Apple Pay UK: which banks and cards support new contactless payment system?

Technology is all very exciting, but only if you are with the right bank

Ozzie Smith uses Apple Pay at the Home Run Derby at Great American Ball Park on July 13, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio (Getty Images)

Apple Pay has just launched in the UK — but only for people who are customers of the right banks, and who have the right devices.

In the UK, Apple Pay supports American Express, NatWest, Nationwide, MBNA, Royal Bank of Scotland and Santander.

Banks including First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds and TSB are “Coming Soon”, according to Apple and Barclays has confirmed that despite not appearing as part of the supported banks its debit cards and Barclaycard credit cards will be joining the scheme soon. HSBC had been thought to be part of the launch — even going as far as accidentally confirming when the technology would launch — but has dropped off the list of supported banks.

When setting up the service, Apple Pay will tell users whether their phone is supported. To launch it, users can head to the Wallet app, scan in their card — and either see a message telling them that it has been successful, or get an error.

For paying, it will work in all shops that have contactless card readers fitted, meaning that they have a maximum payment of £20. Some other shops are supporting it more actively, which will mean that they’ll have higher limits.

It can also be used on the Tube and the rest of the Transport for London network. Users can touch it to the card readers in the same way that they would use an Oyster card.

Apple Pay is supported for paying in shops on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and on the Apple Watch. It also works for online payments, where the iPad Air 2 and iPad Mini 3 can also be used.