HSBC and First Direct customers in the UK can now use Apple Pay, two weeks after Apple Pay launched in the UK. Both banks had been expected to support Apple Pay when it launched in the UK (HSBC even accidentally leaked the launch date), and both were listed as a participating bank right up until the Apple Pay launch date, when HSBC revealed that it had to delay Apple Pay support due to “some issues”.
HSBC and First Direct join several other financial institutions including Royal Bank of Scotland, American Express, Nationwide, Natwest, Santander, and Ulster Bank in supporting Apple Pay in the UK. Out of the four big banks in the UK, two now support Apple Pay (HSBC & Royal Bank of Scotland), with the other two (Lloyds Bank and Barclays) committed to support it in the future.
Apple Pay support from HSBC seems to be limited at launch to those who have a personal bank account with a Visa Debit Card. For more information on setting up and using Apple Pay, see this Apple Support article.
@tombus848 Good morning Thomas, Apple Pay is now live! Please let me know if you need anything.^KB
— HSBC UK Help (@HSBC_UK_Help) July 28, 2015
@The_DarkPoet Hi Jolyon, Apple Pay was launched at 6am, if you remove the details and try registering again on Passbook. ^CS
— first direct help (@firstdirecthelp) July 28, 2015
Finally! Apple Pay support from HSBC. https://t.co/zqEaS0vUVz
— Oliver Haslam (@OliverJHaslam) July 28, 2015
