pandemic, with both domestic e-wallet platforms and international schemes competing for transaction volume. Banks that delayed integration risk losing top-of-wallet status as consumers consolidate their preferred payment methods.

What Comes Next

CIMB has not indicated whether debit card support or the excluded Petronas co-brand cards will join the Apple Pay roster. The bank's phased approach suggests it may evaluate transaction data and customer uptake from the current credit card rollout before expanding eligibility.

For now, the bank's credit card base can finally tap to pay at the millions of merchants worldwide that accept Apple Pay, from transit systems in Tokyo to coffee shops in Singapore. Whether CIMB's cautious, credit-first strategy pays off will depend on how quickly customers adopt the feature and whether the promotional cashback drives sustained usage beyond September.