LONDON: Barclays bank customers can now use Apple Pay, nine months after the digital wallet service was first launched in the United Kingdom (UK).
Barclays had been the biggest UK lender not to support the facility. The bank offers rival facilities of its own – including bPay and Pingit – but had faced pressure from some customers to support Apple’s effort.
However, Barclays said it had no plans to join Android Pay or Samsung Pay when they come to the UK later this year.
“We are passionate about helping customers access services and carry out their day-to-day transactions in the way that suits them,” said Barclays UK’s chief executive Ashok Vaswani.
“Adding to the existing choice, from today both Barclays debit and Barclaycard credit card customers can use Apple Pay to make payments with their Apple device across the UK.”
When questioned about its lack of commitment to similar services for Android-based handsets and tablets, a spokeswoman noted the bank already provided a way to take advantage of the devices’ NFC (near field communication) chips.
“In January this year, we introduced a contactless mobile payment feature to the Barclaycard Android app that allows customers with an Android phone to make contactless payments for £30 and under, and at some retailers for up to £100, using their mobile device,” she explained.
“Alongside this they can manage their account on the go and have lost, stolen and damaged cards instantly replaced on to their phone.”
At present, Apple does not allow third-party apps to make use of the NFC chips in its devices.
