This change is coming to Walmart checkout lanes. What NC shoppers should know

Walmart shoppers in North Carolina will soon have a new way to pay for their grocery essentials and more.

Tap to Pay hit checkout lanes at select Walmart and Sam’s Club stores on Monday, Aug. 24, with plans to launch in all U.S. stores by year’s end, the retail giant announced last week.

Walmart said the feature will also roll out at gas stations by mid-2027.

The payment method allows customers to check out using contactless-enabled credit and debit cards, as well as phones and smartwatches with mobile payment capabilities.

Digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay will also be supported, tech news outlet 9to5Mac reported, citing an internal memo sent to Walmart managers last week. Customers will also be able to pay with contactless EBT cards.

Before now, shoppers were limited to physical cash or cards if they didn’t have Walmart Pay, a digital wallet built into the Walmart app. It allows for touchless checkout but requires customers to link their cards in the app first.

“Tap to Pay gives customers and members another familiar and convenient way to pay at checkout using contactless payment methods,” Walmart said in the release. “It all comes back to giving customers and members more choice and making everyday shopping a little easier.”

It’s not exactly clear when the new option will be available in North Carolina stores.

The Charlotte Observer reached out to Walmart for more information on Friday, Aug. 21, but a spokesperson said there were “no further details to share” regarding the rollout.

However, a rollout schedule obtained by 9to5Mac shows the Tap to Pay option launching in select Arkansas stores Aug. 24-31. A phased, state-by-state unveiling will follow, with touchless payments expected to arrive at North Carolina Walmart locations on or around Oct. 8

The change comes after years of pleas from longtime customers, even sparking a few online petitions. Walmart had been slow to embrace Apple Pay and other tap-to-pay options, even as they became more popular with shoppers.

Rival Costco rolled out Tap to Pay and contactless payment options at all of its stores back in 2018, and Target did the same the following year, Retail Dive reported at the time.

It’s been a long time coming, and Walmart fans happily welcomed the change online:

Walmart is finally getting tap pay this year. Now we just need them to go back to 24hrs and we in there.

A few weeks ago, I couldn’t check out at Walmart because I left my physical card in the car. I’m so used to Apple Pay that apparently I now consider carrying a physical card an unnecessary burden. 😂

So yes, I support this development. (And I know I really should carry my card). https://t.co/OHg8YttfL7

I hear we bullied Walmart in to finally getting Tap pay 🎉

I might shed a tear