Apple Pay adds support for 27 US banks and credit unions

Continuing a rapid buildout of Apple Pay services, Apple this week announced a new batch of 27 U.S. banks and credit unions as participating card issuers.

The recent additions come after an August that saw 60 financial institutions appended to Apple's running list of supporting card issuers.

Added to Apple's list:

• Allegiance Credit Union
• Anchor D Bank
• Bank of the West
• Bay Atlantic Federal Credit Union
• BayCoast Bank
• Beacon Credit Union
• BNC National Bank
• Citizen's Bank of Hickman
• Coastway Community Bank
• Community West Credit Union
• CrossFirst Bank
• Erie Federal Credit Union
• First Farmers
• First National Bank of Aspermont
• First New York Federal Credit Union
• Glendale Federal Credit Union
• JD Bank
• Lafayette Community Bank
• McClain Bank
• Midland National Bank
• Moven
• Palmetto Health Credit Union
• Patterson State Bank
• Pioneer Bank FSB
• Southern Mass Credit Union
• TAPCO Credit Union
• United Community Bank (LA)

Last month was unusually active for Apple's payments services arm. In early August, Apple Pay gained compatibility with Canadian vending machines and 23 U.S. banks and credit unions. A week later Chick-fil-A announced plans to roll out support at its registers.

August also brought word of new international partnerships, with users in Hong Kong granted access to two financial institutions, while support for three services rolled out in the UK.

After a domestic launch in 2014, Apple Pay has since grown to cover markets in Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland and the U.K.

Most recently, a report earlier today claims Apple is looking to deliver Apple Pay to Japanese customers via the FeliCa standard, though ongoing negotiations with retailers, banks and payments processors will likely delay launch until next year.