Originally Posted by
rasheed
Apple had so many existing relationships including Synchrony and Barclaycard US where they could have partnered.
Would those other partners have been able to support what Apple wanted, though? At least in the case of Barclaycard, I don't remember ever getting an instant card number or even being able to add my card to a mobile wallet until after getting the physical card. Not to mention that I had to answer security questions based on my credit reports and public records before I was allowed to add my card to Google Pay.