PayPal is expanding its reach into US point-of-sale payments
by integrating its debit card with Apple’s mobile wallet and offering 5%
cashback rewards. This move aims to position PayPal directly against tech
companies and banks.

Shifting to In-Person Payments

Under the leadership of new CEO Alex Chriss, who joined from
Intuit last year, PayPal is shifting focus from its traditional online and
peer-to-peer payment services to in-person transactions.

The company’s debit
card now provides 5% cash back on selected purchases, with a limit of $1,000
per month. Additional rewards are available through partnerships with brands
like DoorDash and Sephora.

“E-commerce has obviously been one of the fastest
growing areas where people are spending their dollars… but it’s not
everything,” Chriss said. “Now consumers can use PayPal for every
purchase, everywhere, every time.”

Mobile Payments Competition Intensifies

The US debit card payment market has grown significantly,
reaching $4.55 trillion in 2021, up from $2.47 trillion in 2015, according to
Federal Reserve data. Chriss noted that as consumers become more
cost-conscious, they are increasingly turning to debit cards to manage
spending.

PayPal’s debit card will also support Apple Pay, allowing
users to utilize mobile wallets and “tap to pay” features. The 5%
cash-back offer makes PayPal’s debit card competitive, as only 24% of debit
cardholders earned cashback rewards in 2023, compared to 74% of credit
cardholders, according to Valuedynamx.

Despite PayPal’s historical dominance in online payments ,
competition from Apple and Google has intensified in the mobile payments
sector, impacting PayPal’s market share.