Apple Card launched seven years ago this month, and Apple has continued to evolve the product with new features, perks, and partnerships. A series of recent updates makes the card more useful for everyday spending, travel, and subscription management. There is also a major structural change on the way that could alter how the card operates in the future.

In this article, we look at everything new with Apple Card, from the latest iOS 27 tools to the travel partnerships and the upcoming move to Chase.

iOS 27: Recurring Transactions

One of the most practical additions to Apple Card arrives with iOS 27. Apple has added a dedicated Recurring hub in the Wallet app that shows upcoming recurring transactions scheduled to be charged to the card. Users can access it by tapping the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the Wallet app.

For each recurring transaction, the list displays the expected date and amount. This makes it easier to track subscription payments, utility bills, insurance premiums, and other regular charges. In addition to the list view, users can switch to a monthly calendar view to see all expected recurring charges in a single timeline. That visual approach can help with budgeting and avoiding surprises.

The feature is currently available to public beta testers and developers. Apple is expected to release iOS 27 to everyone next month, which means all Apple Card users will soon be able to access the Recurring hub. It is a natural extension of Apple's efforts to make the Wallet app a more complete financial management tool.

New Perk: Booking.com Genius Level 2 Status

Apple recently partnered with Booking.com to give Apple Card users an enhanced travel perk. After just one stay or car rental booked with Apple Card, users receive Genius Level 2 status on Booking.com. According to Apple, the status can unlock benefits on select stays and car rentals, including 10-15% discounts, free breakfast, and room upgrades.

This perk is offered to all Apple Card users, not just those who spend a significant amount on the card. The qualification requirement of one stay or car rental is relatively low, making it easy for cardholders to activate the benefit. Apple Card also provides 3% Daily Cash on all Booking.com transactions, which adds another layer of value for travelers who book hotels and rental cars regularly.

The Booking.com partnership is part of a broader trend of Apple adding travel-related benefits to Apple Card. It gives the card a reason to be considered alongside traditional travel rewards credit cards, especially for users who value the simplicity of Daily Cash.

Hertz Partnership: Car Rental Perks

Last year, Apple announced a partnership with Hertz to offer exclusive benefits when cardholders book a car rental with Apple Card. The perks include free Emergency Roadside Service, the ability to add loss damage waiver vehicle protection at a discounted rate of $16.95 per day plus tax, a free additional driver at pickup, and savings of at least 5% off Pay Later base rates.

In addition to those benefits, Apple Card users earn 3% Daily Cash for car rentals booked through Hertz. That makes the Hertz option particularly attractive because the 3% rate applies to the full rental amount, and the roadside service and additional driver benefits can save a considerable amount compared to standard rental terms.

When combined with the Booking.com partnership, Apple Card now offers a reasonably strong travel package. Cardholders can earn elevated Daily Cash on both hotel accommodations and car rentals, while also having access to status programs and rental-specific protections. These travel perks are not as extensive as those offered by premium travel cards from other issuers, but they are significant for a card that is designed primarily for Apple ecosystem integration.

Apple Card Savings Account Expands to Web

One of the most common criticisms of Apple Card has been its heavy reliance on the iPhone for account management. Since the card's launch, key features such as viewing statements, checking balances, and managing payments have been built into the Wallet app, with limited accessibility elsewhere. Apple has been gradually addressing this limitation.

The most recent improvement is the introduction of web access for Apple Card Savings. Users can now view and manage their Apple Card Savings account directly in a web browser. This allows customers to check their balance, review recent activity, and move funds between their Savings account and other bank accounts without needing to pick up an iPhone.

The expansion to the web is a meaningful convenience for users who prefer a computer for financial tasks, or who may be traveling and need access to their savings account from a device that is not their iPhone. It also signals that Apple is listening to feedback about the card being too tied to the iOS ecosystem. While the Wallet app remains the center of the Apple Card experience, the web access provides an important alternative for core savings functions.

Looking Back at Seven Years of Apple Card

Apple Card launched in August 2019 as a collaborative effort between Apple and Goldman Sachs. The card was introduced as an iPhone-first credit card, with a focus on no fees, transparent interest rates, and a privacy-friendly approach to transaction data. Unlike traditional credit cards, Apple Card does not display a card number on the physical titanium card, and all account management is handled through the Wallet app.

From the beginning, Apple Card offered Daily Cash rewards, which are credited to users every day rather than at the end of a statement cycle. The standard reward rate was set at 1% for purchases made with the physical card, 2% for purchases made with Apple Pay, and 3% for purchases from Apple and select partners. The card also introduced a built-in budgeting feature that categorizes spending by merchant type and color-codes the Wallet interface for easy reading.

Over the years, Apple added several important features. The Apple Card Savings account was introduced in April 2023, allowing users to earn interest on their Daily Cash and other deposits. Apple Card Monthly Installments gave cardholders the option to buy Apple products with 0% interest, splitting the cost into equal monthly payments. More recently, Apple expanded 3% Daily Cash to include partners such as Hertz and Booking.com.

The card has faced competition from other tech-based financial products, but its tight integration with Apple Pay and the Wallet app has helped it maintain a loyal user base. Apple has also emphasized customer support through iMessage, which gives users a convenient way to ask questions about their account without calling a phone number.

How Daily Cash and Apple Card Savings Work Together

Apple Card Savings is a high-yield savings account that is managed through the Wallet app. Users can set Daily Cash rewards to be deposited automatically into the Savings account, which means every purchase can help generate interest over time. The account has no fees, no minimum balance requirements, and was initially offered with an annual percentage yield that was above the national average.

The ability to earn Daily Cash on Apple and partner purchases creates an incentive for users to choose Apple Card for specific types of spending. For example, paying for an iCloud subscription or an Apple Music plan with Apple Card yields 3% Daily Cash. Making Apple hardware purchases with Apple Card can also earn 3% Daily Cash, and those purchases can be combined with interest-free installments if the user chooses.

The introduction of web access for Apple Card Savings means that users who prefer to manage their finances through a desktop browser can now include their Apple Card Savings account in that routine. This is especially useful for people who use budgeting software or want to review their savings progress on a larger screen. While the web interface is not as complete as the Wallet app, it covers essential savings account functions.

The Big Change Ahead: Moving to Chase

The most significant change hanging over Apple Card is the planned transition from Goldman Sachs to Chase. Apple announced the agreement in January, describing it as a move to a new bank partner for the card. The transition is expected to take approximately 24 months, which puts the full migration around early 2027.

Goldman Sachs has spent more than a decade building the consumer banking side of its business, but the partnership with Apple has reportedly been challenging for the bank. Reports have highlighted issues such as underwriting losses and customer service complaints. The move to Chase, one of the largest credit card issuers in the United States, is widely seen as a way for Apple to bring more stability and scale to the program.

Apple has said that several key elements of Apple Card will remain the same after the transition. Those elements have not been fully detailed, but cardholders expect that the basic features, rewards structure, and integration with the Wallet app will continue. During the transition, customers will likely experience changes to some backend systems, including how payments are processed and how customer support is handled.

Many details are still unknown, such as the exact rewards rates, future fee schedules, and the level of customer service that Chase will provide. Over the next 18 months, Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Apple are expected to work out these details behind the scenes. Cardholders should monitor announcements from Apple for updates on timing and any changes that require them to take action.

Source:9to5Mac News