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Contactless cards

Contactless. Effortless.

All first direct debit and credit cards feature contactless technology – look for this symbol on the front of your card.

make payments up to £100, simply by placing your debit or credit card close to the contactless symbol
designed to make smaller value purchases easier
no hanging around to insert your card or wait for change.

When making a contactless transaction, remove your card from your wallet or purse to make sure you’re using the one you intended to.

Step 1. Look

For the contactless symbol when paying for items up to the value of £100

Step 2. Place

Your contactless card close to the reader

Step 3. Processing

A beep or green light shows your payment is being processed

Step 4. Approved

All done, your payment is approved

It’s worth bearing in mind:

from time to time, for extra security we’ll ask you to input your PIN
if contactless stops working you can use your PIN to reset it
you can view your debit Mastercard PIN in the ‘Cards’ section of our App if you need a reminder.

FAQs

Can I still make payments using Chip and PIN for low-value items?

Can I accidently pay for someone’s shopping when passing a contactless card reader?

How close to a contactless reader does my card need to be?

Ideally you should hold your card within 1-2cm of the reader to make sure it picks up the signal. It’s worth bearing in mind, if you don’t remove the card from your wallet or purse, the reader could pick up the signal of one of your other cards.

When will I be asked to enter my PIN?

You’ll need your PIN for payments over £100 and from time to time you may be asked to enter it so we can make sure it’s you using your card and not someone who shouldn’t be (just so you know you can view your debit Mastercard PIN anytime in the ‘Cards’ section of our App).

Will I need to activate contactless when I receive a new card?

No you won’t, but the first time you use contactless you’ll be asked to enter your PIN so we can make sure it’s you using your card and not someone who shouldn’t be (just so you know you can view your debit Mastercard PIN anytime in the ‘Cards’ section of our App).

Can I use my contactless card abroad?

Yes, just as you do in the UK. Contactless transactions are accepted wherever you see the symbol below, although it’s worth bearing in mind the payment limit of £100 may be different depending where you are. Our fees for using contactless abroad are the same as for Chip and PIN.

More information on using your debit or credit card outside the UK.

Is there a limit on the number of contactless transactions I can make?

No, but from time to time you may be asked to enter your PIN so we can make sure it’s you using your card and not someone who shouldn’t be (just so you know you can view your debit Mastercard PIN anytime in the ‘Cards’ section of our App).

What should I do if my contactless card isn’t working?

If you’re having problems using your card for contactless payments, first make sure it has the symbol below on the front. If it does and you were asked to enter your PIN last time, try making another contactless payment. If it still doesn't work, please chat with us in the App - go to 'Help' and select 'Chat now'. Or in Online Banking, select 'Message us'.

Could my contactless card affect other similar cards?

What if I lose my card or someone steals it?

If your card is lost or stolen, you can report it in the ‘Cards’ section of our App or by calling us on 03 456 100 100 and just to put your mind at rest, we fully protect you against unauthorised card fraud so you’d never be left out of pocket if the worst happens.

Are contactless cards secure?

Yes. The current £100 limit was introduced to balance security, convenience and customer choice. To give you extra peace of mind, we protect you against unauthorised card fraud and from time to time we’ll ask you to enter your PIN to confirm the card isn’t being used by someone who shouldn’t (just so you know you can view your debit Mastercard PIN anytime in the ‘Cards’ section of our App).