Everything Apple Pay Cash, From Setup to Sending Money

With the release of iOS 11.1 Developer beta 2, Apple has rolled out Apple Pay Cash to the public. It’s one more step towards the cashless society Apple envisions. Here is everything you need to know about using it, from setup to sending that hard-earned money.

For everyone who wants to test sending money with Apple Pay Cash, my Messages ID is … just kidding!

Requirements for Using Apple Pay Cash

First of all, here are the conditions you have to meet in order to try out Apple Pay Cash.

• Apple Pay Cash is limited to the United States, for now.


• You must be running at least iOS 11.2 Developer beta 2, or Public Beta 2.


• Your Apple ID needs to have two-factor authentication enabled.


• The service requires an iPhone 6 or later.


• You need to enable the feature.

Getting Apple Pay Cash Turned on

Now, let’s walk through what you need to do by way of setup for Apple Pay Cash. Go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay first.

You’ll set up Apple Pay Cash in the Wallet & Apple Pay settings

Near the top of the Settings panel, you’ll see an option for Apple Pay Cash. Toggle that on.

Next, toggle “Apple Pay Cash” on

Next, you’ll be prompted to set up your Apple Pay Cash card in Wallet & Apple Pay. Follow the prompts, and it will be a painless process.

You’ll be asked to verify your Apple Pay Cash setup after this screen

To ensure you can continue using the service uninterrupted, you should tap your card in Wallet & Apple Pay, then press the option to Verify Your Identity.

Since banks are involved, you’ll need to verify your identity to use Apple Pay Cash without any interruptions

The Settings app will confirm your first and last name, along with your date of birth and the last four digits of your Social Security Number.

Presumably, this last step is to meet Patriot Act requirements that financial institutions have to follow. Remember, this peer-to-peer payment service is being implemented through Green Dot Bank, a company that offers prepaid credit cards.

Up next: Using Apple Pay Cash to send and request money

Using Apple Pay Cash to Send and Request Money

Once you’ve enabled the feature, you’ll get a confirmation screen the next time you open Messages. It is there to remind you that you can send money with Apple Pay.

After you enable Apple Pay Cash, you’ll see this screen the next time you open Messages

Now, you’ll see a new Apple Pay icon in your Messages app drawer. If you tap on it, you’ll either get a screen to send or request money or a message that your intended recipient isn’t able to use the service yet.

So sad, I can’t yet contribute to Jeff Gamet’s coffee and tea fund

Once you find that magical person who can send you some simoleons with Apple Pay Cash, just type in the amount you want and hit Request. Or, if you’re feeling generous, hit Send and brighten that person’s day.

Sending and requesting money in Apple Pay Cash is quite simple

If your Apple Pay Cash card balance is too low to cover a payment, you’ll be prompted to approve the transaction using one of your other Wallet credit or debit cards. While there’s no charge to send money using a debit card, you will pay a three percent fee if you use a credit card instead.

What to do With the Money Once You’ve Got It

When you receive money through this service, you can use it at any retailer supporting Apple Pay. Your Apple Pay Cash card also seems to maintain a register of your transactions, so you can refer back to it as needed.

If you want to get the money out of your digital card, you can transfer it to a bank account. You’ll need to have your routing and account numbers for your checking or savings account. It does not appear to be possible to transfer funds to a debit card, as you can with some of the service’s competitors.

Apple Pay Cash Limits

Per transaction, you can add from $10 to $3,000 at a time. The most you can add to to your digital card in any seven-day period is $10,000, and your total balance on the card cannot exceed $20,000. That maximum is assuming you’ve verified your identity; it will be a lesser amount if you choose not to perform that step.

As far as sending and receiving money, the same limits apply but you can send as little as $1 to someone. Per message, you can send or receive up to $3,000, and the cap for any seven-day period is $10,000.

You can transfer as little as $1, or your full balance if it’s under that, to your bank account. The most you can transfer at once is $3,000. You can transfer up to $20,000 per seven-day period to your bank account.

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