Apple Card launched seven years ago this month, and Apple has continued to refine and expand the product with new features, travel perks, rewards, and account management tools. It is no longer just a digital-first credit card tied to the Wallet app. The card now includes more substantial benefits for frequent travelers, a richer iOS experience, and a growing ecosystem of companion services. At the same time, the card is heading toward one of the biggest changes in its history: a move in banking partners from Goldman Sachs to Chase.

Here is everything new with Apple Card lately, along with some context on what these updates mean for cardholders.

Key facts at a glance

• iOS 27 adds a recurring transactions hub in Wallet, showing expected charges in a list or calendar view.
• Apple Card users can get Booking.com Genius Level 2 status after one stay or car rental and earn 3% Daily Cash on Booking.com purchases.
• A Hertz partnership offers roadside assistance, discounted loss damage waiver protection, a free additional driver, and 5% or more off Pay Later base rates.
• Apple Card Savings can now be managed in a web browser, reducing reliance on the iPhone.
• The card is expected to transition from Goldman Sachs to Chase roughly two years after the deal was announced.

iOS 27: Recurring transactions

One of the most practical additions in iOS 27 is the new Recurring hub in the Wallet app. Cardholders can find it by tapping the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the Apple Card section. Once there, they will see a list of upcoming recurring transactions that are set to be charged to the card, along with the date and expected amount of each transaction.

The feature is designed to help users stay ahead of automatic bills, subscriptions, and other recurring charges. Instead of wondering when a streaming service or gym membership will hit the account, Apple Card users can see the full picture in one place. The list can also be viewed in a monthly calendar format, making it easier to plan around multiple bills in a single week or month. This is particularly useful for people who use Apple Card as a centralized payment method for subscriptions and utilities.

The iOS 27 update is currently available to public beta testers and developers. It is likely to be released to everyone next month, assuming the normal beta and release cycle holds. After the update arrives, Apple Card users will be able to use the Recurring hub alongside existing transaction search, merchant categorization, and monthly activity tools in the Wallet app.

New status perk: Booking.com Genius Level 2

Travel has become a major focus for Apple Card, and a new perk with Booking.com gives cardholders an immediate status boost. Apple has teamed up with Booking.com to offer all Apple Card users Genius Level 2 status after just one stay or car rental. Cardholders also earn 3% Daily Cash on all Booking.com transactions, which makes the online travel platform a more rewarding choice for Apple Card users.

Genius Level 2 status can unlock benefits on select stays and car rentals, including 10–15% discounts, free breakfast, and room upgrades. These are the kinds of perks normally reserved for loyal customers who book frequently through Booking.com, so getting them after a single booking is a meaningful addition. For travelers who already plan to book a hotel or rental car, the combination of elevated status and 3% Daily Cash can reduce the cost of a trip even before discounts are applied.

This perk seems aimed at encouraging more travel-related spending on Apple Card, especially as the card continues to compete with rewards cards from other issuers. The Booking.com tie-in also expands the card’s travel portfolio beyond its current airline, hotel, and rental car partnerships.

Hertz partnership

Apple’s partnership with Hertz, announced last year, continues to be an important part of the Apple Card travel bundle. When cardholders book a car rental through Hertz with their Apple Card, they receive a package of exclusive benefits:

• Free Emergency Roadside Service.
• Loss damage waiver vehicle protection at the discounted rate of $16.95 per day plus tax.
• A free additional driver at pickup.
• At least 5% off Pay Later base rates.

In addition to those perks, Apple Card offers 3% Daily Cash for car rentals booked through Hertz. That means the rental itself can generate rewards on top of the discounts and insurance benefits. For frequent renters, the free additional driver alone can save a significant amount because rental companies typically charge a daily fee for adding a spouse, friend, or colleague to the rental agreement.

The discounted loss damage waiver is also valuable. Rental car insurance at the counter can be expensive, and many credit cards offer some form of coverage, but this benefit provides an official option with a clear daily rate. Combined with free roadside assistance, the Hertz partnership makes the Apple Card a stronger choice for road trips, business travel, and vacation rentals.

Apple Card Savings Account expansion

Since launch, Apple Card has been criticized for relying heavily on the iPhone for key account management features. There is no traditional desktop application or simple web portal for many aspects of the card, which can be frustrating for people who prefer to manage finances on a laptop or computer.

Apple has gradually worked to fix that limitation. The most recent step is web access for Apple Card Savings. Instead of opening the Wallet app on an iPhone, users can now view and manage their Apple Card Savings Account directly in a web browser. This makes it easier to check balances, transfer money, and review transactions from any device with an internet connection.

The Savings account, first introduced as a companion to Apple Card, allows cardholders to automatically deposit Daily Cash and earn a competitive interest rate on their balance. The new web access brings a level of convenience that should appeal to users who do not always have their iPhone nearby. It also signals that Apple wants to make Apple Card less dependent on a single Apple device, even though the Wallet app remains central to the experience.

This expansion may be especially useful for people who use Apple Card Savings as a dedicated emergency fund or set aside Daily Cash for a future purchase. Being able to log in from a desktop browser can remove friction and make account management feel more like a standard bank experience.

A big change looms: The move to Chase

The biggest development in the Apple Card world remains the planned transition from Goldman Sachs to Chase. Apple announced the deal back in January and said the transition will occur in approximately 24 months. That timeline means the change is still more than a year away, but it is already shaping how many people think about the card’s future.

Goldman Sachs was Apple Card’s original banking partner when the card launched in 2019. The partnership was groundbreaking at the time because it brought a major investment bank into the consumer credit card business, but it also faced challenges related to customer service, losses, and the broader shift in Goldman Sachs strategy. Reports over the years suggested that both companies were evaluating their partnership, so the move to Chase represents a major realignment.

Many questions remain about what Apple Card will look like under Chase. Apple has promised that several key things about the card will not change, including the Wallet experience, Daily Cash rewards, and the no-fee structure. But Chase may bring its own banking infrastructure, customer service systems, and lending expertise to the product. That could mean more competitive offers, better support, or new benefits for cardholders, though nothing has been confirmed.

Over the next 18 months, the details are expected to be finalized as Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Apple work behind the scenes. Cardholders will want to watch for announcements about how the transition will affect existing balances, payment due dates, credit limits, and new applications. The transfer of millions of accounts is a complex process, and even a well-managed transition can create temporary friction.

Apple has consistently said that Apple Card will continue to prioritize privacy, simplicity, and integration with the Apple ecosystem. If those priorities hold under Chase, the card should remain an attractive option. The challenge will be preserving the features that made Apple Card popular while adding the stability and resources that Chase can bring to a large consumer credit card portfolio.

Why Apple Card remains compelling

Even with the upcoming change in banking partners, Apple Card continues to have a strong value proposition for people who live in the Apple ecosystem. The card offers up to 3% Daily Cash on purchases made with Apple, including the App Store, Apple services, and select retailers. That can be especially useful for paying Apple subscriptions such as iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV+, and other services. Daily Cash is credited to the Apple Cash card or the Apple Card Savings account, where it can start earning interest immediately.

The card also provides 2% Daily Cash on all purchases made through Apple Pay, and 1% on purchases made with the physical titanium card. Those base rates are not always higher than what competing cards offer, but the ease of tracking rewards and the automatic savings integration make them more convenient for many users.

Another popular feature is the option to finance Apple hardware purchases with 0% interest instalment plans. This makes it more affordable to buy a new iPhone, Mac, iPad, or other Apple product without using a separate financing service. Customers can pay over several months with no interest, which is a meaningful benefit for anyone who plans to upgrade their devices regularly.

Apple Card has also stood out for its transparent approach to credit: there are no late fees, no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees, and no over-limit fees. The Wallet app shows interest accrued in real time, and users can see exactly how different payment amounts affect their interest over time. That transparency remains a core part of the experience.

As the card approaches its move to Chase, the next few months should bring more news about the transition and the future of its rewards and partnerships. For now, Apple Card users can take advantage of the latest iOS 27 recurring transaction tools, the new Booking.com status, the Hertz benefits, and the expanded web access for Savings. Those additions show that Apple is not waiting for the banking change to make the card more useful.

Are you an Apple Card cardholder? The recent improvements are worth exploring, especially if you travel frequently or manage your finances across multiple devices. The combination of Daily Cash, no-interest hardware financing, and new travel perks makes Apple Card an increasingly attractive choice for Apple enthusiasts, even if other rewards cards sometimes offer higher earning rates.

With more details about the Chase transition expected in the coming months, now is a good time to understand what Apple Card already offers and how it might evolve in the near future.

Source:9to5Mac News