What does Apple’s opening of NFC means for the digital banking market?

In July 2024, Apple agreed with the European Commission to open up its NFC technology to third-party developers across the European Economic Area. And this regulatory shift will impact the digital banking market in a big way.

Previously, every tap-to-pay transaction had to go through Apple Pay. This gave Apple complete control over the customer experience and ensured access to valuable transaction data. But now, Apple has opened up NFC access to competitors.

In Europe, companies can access Apple’s NFC technology for free using Host Card Emulation (HCE). This covers everything from payments and transit to loyalty programmes and digital identity solutions. Outside of Europe, companies will need to pay Apple fees and use their Secure Element technology instead.

The European approach allows for broader use cases beyond simple payments. It allows banks to build apps that handle public transport, loyalty cards and digital ID verification, all using the same NFC technology.

Crucially, tap-to-pay is no longer exclusive to Apple Pay in Europe. Any compliant wallet can now offer contactless payments on iPhones across the EU.

While many banks and payment providers are still figuring out their strategy, some have already made progress.

Vipps MobilePay: First mover in Scandinavia

In December 2024, Vipps MobilePay became the first third-party mobile wallet to enable contactless payments on iPhones after Apple opened access to its NFC technology. They’ve already processed over one million contactless payments and are expanding across Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

PayPal and Curve act as early adopters

In May 2025, PayPal launched tap-to-pay on iPhone in Germany, targeting NFC Mastercard transactions. Curve followed in May 2025 with their iOS launch, positioning themselves as “the first fully functional third-party wallet with NFC tap-to-pay access across the EEA” with contactless payments and real-time spending insights.

Traditional banks step in

Some traditional banks have also been quick to move. Volksbank and Raiffeisenbank are planning to turn their VR banking app into an iPhone wallet by September 2025, enabling German Girocard holders tap to pay without needing Apple Pay.

WERO: The EU's ambitious digital wallet initiative

But perhaps the most ambitious response is from WERO, the European digital wallet backed by the European Payment Initiative. Since launching in July 2024, WERO has attracted over 40 million registered users across Germany, France and Belgium. The goal of this digital wallet, developed by the European Payments Initiative (EPI), is to create a new, unified standard for online payments across Europe and to reduce dependence on American tech companies like Apple - including enabling in-store NFC payments by 2026.

Behind the scenes, a whole ecosystem of companies is making these new payment solutions possible. Technology providers like G+D Netcetera provide solutions that help banks and fintechs build NFC-enabled payment apps without starting from scratch.

G+D Netcetera’s ToPay Mobile Wallet, for example, offers a comprehensive solution that supports multiple payment methods including NFC contactless payments, making it compatible with the new opportunities created by Apple’s NFC opening. This allows banks to quickly launch their own branded wallet solutions without having to build the complex infrastructure from the ground up.

This matters because the technical complexity of building payment solutions can be overwhelming for individual banks. By partnering with established technology providers, banks can focus on the customer experience and leave the complex backend infrastructure to the experts.

In terms of market trends:

• Digital wallets are projected to grow from 14% of point-of-sale transaction value in 2024 to 27% by 2030 across Europe, nearly doubling in just six years.
• NFC technology has become far more popular than QR codes, dominating in most Western European markets. Even in Denmark, where QR codes currently lead with a 59% share, this is projected to fall to 49% by 2029.*
• People are changing how they fund their digital wallets. Countries like Belgium, France and Poland are seeing more users connect their wallets directly to bank accounts rather than credit cards - a trend that could benefit traditional banks as it strengthens the direct relationship with customers.

WERO represents another opportunity for Europe to shape its own payments ecosystem. As well as being a payment app, WERO is part of Europe’s wider strategy to achieve ‘payment sovereignty’ and reduce reliance on American tech platforms. The system works alongside local payment schemes like Spain’s Bizum (26 million users) and Poland’s BLIK (18.5 million active users).

*This is calculated based on two Juniper Research reports, Global Digital Wallets Market Data 2024-2029 (total mobile wallet in-store transaction volumes) and QR Payments 2025-2029 (total number of retail payments via QR codes).

Apple’s decision to open NFC access may represent the biggest shift in mobile payments since the launch of Apple Pay itself. And the regulatory change presents your bank with both significant opportunities and real challenges to consider.

For the first time in years, you can compete directly with Apple Pay and Google Pay on their own platforms. You can now build your own branded payment solution that keeps customers within your ecosystem rather than handing them over to the tech giants.

You can also reduce your dependence on Big Tech platforms. Instead of paying fees to Apple or Google and losing control over the customer relationship, you can build direct connections with your customers and potentially generate new revenue streams through premium API services or enhanced features.

You could also integrate with domestic payment schemes that are already successful in your market. For example, Spain’s Bizum has 26 million users with a 60% penetration rate among the banked population, and Poland’s BLIK has 18.5 million active users and accounts for almost half of all mobile banking app transactions in Poland.

Building and launching a competitive payment solution will require significant investment. You’ll need to work with technology providers, make sure your solution covers all three key use cases (P2P, POS and e-commerce), and convince customers to try something new.

But the biggest challenge might be timing. Companies like Vipps MobilePay, PayPal and Curve are already building market share and customer habits. So the longer you wait, the harder it may become to compete.

To succeed, you’ll need the right technology partner. The complexity of building secure, compliant payment solutions means most banks will benefit from working with established providers who understand both the technical requirements and regulatory landscape.

Want to learn how G+D Netcetera can help your bank capitalise on Apple’s NFC opening and build your own competitive payment solution? Get in touch with our experts.