Barclays and Barclaycard Bring Apple Pay to U.K. Customers

Barclaycard and Barclays customers can, use Apple Pay, the easy, secure and private way to pay at the hundreds of thousands of locations across the UK that accept contactless payments.

The introduction of Apple Pay for Barclaycard and Barclays customers gives millions more UK consumers the ability to conveniently make payments using iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad at over 400,000 contactless locations in the UK, across the London transport network as well as when shopping within participating retailers’ apps.  Apple Pay is easy to set up and users can now add their Barclays debit card and Barclaycard credit card to Wallet and continue to receive all of the usual rewards and benefits.

Security and privacy is at the core of Apple Pay. When you use a card with Apple Pay, the actual card number is not stored on the device, or on Apple servers.  Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in the Secure Element on the device. Each transaction is authorised with a one-time unique dynamic security code.

Barclaycard introduced the first contactless credit cards in the UK in 2007 and Barclays was the first bank to roll-out contactless debit cards to its customers. Contactless payments have seen huge growth since then as consumers have recognised the ease, speed and convenience they offer. Spending rose more than three-fold in 2015, with 140 million contactless transactions made in December alone – the equivalent of 52 every second.

Barclays and Barclaycard offer the widest range of payment innovations designed to give their customers unrivalled choice of paying for everyday goods and services, and sending and receiving money in a way that’s most convenient for them.

Ashok Vaswani, CEO of Barclays UK, said:

“We are passionate about helping customers access services and carry out their day to day transactions in the way that suits them. As part of this, we have developed a range of digital innovations that allow people to choose how, when and where they bank and make payments. 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.”

Amer Sajed, Interim CEO of Barclaycard, said:

“Since we introduced contactless to the UK in 2007, it’s changed the way consumers make everyday purchases by cutting out the hassle of handling cash. With Barclaycard and Barclays bringing Apple Pay to our customers, we can now offer the widest choice of ways to make and take payments in a way that’s most convenient for them.”

In stores, Apple Pay works with iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and later, and Apple Watch and when paying for goods and services within apps, Apple Pay is compatible with iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and later, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4 and iPad Pro.

About Barclaycard

Barclaycard, part of Barclays Bank PLC, is a leading global payment business that helps consumers, retailers and businesses to make and take payments flexibly, and to access short-term credit and point-of-sale finance. In 2015 we processed over £293bn in transactions globally. Barclaycard is a pioneer of new forms of payment and is at the forefront of developing viable contactless and mobile payment schemes for today and cutting-edge forms of payment for the future. We also partner with a wide range of organisations across the globe to offer their customers or members payment options and credit.

About Barclays

Barclays is a transatlantic consumer, corporate and investment bank offering products and services across personal, corporate and investment banking, credit cards and wealth management, with a strong presence in our two home markets of the UK and the US.