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Barclays support for Apple Pay finally live, all major UK banks now support Apple mobile payments

Over nine months since Apple Pay was introduced to the UK, Barclays bank has finally gone live and launched its support for Apple’s mobile payments service. This means that every major bank in the UK now supports Apple Pay, a big win for a country that already has wide availability of contactless merchant terminals in many stores.

If you are a Barclays customer, open Wallet on your iPhone to get started and setup Apple Pay for your account. NFC comes bundled with Apple’s recent iPhones: iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and the new iPhone SE ..

Apple Pay is also compatible with Apple Watch, allowing customers with older iPhones to use Apple Pay through their wearable. To set up Apple Pay for Apple Watch, open the Watch app on the paired iPhone and follow the instructions to add cards. Recent iPads also support Apple Pay for more streamlined purchases within apps.

Once setup, using Apple Pay is easy. On iPhone, simply tap the phone against an NFC reader — the Apple Pay Wallet will automatically show, even from the lock screen. Authenticate with your fingerprint and you are done, assuming everything worked.

On Apple Watch, start the transaction by double-tapping the Friends button. Then, hold the watch near the NFC reader to actually pay. You’ll feel a taptic vibration when the purchase completes.

For more details or additional help, check out the official instructions on the Barclays website.

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Comments

  1. Everyone can now rejoice!!

  2. William - 8 years ago

    Barclaycard is support too, but not (yet) their cashback Visa/Amex account, which uses two separate cards.

  3. John Smith - 8 years ago

    Better late than never.

    Barclays obviously messed about with this because they were wanting to promote their own (inferior) paytag contactless technology.

  4. Just wish they’d launch Apple Pay in Ireland!

  5. florinnica - 8 years ago

    Too late for me (or them)… I moved to Natwest

    • John Smith - 8 years ago

      Same here – got a different card to use on apple-pay, can’t say I can be bothered to change back to barclaycard.

      I think they shot themselves in the foot on this one.

    • Luke Gaffey (@jabba2155) - 8 years ago

      oh goodness, thats a bit drastic isnt it? I have heard rumors of people changing banks but i didn’t think that anyone actually did it.

      • florinnica - 8 years ago

        I had too many issues with their services in the past 2 years and I was already very unhappy with them. This Apple Pay BS that they did was the final drop for me.

      • Walter Tizzano - 8 years ago

        Why not? What’s the problem with changing bank, after all there is no cost and usually you have access to new offers.

      • John Smith - 8 years ago

        Not changed my bank or current account. Just got another credit card to use on the Apple pay. Barclaycard need to realise we have a lot of choice out there.

  6. Daniel Young - 8 years ago

    Barclays Debit and Barclaycard Credit activated by SMS code on phone, but only option for Barclaycard on Apple Watch is to call a number. Why???? How annoying…. won’t bother then.

  7. Daniel Young - 8 years ago

    Finally caught up on one area, now need to add Touch ID to the banking app! Another 9 month wait?

  8. Fallenjt JT - 8 years ago

    Sorry UK, Barclays supported Apple Pay in US from day 1 and their app also took advantage of Touch ID as well. Don’t know why They took so long to bring it to UK.

  9. vkd108 - 8 years ago

    I think I will go and fornicate over Barclays, which will be a surprise as historically I never liked them. I banked with NatWest for a bit, but they are a bunch of jews too, so I ended up at Nationwide Building Society, at least they gave a bit of interest on your savings, unlike the aforementioned banks, which simply hoover up what they can and implement sly charges wherever possible with a constant 0% interest, whether things are going good or bad, whatever. Bottom line: you would be better off just keeping it under your mattress. Fluck em all, I say.

  10. Dil Ribeiro - 8 years ago

    I do hope they launch it in Brazil one day….

  11. AbsarokaSheriff - 8 years ago

    That’s awesome news. Now some of the UK merchants with contactless need to update hardware/firmware/software to remove the 20 to 30 £ limitation.

    The other UK issue is using Apple Pay on the tube, TFL. You can’t beat a dedicated hardware solution such as the Oyster card. But Apple Pay would be a great emergency backup solution in case you leave your wallet at home or misplace your Oyster card.

    • scottwuk - 8 years ago

      The £30 limit is imposed by the regulator on all contactless payments (Apple Pay or just through contactless cards), nothing to do with hardware/firmware/software.

      First time in Londonthis week since Apple Pay launched, and I’ve been happily using my Apple Watch on the busses and underground without having to worry about getitng an Oyster card and topping it up, TFL have supported contactless for ages, without need of an Oyser card.

  12. Nixter 2000 - 8 years ago

    Unfortunately Clydesdale Bank still isn’t supported.

Author

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.