Apple Cash users will need to have their identity verified before adding money to their balance starting November 9. Green Dot Bank, which provides the service, is introducing the requirement through notices sent to customers.
Verification previously applied when users added, sent or received more than $500 in total. The new rule extends the identity requirement to balance reloads regardless of that threshold. Apple Cash is the payment account within Apple’s Wallet ecosystem, separate from the Apple Card credit card.
Apple’s verification process is available in Settings under Wallet & Apple Pay. Users select their Apple Cash card, scroll to Verify Identity and follow the instructions. In iOS 27, people with a driver’s license stored in Wallet can select Continue with ID in Wallet to complete the identity check.
People who do not see the Verify Identity option have already verified their identity. Apple says an account can still be asked to verify again after an earlier check. The requirement concerns having a verified identity, rather than automatically demanding a new verification each time money is added.
Users whose identity cannot be verified will be unable to use all Apple Cash features, including sending or receiving money and adding funds. Existing money remains available for purchases through Apple Pay in stores, apps and on the web, or for transfer to a bank account.
Green Dot requires the checks for fraud protection and regulatory reasons. Apple and its payments subsidiary are service providers rather than banks. Customers needing help with Apple Cash verification can contact an Apple Cash specialist at Green Dot.
Wallet’s identity features have been expanding separately from its payment accounts. Oklahoma added driver’s licenses and state IDs to Apple Wallet, allowing holders to present credentials through an iPhone or Apple Watch. Preparations for additional state credentials have included North Carolina’s planned NC Wallet launch and subsequent support for major device wallets.
Apple Cash is available in the United States to residents aged 18 and older. Younger users can participate through Apple Cash Family, which a family organizer sets up. A family member who leaves that arrangement after turning 18 must verify their identity to establish their own account.
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
