{
  "id": 3066491,
  "title": "Walmart NFC Rollout Accelerates the Move to Wallet-Based Checkout",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/walmart-nfc-rollout-accelerates-the-move-to-wallet-based-checkout",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-24T16:38:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PYMNTS",
    "slug": "pymnts",
    "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/walmart/2026/walmart-nfc-rollout-accelerates-move-wallet-based-checkout/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Walmart's rollout of NFC technology is accelerating the transition to wallet-based checkout, as mobile wallets become increasingly prevalent at the point of sale in the United States. Beginning on August 24, Walmart will enable tap-to-pay at select locations within Walmart and Sam's Club, with a goal of expanding to all U.S. stores and clubs by the end of 2026, and fuel stations by mid-2027. Customers will be able to utilize eligible contactless cards, phones, and smartwatches for payments, while still having access to cash, cards, and Walmart Pay. Sam's Club will continue to offer Scan and Go.\n\nThe change is straightforward as Walmart is integrating a form of contactless acceptance that is already commonplace in much of U.S. retail. The broader implications, however, lie in how consumers are engaging with digital wallets at checkout. As more consumers opt for digital wallets for their in-store transactions, merchants are adding additional capabilities to enhance the payment moment. This trend is not limited to Walmart and Apple, as Google has also expanded Google Pay functionality to accept cards stored in Google Wallet at Walmart's new terminals.\n\nThis NFC integration aligns with a shift in consumer behavior. According to a PYMNTS Intelligence report published in October, 31% of consumers used a mobile wallet in a store at least once during the last year, a significant increase from 14% in 2024. In a separate measure of in-store transactions, digital wallets accounted for 11.8% of payments, up from 0.9% in 2022. NFC technology expands the methods consumers can present their existing payment credentials, whether through eligible contactless cards or digital wallets on their phones or wearables.\n\nThe PYMNTS Intelligence report titled \"The Data Behind the Smart Checkout Opportunity\" highlights that 58% of surveyed merchants have used checkout-integrated promotions in the past year, while a remarkable 93% indicated their intention to adopt smart checkout practices quickly or selectively. This presents an important position for payments providers as checkout evolves, including with the recent NFC-related developments. The terminal can serve as an execution point for offers, loyalty programs, and other functionalities, in addition to facilitating the acceptance of payment credentials. For the wider retail industry, Walmart's move underscores the transformative nature of the checkout experience, with contactless acceptance, mobile wallet usage, and additional merchant functionalities all contributing to a more dynamic and flexible payment environment.",
  "summary": "Walmart’s move to NFC lands as mobile wallets are taking a larger role at the register, giving one of the prominent remaining retail holdouts in the United States the same contactless payment infrastructure already common across much of the market. Beginning Monday (Aug. 24), Walmart is enabling tap to pay at select Walmart and Sam’s […] The post Walmart NFC Rollout Accelerates the Move to…",
  "key_points": [
    "Walmart accelerates NFC rollout for wallet-based checkout.",
    "Mobile wallets increase in U.S. store transactions.",
    "NFC integration expands payment options for consumers."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}