Unable to add cards to Apple Wallet on iPhone 16 Pro Max

I've just had the same issue & resolved it earlier today...

Contact Support at your bank and ask them to check how many 'tokens' you have active on the cards in question, and re-explain the issue you're experiencing.

Each card will have a finite amount of tokens that can be used for activations across various sites & platforms, and they can be duplicated quite easily especially if using multiple devices, I.E. if you shop at Amazon they will require only one token (to hold your payment info) but there may be 3 or 4 currently active on the card.

Your bank will be able to check & clear down any duplicates, which should then free up tokens and allow you to add your card to Apple Wallet... Fingers crossed!

That’s because it’s working perfectly. So why a support person at a bank would tell you otherwise is beyond me.

All banks and PNO’s have a set of internal rules based on risk of potential fraud. Based on the information they obtain, your application is classified on of 4 ways, Red Flow, Orange Flow, Yellow Flow and Green Flow.

Red flow is automatic decline, orange and yellow flow require additional steps but cards are almost always approved and green is automatic approval with no further verification required.

Banks and PNO’s do not disclose their internal proprietary processes for evaluating risk. But something is triggering the red flow path and all your cards are being rejected. Start by asking the banks why you’re being red flowed?

Adding cards to another device is irrelevant. Your friend’s device is associated with that person, not you.

When you submit information for verification your iPhone encrypts it and sends it to the Payment Network Operator (Visa, MasterCard, American Express etc.) and if they can verify information, it’s encrypted again and sent to the bank.

Does your bank see the information coming from the PNO? If they don’t. The PNO is blocking your cards. If they do receive the data, they verify you and verify your device through their own Two Factor Authentication. If you, your device and cards are verified, bank sends data to a Token Service Provider (TSP), and a token is created and sent to Apple servers and then added to your Wallet by Apple.

If the bank isn’t receiving data from PNO, then that’s the issue. Your bank needs to contact the PNO and resolve that issue.

Discover is also their own PNO. Concentrate on why Discover won’t validate your card(s). Ask them why your card is red flowed? Ask them what you need to do to get their approval. Don’t be afraid to escalate the issue to a supervisor.,

Apple can’t integrate a payment network into an iPhone. Apple has no standing in the banks and PNO security requirements.

Do you use a VPN or any antivirus software?

It could be, it could be the device, or ½ a dozen other things. Only the bank and the PNO know. Apple doesn’t see the information. The PNO and bank analyze the information and they have their own algorithms for verification.

Apple sends very basic information such as device model, phone number, your name, Apple ID, and other basic information about your relationship with Apple. This information, along with your card information is encrypted and sent to PNO. How they analyze it or what information they use and don’t use, Apple has no knowledge of. Apple has no reason to know. That’s why they say, contact the bank. But bank personal are so poorly trained, they just blame Apple and the customer is stuck in the middle.

Actually they can’t which is why they don’t. Your information is anonymous to Apple. Have you asked you banks why they are red flowing you? What’s their answer? If your banks won’t assist, find better banks.

Apple isn’t using the Payment Network. You are using the payment network, every time you use a credit or debit card. The Payment Network and the banks are making billions off credit card usage. All Apple does is send encrypted data to the merchants transaction terminal. If the transaction is approved or declined, the bank sends transaction details to their card in the Wallet. You really don’t understand how minimal a role Apple plays in the entire transaction process. They send and receive anonymous encrypted payment information.

Did your friend log out of his Apple Account/Apple ID and you logged into yours before verifying the card and device? If not, you verified your friend and his device, to use your account. That’s not what you wanted to do was it?