Forget fumbling through your wallet and handing over a card next time you’re in a store. With mobile payment options you can unlock your phone, place it near a contactless terminal, and you’re good to go. With some mobile options you don’t even need to open an app. Tap and pay is that fast and that easy. If you’re ready to give mobile payments a try, here’s what you need to know.

Apple Pay
After inputting your debit or credit card numbers into the Apple Pay app, open Apple Pay at the register with your fingerprint, select the card you want to use, and hold your phone up to the terminal. Your iPhone uses NFC (near-field communication) technology to communicate with the register.

• Compatible phones: Only Apple devices; Apple iPhone 6 and later.
• Why it’s good: The retailer doesn’t get your credit card, which should help prevent fraud.
• Disadvantages: Apple Pay is not accepted at all retailers. (See the list of retailers here.)

Samsung Pay
To use Samsung Pay, you simply swipe up from the bottom bezel of your phone. It works from the home screen and, in a clever twist, when the phone’s screen is off. A credit card pops up and you unlock it with your fingerprint. At that point, you can either pay with NFC (as with Apple Pay or Android Pay) or hold it up near the spot where you swipe a debit or credit card.
• Compatible phones: Only Samsung phones: Galaxy S6, Note5 or later.
• Why it’s good: It works everywhere, since it can mimic a magnetic strip if NFC technology is unavailable; retailers don’t get your credit card info, which should help prevent fraud.
• Disadvantages: The non-NFC version can be finicky.

Android Pay
What used to be called Google Wallet uses NFC; as with the others, simply select the debit or credit card you want to use from the app and tap your phone against the terminal.
• Compatible phones: Android phones with NFC technology.
• Why it’s good: It works with more than just Samsung phones; many retailers accept it (find a list here).
• Disadvantages: It works only with Android phones.

The Takeaway
Mobile payments don’t just offer the possibility of being able to buy lunch even if you forgot to bring your wallet to work. Mobile payments also offer a measure of security that plastic cards do not. They are only accessible with a password, PIN, or thumbprint, and they use a system called tokenization, which means that the merchant never has your actual card number – a good defense against having your information harvested in a data breach.
Mobile payments also let you easily track what you spend at various retailers. One of the biggest benefits of using mobile payments is that your loyalty points and offers are automatically applied at the checkout. Instead of having to keep punch cards or key ring tags, just tap and go.

Altra and Mobile Payments
Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay are free and compatible with an Altra Federal Credit Union Debit or Credit card. Altra also offers other convenient eServices including free Online & Mobile banking, Bill Pay, Anytime Deposit from a smart phone, Virtual Strongbox, MoneyDesktop, Anytime Rewards, Altra Secure ID Identity Theft Protection and more. Visit www.altra.org for more information.

Article sponsored by Altra Federal Credit Union, serving 91,000+ members in all 50 states and around the globe, including two locations in Clarksville. This information is intended solely to provide guidance and is not financial advice.