From March 19, the current £100 contactless payment limit will be abolished
14:32, 01 Mar 2026Updated 14:32, 01 Mar 2026
Visa card being used to make a contactless payment(Image: Barclaycard/PA Wire )
What you need to know as contactless card payment limit to be removed on March 19Cap Removal: From March 19, the current £100 contactless payment limit will be abolished, allowing individual banks to set their own spending thresholds.Consumer Control: Customers will have the power to set their own personal contactless limits or disable the feature entirely through their banking apps.Security Protocols: To prevent fraud, a PIN is still required for single transactions over £100 or when cumulative daily spending exceeds £300.Historical Growth: Since its 2007 debut at just £10, the contactless limit has been raised six times, reaching its most recent milestone of £100 in 2021.FCA Mandate: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) decided to axe the limit following a public consultation, citing improved fraud prevention systems.Widespread Adoption: Recent data shows that 85% of people in the UK now use contactless payments monthly, making it the nation’s preferred payment method.Economic Benefits: Industry leaders from UKHospitality note that higher limits will streamline the customer experience and support high street businesses.Measured Implementation: While the cap is being removed, UK Finance suggests banks will likely maintain the £100 limit in the short term to ensure continued security.
Full story: Major payment change prompts security fears
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