HSBC expands Apple Pay functionality to Singapore, offers incentive to users

Adding to a day of expansion, HSBC has announced that cardholders in Singapore can begin using the Apple Pay mobile payment service effective Thursday.

As part of the launch promotion for the service, customers who link their HSBC creditcards to Apple Pay will get $5 off every transaction of $10 or more they make with the mobile payment service until Jan. 15, 2017. Each customer is limited to four discounted transactions.

HSBC joins American Express, DBS Bank, POSB Bank, OCBC, Standard Chartered and UOB, who have all previously launched support for the service in Singapore.

Earlier Thursday, Apple launched Apple Pay in Spain, with support for Mastercard and American Express credit cards issued through Santander bank, Carrefour Pass and Ticket Restaurant.

Apple Pay launched in the U.S. in 2014 and has since expanded to cover users in Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland and the U.K. Germany is rumored to be next on Apple's list.

When Apple debuted its payments product in Japan, it suffered from a system overload from demand less than one day after launch.

For now, Apple is concentrating efforts to expand into major markets in Asia and Europe. Ultimately, the company plans to deliver Apple Pay to every market in which its products are sold.