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Apple Pay Now Supports HSBC and First Direct in the UK

Tuesday July 28, 2015 5:09 am PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple Pay today expanded its participating issuers list within the United Kingdom, adding support for both HSBC and First Direct customers. Both banks were announced as starting partners for the UK branch of Apple Pay, but were delayed until late July at the last minute.

uk apple pay
HSBC and First Direct join a list of UK Apple Pay partners that includes: American Express, MBNA, Nationwide, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Ulster Bank. Still listed as coming soon are: Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank and TSB. Although Barclays has confirmed "imminent" support for the contactless payment service, the bank has yet to be listed on Apple's Apple Pay UK site.

Along with the announcement of HSBC and First Direct support, customers using Apple Pay in the UK will also be able to start taking advantage of the service at both Five Guys restaurants and Wilko stores across the country. UK support of Apple Pay launched on July 14, and has been steadily expanding its roster of retail partners and financial institutions in the subsequent weeks.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tags: HSBC, First Direct
[ 212 comments ]


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ZCT
53 months ago

It's not very clever, by the time I find my phone, press my finger on the phone and get it to read correctly I would have been out of the shop if I just used my contactless card. No point!


Find your phone? Where the heck are you keeping your phone that it is harder to find than your wallet?
Rating: 12 Votes
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Jsameds
53 months ago
Hurry up Lloyds/Halifax!
Rating: 8 Votes
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profets
53 months ago

Honestly it's ridiculous Apple are rolling out Apple Pay to one country nearly every year. Australia has a much denser ratio of NFC enabled card readers than both the UK and USA, yet Apple haven't mentioned anything yet. Tired of waiting.


Considering Apple Pay launched 9 months ago, I think it's difficult to describe it as 1 country per year, or what Apple wants to do 1 country per year. Anyway, in Canada we're in the same situation. We've been surrounded by tap to pay for many years, feels like it would be an easy rollout here too. If anything I'd guess that the banks are the major hold up, just from seeing how they adopt and adapt to new technology.
Rating: 7 Votes
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OllyW
53 months ago

You must not live in the U.S. then.


It is a thread about Apple Pay in the UK. :D
Rating: 5 Votes
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justjax
53 months ago
WTF, I really can't believe that's the official policy. If one of the staff is telling customers that it sounds like there'll one less employee in the store soon.
Rating: 4 Votes
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coolfactor
53 months ago

It's not very clever, by the time I find my phone, press my finger on the phone and get it to read correctly I would have been out of the shop if I just used my contactless card. No point!


"Find my phone"
"Get it to read correctly"

You're clearly in the minority. It's well-accepted that phones in pockets are far more accessible that cards in wallets. And Touch ID works well. So you're doing it wrong.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Ridge Racer
53 months ago

Honestly it's ridiculous Apple are rolling out Apple Pay to one country nearly every year. Australia has a much denser ratio of NFC enabled card readers than both the UK and USA, yet Apple haven't mentioned anything yet. Tired of waiting.


You do realise that Apple can't just roll out Apple Pay in any given country without the co-operation of the banks and retailers who operate in that country?

No doubt Apple is in negotiations regarding dozens of countries behind the scenes, but every bank has their own polices and timescales for adopting new services. There are also banking regulations in each country that have to be adhered to. Apple rarely publicises anything about such negotiations until they're ready to launch.

If you're tired of waiting, move to the US or UK, or hassle the banks in your country.
Rating: 4 Votes
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JayJamesWaller
53 months ago
Still no Barclays...
Rating: 4 Votes
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TooMuch
53 months ago

Now it's here, I can tell those missing out it's not that exciting. And getting your phone out, double clicking home button, picking the right card, waiting for the print reader -- it's not much quicker than getting your wallet out and holding up the right card.


You are making it harder than it needs to be. You just need to place your thumb on the home button. You do not need to double click.

As for picking the right card, why not make the card that you use the most the default card? This way you dont have to worry about changing the card.
Rating: 3 Votes
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jonatron
53 months ago

..but with a £20 limit on Apple pay transaction who wants to bother getting the phone out. Our weekly shopping bill is rarely less than £150. £20 limit for a supermarket . Waste of time.

Have you ever heard of Tesco Express or Sainsburys Local? I guess not. The average transaction is less than £20.

Besides they are getting rid of the limit in Sept/Oct anyway so I'm not sure what your point is? It's not Apple's fault that the UK Cards Association set the limit of £20.
Rating: 3 Votes

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