Just realised who mine reminds me of 
3 Likes
Or Dr Robotnik 
Got mine to add a Christmas hat over a bike helmet so it stayed on theme with my previous one. What a time to be alive!
3 Likes
What do these Santa images have to do to with subject of this thread?
Surely a separate thread is necessary?
Just join the fun!
4 Likes
6 Likes
Looks like Apple are opening up NFC Payments in the EU.
4 Likes
12 million customers, 3.6 million of which are active customers (they use the card to buy something at least twice per month).
Not bad growth over 4 years.
6 Likes
Apple Card UK when? 
Seriously though, that is pretty crazy, given you have to have an iPhone to open the card.
4 Likes
3 Likes
So not to derail the other thread where it was raised.
I asked Gemini why it thinks the Apple Card is not in the UK.
Its answer provides nothing I did not know already but it is very well rounded.
‘There are several reasons why the Apple Card remains unavailable in the UK:
Regulatory Differences: Financial regulations and credit reporting systems differ significantly between the US and the UK. Apple would need to deeply adapt its underwriting and risk assessment processes to comply with UK standards.
Banking Partnerships: The Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs in the US. Apple would need to establish a similar partnership with a major UK financial institution, which takes time and resources.
Market Complexity: The UK credit card market is established and highly competitive. Apple would need a strong value proposition and marketing strategy to differentiate itself and gain significant market share.
Open Banking: The UK’s Open Banking initiative presents both opportunities and challenges. It makes customer financial data more accessible, but also increases competition from fintech companies offering innovative credit products.
Expansion Strategy: Apple might be focusing on expanding the Apple Card to other international markets first, or they might be evaluating the potential benefits and risks of entering the specific UK market.
Potential for Future UK Launch
Despite these factors, there’s still potential for Apple to launch the Apple Card in the UK at some point. Here’s why:
Interest from Apple: Apple CEO Tim Cook has indicated interest in expanding the Apple Card internationally.
Acquisition of Credit Kudos: Apple’s acquisition of the UK-based Open Banking startup Credit Kudos suggests that they’re exploring ways to analyze creditworthiness in the UK market.’
2 Likes
1 Like
It’s USA only according to this https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/1044110/robinhood-debuts-its-first-credit-card-1044110.html
Stupid Question?
But Apple Card UK when?
15 Likes
It’s all been very quiet.
Part of the problem, I suspect, is that the UK credit market doesn’t have the same margins/interchange fees, so there’s much less scope for rewards.
I also wonder whether the EU competition stuff is slowing it down. Cutting the credit card providers out of Apple Pay is pretty much the opposite of what the EU would like to see.
Apple Could Give Rivals Access To Its Apple Pay Tech To Address EU Competition Concerns.
3 Likes
I think the bottom line is they’d a) need a partner who’s open to working with them (and you imagine giving a lot of money to Apple), b) having a card that stands out enough with rewards/benefits aside from just the ‘Apple’ name
As the fees and charges are vastly different to the US it’s probably just not worth it
4 Likes
Agree with a, but not sure b is necessary. Perhaps just some additional iPhone functionality would suffice.
There is another fly in the ointment: Apple will be focused on interchange revenue more than a share of lending net interest income.
Any commission paid to Apple for lending based income from a partner bank would be fraught with regulatory risk and moral hazard - just look at how Lloyds and Close Brothers have had to provision around auto loans this year and the investigation is in its early stages. However, interchange revenue is under pressure - even in the US now based on recent imposition on Visa / Mastercard - so the business case is looking more remote.
My money would be on some form of integration of the card with the Apple One bundle. That way there will be a fee element for perhaps longer interest free credit.
Apple don’t want a partner. They want to be the bank. They want it all in house.
1 Like
The regulatory costs and risk would be significant. Genuinely think this unlikely.
1 Like