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Apple Pay Now Supports HSBC and First Direct in the UK

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.

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Top Rated Comments

143 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?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
143 months ago
Hurry up Lloyds/Halifax!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
143 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.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
OllyW Avatar
143 months ago
You must not live in the U.S. then.
It is a thread about Apple Pay in the UK. :D
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
143 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.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
143 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.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)