Apple Pay launches new open banking feature for UK customers

By Gloria Methri

Apple Pay has rolled out a new feature for its users in the U.K., enabling them to connect their accounts to eligible debit and credit cards in Wallet and access useful information — like their up-to-date debit card balance — at the time of purchase.

“By enabling users to conveniently access their most useful account information within Wallet and at the time of their purchase, they can make informed financial decisions and better understand and manage their spend,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “We look forward to working with U.K. partners under the Open Banking initiative to help users better their financial health and provide more ways in which banks can deepen their relationships with customers.”

Users will be able to view their up-to-date debit card balance in Wallet and when they are checking out with Apple Pay online or in-app. As users make a purchase — whether large or small — they will be able to see their debit card balance. Additionally, users will be able to view their card account details, as well as spending history, payments, deposits, and withdrawals, all in one place in the Wallet.

To get started, users must be using the latest version of iOS 17.1 and will need to connect their account to their corresponding eligible card in Wallet. Once users select an eligible card, they will be taken to their financial provider’s app or website to authenticate their account. From there, they will follow the steps to enable the connection.

As part of the Open Banking initiative, Apple has been working closely with banks to make the feature available to multiple financial institutions in the U.K., including Barclays, Barclaycard, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, M&S Bank, Monzo, NatWest, and Royal Bank of Scotland.

Like Apple Pay, this feature is designed to be private and protect user data. The account balance information, transaction history, and other account details are stored on the device and not on Apple servers. Users can also remove the feature at any time by disconnecting their account through Settings.