How to Change My Bank Account On Apple Pay | Card Swap Steps

You can switch what Apple Pay charges by setting a new default card in Wallet, or by updating the bank details tied to Apple Cash transfers.

You’re trying to “change your bank account” on Apple Pay. That phrase makes sense in real life, yet Apple Pay itself doesn’t hold one single “bank account” setting. It’s more like a set of rails that can charge a card you add, or move money from Apple Cash to a bank.

So the fix depends on what you mean by “bank account.” Do you want Apple Pay to charge a different debit card? Do you want Apple Cash to send money to a different bank account? Or are you trying to change the payment method tied to your Apple Account for subscriptions and App Store purchases?

This article walks you through each one, step by step, so you can make the change once and stop second-guessing it at the checkout terminal.

What “Bank Account” Means In Apple Pay

When people say “bank account,” they usually mean one of these things:

• The card Apple Pay uses by default (your debit card from Bank A vs. Bank B).
• The card you want removed and replaced (new number, new bank, expired card, or you closed the old account).
• The bank account used for Apple Cash transfers (where Apple Cash sends money when you cash out).
• The payment method on your Apple Account (used for subscriptions, iCloud storage, app purchases, and billing).

Apple Pay at the register will charge whichever card you select in Wallet, and it can also default to a specific card so you don’t have to pick every time. Apple Cash is separate: it’s a balance you can spend with Apple Pay or send to a bank.

Before You Change Anything

Take 30 seconds and confirm what you want to change:

• If you tap-to-pay and the wrong card shows up, you need to change your default card.
• If the old bank card is still in Wallet, you need to remove the old card and add the new one.
• If you’re cashing out Apple Cash and it goes to the wrong bank, you need to change Apple Cash bank details.
• If a subscription bill hits the wrong card, you need to change the Apple Account payment method.

How to Change My Bank Account On Apple Pay On iPhone

Most of the time, you’re switching the card that Apple Pay charges. That’s done inside Wallet.

Set A New Default Card In Wallet

This is the cleanest fix when your cards are already added and you just want a different one to be the “front” card.

1. Open the Wallet app.
2. Find the card you want Apple Pay to use most often.
3. Touch and hold the card, then drag it in front of your other cards to make it the default card.

Apple documents the default-card change process here: change the default card in Wallet.

Pay With A Different Card Without Changing The Default

Sometimes you want the default to stay the same, yet you need a one-off charge on another account.

1. Double-click the side button (Face ID models) or rest your finger on Touch ID (Touch ID models).
2. When your default card appears, tap it.
3. Select the card you want for this purchase.
4. Authenticate, then hold the top of your iPhone near the reader.

Remove The Old Bank Card From Wallet

If you closed the old account, replaced the card, or you just don’t want it showing up, remove it so you don’t tap the wrong one later.

1. Open Wallet.
2. Tap the card you want to remove.
3. Tap the More button, then open Card Details.
4. Tap Remove Card.

Apple’s Wallet instructions for removing cards are here: remove a card from Wallet on iPhone.

Add Your New Debit Or Credit Card

Once the new card is added, you can set it as default and you’re done.

1. Open Wallet.
2. Tap the Add Card button.
3. Choose Debit or Credit Card.
4. Scan the card or enter the details manually.
5. Follow your bank’s verification steps.

Apple’s setup steps are here: set up Apple Pay and add a card.

Do The Same Change On Apple Watch, iPad, And Mac

If you use more than one device, you may need to update each one. Some cards sync, some don’t, and banks can vary on how provisioning works.

Apple Watch

1. On iPhone, open the Apple Watch app.
2. Tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
3. Under Transaction Defaults, choose Default Card.
4. Select the card you want.

iPad

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Wallet & Apple Pay.
3. Tap Add Card to add a new card, or tap a card to remove it.

Mac

On Mac models with Touch ID, you can add cards in System Settings under Wallet & Apple Pay. If you don’t see Wallet & Apple Pay, your Mac model may not support adding cards directly.

Up to this point, everything is about changing what Apple Pay charges at checkout. Next comes the part people often mean when they say “bank account”: cashing out Apple Cash to a bank.

Change The Bank Account Used For Apple Cash Transfers

If you keep money in Apple Cash and send it to a bank, Apple Cash stores your bank routing and account number (or uses an eligible debit card transfer method in some cases). If that bank account changed, update it so your next cash-out goes where you expect.

To update your bank details for Apple Cash transfers, follow Apple’s bank-info steps on this page: transfer Apple Cash to a bank account and edit bank information.

What You’ll Need On Hand

• Your bank routing number and account number (for bank transfers).
• Your iPhone passcode and Face ID or Touch ID.
• A stable connection, since some identity checks run during setup.

Two Common Triggers That Force A Re-Check

When you change bank details, you might see extra verification steps. That’s normal in cases like these:

• You changed devices or signed out and back in.
• You entered new routing/account numbers that haven’t been used before with Apple Cash.

If you don’t use Apple Cash at all, skip this section. Your “bank account change” is almost certainly just a card change in Wallet.

What You Want To Change	Where To Change It	What Changes Afterward
Default card for tap-to-pay	Wallet app (reorder cards)	Apple Pay shows that card first at checkout
Old bank debit card removed	Wallet > Card Details > Remove Card	The card can’t be selected for Apple Pay payments
New bank debit card added	Wallet > Add Card	New card becomes available for tap-to-pay
Card used on Apple Watch	Apple Watch app > Wallet & Apple Pay	Watch uses the updated default/available cards
Card used on iPad	Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay	iPad can pay with the updated card set
Bank account for Apple Cash cash-outs	Apple Cash settings (bank info edit)	Apple Cash transfers go to the new bank account
Payment method for subscriptions	Apple Account > Payment & Shipping	Subscriptions and Store billing use the updated method
Billing address on a card	Bank app or card issuer site	Issuer records match, fewer verification hiccups

Change The Card Used For Subscriptions And App Store Billing

This part trips people up: Apple Pay in Wallet is not the same as your Apple Account payment method. You can tap-to-pay with Card A in Wallet while your iCloud storage renews on Card B in your Apple Account settings.

If your goal is to change what gets charged for subscriptions, app purchases, or media purchases, update your Apple Account payment method. Apple’s steps for removing a payment method are here: remove a payment method from your Apple Account.

How To Tell Which One You Need

• You see the wrong card at a tap-to-pay prompt: change the default card in Wallet.
• You see a subscription charge on the wrong bank card: change Payment & Shipping under your Apple Account settings.
• You can’t add a card in Wallet but it works for subscriptions: your bank may allow it for billing yet block it for tap-to-pay provisioning.

Fixes When The Change Doesn’t Stick

Most card swaps are smooth. When something breaks, it usually falls into a small set of patterns. Use this section to spot what’s going on and clear it fast.

If A Card Won’t Add To Wallet

• Check that your device region and device software are current.
• Confirm your bank allows that card type for tap-to-pay provisioning.
• Open your bank’s app and look for an in-app toggle for digital wallet use.
• Remove the card, restart the phone, then add it again.

If Your Old Card Still Shows On Another Device

Removing a card from one device doesn’t always remove it from every device. If you use iPhone plus Watch plus iPad, check each device where you pay. Remove the old card on each one where it appears.

If Apple Cash Won’t Let You Edit Bank Details

• Confirm Apple Cash is available in your region and turned on for your Apple Account.
• Check that identity verification is complete if prompted.
• Try again on the same device after a restart.

What You See	Most Common Reason	What To Do Next
The wrong card pops up at checkout	Default card is set to the old bank card	Move the preferred card to the front in Wallet
New bank card won’t verify	Issuer verification step didn’t complete	Retry verification in Wallet or the bank app
Old card removed on iPhone, still on Watch	Cards managed separately by device	Remove it in Apple Watch app > Wallet & Apple Pay
Wallet says “card not added”	Issuer blocks that card type for Apple Pay	Call the number on the back of the card, ask about Apple Pay provisioning
Apple Cash cash-out goes to the old bank	Bank details weren’t updated	Edit bank information in Apple Cash transfer settings
Subscriptions still bill the old card	Apple Account payment method not updated	Update Payment & Shipping under your Apple Account
Terminal declines one card, another works	Issuer decline, not a Wallet issue	Try the physical card, then ask your bank about the decline code

Safety Checks Before You Share Any Details

When you’re changing cards and bank details, scams tend to show up at the worst moment. A common trick is a text or email that claims there was suspicious Apple Pay activity and tells you to call a number or click a link. Don’t.

If you get a message like that, go straight to Settings or Wallet on your device and check your real activity there. Apple also keeps a page on scam-and-phishing tactics and what to do next: Apple’s scam and phishing safety steps.

One-Page Checklist For A Clean Switch

If you want the “do this, then done” flow, run this checklist in order:

1. Add the new bank card in Wallet.
2. Make it the default card by moving it to the front.
3. Remove the old card so you can’t select it by mistake.
4. Repeat on Apple Watch if you tap-to-pay with your watch.
5. Update Apple Cash bank details only if you cash out Apple Cash.
6. Update Apple Account payment method if subscriptions should bill the new card.

Once that’s done, run a small test purchase you’d make anyway, like a low-cost item at a store you trust. Watch which card appears and which account gets charged. If it’s right, you’re finished.