Tap to Pay is up and running at several North Carolina Walmart stores, giving shoppers a new way to pay at checkout.
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The retail giant launched the popular contactless payment option at select stores and Sam’s Club locations this summer, with plans to make it available at all U.S. stores by year’s end and to fuel stations by mid-2027.
The technology was slated to arrive at North Carolina Walmart stores between October and November as part of the phased nationwide rollout.
As of Oct. 9, The Charlotte Observer can confirm Tap to Pay was available at the following locations:
“It all comes back to giving customers and members more choice and making everyday shopping a little easier,” Walmart said.
Rather than swiping or inserting a card, Tap to Pay lets customers pay with contactless-enabled credit and debit cards, phones and watches with mobile payment capabilities. Simply hold it near the reader, and you’re done.
Walmart Tap to Pay is also compatible with digital wallets like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, The Observer confirmed with a store employee.
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Beyond speed and convenience, tap to pay and similar contactless payment options generally offer enhanced security features aimed at reducing fraud and protecting customers’ information, according to the North Carolina Bankers Association.
That can include:
“Consumers increasingly expect payments to be fast, secure and convenient,” Peter Gwaltney, president and CEO of the NCBA, previously told The Observer.
“Tap-to-Pay is one of many innovations in banking and payments that gives consumers more flexibility in how they choose to pay, and as more retailers adopt contactless payment technology, … consumers benefit from greater choice and security as well as a more seamless checkout experience,” he said.
That doesn’t mean it comes without risks, however. Experts encourage shoppers to:
Portions of this story previously appeared in The Charlotte Observer.
This story was originally published October 9, 2026 at 3:20 PM with the headline “This change just hit Walmart checkout lanes in NC. Here’s what to expect.”
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