How to Keep Apple Pay, PayPal, and Bank Payments a PCI-Compliant Solution

Worried that adding alternative payment methods might open you up to security risks? You’re not alone—many businesses hold back out of fear that PCI compliance will be too complicated. But with the right approach, offering multiple payment types like Apple Pay, PayPal, and bank transfers doesn’t have to be a compliance nightmare. This blog will show you how to stay on the right side of PCI DSS without missing out on the benefits of expanded payment options.

The Rising Adoption of Apple Pay, PayPal, and Bank Transfers

In recent years, Apple Pay has grown from a nice-to-have feature into a widely accepted mobile wallet option that supports contactless, quick transactions. PayPal’s global presence makes it an attractive choice for businesses wanting a user-friendly way to accept payments from almost anywhere. And bank transfers—particularly in the form of Automated Clearing House (ACH) in the U.S. and open banking in Europe—are appealing for their relatively low fees and directness. But while these methods offer clear advantages, each also introduces new processes for handling and storing payment details. Every additional payment method carries its own set of security standards, fraud potential, and compliance obligations. Trying to keep track of them all, especially when juggling credit cards as well, can feel overwhelming. It’s no surprise some merchants choose to stick with the status quo rather than risk regulatory missteps.

The Realities of Accepting Multiple Payment Methods

Adding new payment methods isn’t just about turning on a switch and watching your revenue grow. Each method comes with different backend requirements, validation procedures, and user authentication flows. Apple Pay, for instance, relies heavily on tokenization to keep card details hidden. PayPal has its own platform for user accounts and transaction records. Direct bank transfers come with rules on securely storing routing and account numbers. For businesses, this can lead to a disjointed approach: one set of policies for credit cards, another for mobile wallets, and yet another for bank transactions. PCI DSS compliance adds another layer, demanding that you meet strict guidelines if you handle any credit card data—or if your payment processes in any way intersect with cardholder details. The good news is that it’s entirely possible to expand your payment offerings without letting security slip. You just need a deliberate, well-informed plan of action.

PCI DSS in a Nutshell

PCI DSS stands for the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. It’s a series of guidelines developed by major credit card brands (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and JCB) to ensure consistent security practices whenever card data is processed or stored. From encrypting data in transit to restricting who can access sensitive information, these regulations aim to minimize the chances of fraud and data breaches. Even if you don’t directly store credit card numbers, if your platform handles cardholder data or integrates with another system that does, you could be within PCI scope. Essentially, if you accept, transmit, or process credit card info at any point—even if it’s just for a fraction of your transactions—you have obligations under PCI DSS. That means failing to comply can result in hefty fines, loss of the ability to process card payments, and severe damage to your business’s reputation.

Who Needs to Comply?

Often, smaller businesses assume PCI DSS requirements only apply to large enterprises. That’s a misconception. From small online stores to nationwide chains, everyone who processes credit card data has a role in maintaining a PCI-compliant solution. The only difference is that larger entities might face more rigorous validation steps due to higher transaction volumes. Still, the foundational principles remain the same. Interestingly, you may still need to consider these standards if you use multiple payment options. For example, let’s say the bulk of your customers pay via credit card, and a smaller portion opt for PayPal or Apple Pay. If your internal systems mix this data—say you store partial card details for Apple Pay or keep track of PayPal transaction IDs next to other card info—you might be inadvertently expanding your PCI scope. It’s crucial to define exactly how data flows and to separate as much sensitive information as possible.

Applying PCI DSS to Apple Pay, PayPal, and Bank Payments

Now let’s look at how PCI DSS standards apply to Apple Pay, PayPal, and bank payments and how you can keep these payment methods as a PCI-compliant solution.

Apple Pay and Tokenization

Apple Pay relies on tokenization to replace a shopper’s primary account number with a unique token. This token is then used during transactions instead of the actual card number. Tokenization greatly reduces exposure to raw card data, meaning if a breach occurs, criminals would likely only obtain meaningless tokens rather than real card numbers. However, businesses still need to handle transaction records and possibly store some details related to each purchase. This can include device-specific transaction IDs or other metadata. While Apple Pay itself is engineered to be secure, merchants must ensure their own systems—where they keep logs, transaction details, or partial card info—are equally protected. That might mean using secure storage technologies, restricting user permissions, and regularly reviewing who can access transaction data.

PayPal’s Trust Factor

PayPal has built a strong reputation as a secure, user-friendly payment platform. Many consumers trust PayPal more than giving their card details directly to an online store. As a merchant, you can leverage that trust to reduce friction at checkout and enhance credibility. Yet, you still need to be diligent about areas PayPal doesn’t fully control, like potential phishing schemes targeting your customers or unauthorized account logins. Ensure you maintain a tight integration with PayPal’s API. Validate each transaction properly, and store minimal user data on your own servers. If you keep track of PayPal transaction IDs, shipping addresses, or partial user info, treat that data with the same caution you’d apply to credit card details. Clear policies about logging, encryption, and data retention can go a long way in keeping you aligned with PCI DSS—even if the card details never touch your systems.

Bank Transfers and ACH

At first glance, direct bank transfers or ACH might seem outside PCI DSS scope, because they don’t involve credit cards at all. But be careful. Depending on how you set up payment forms and handle account numbers, you could end up with sensitive data stored on your side. Also, if your e-commerce platform is integrated with a card processing system in other areas, mixing data might inadvertently expand your compliance requirements. Best practices include using encryption for any bank account or routing numbers you store, minimizing how long you keep them, and restricting access to that data within your organization. While bank transfers don’t typically come with the same chargeback rules or fees as credit cards, they still present security challenges if not managed properly. Always confirm with your payment providers and any associated third parties about how they manage PCI-compliant solutions. The fewer gray areas in your payment flow, the better.