![\"Male](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_Customer-making-contactless-payment.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBanks will be able to set higher contactless card limits from March 19, with the FCA removing the \u00a3100 cap, though most firms expected to maintain current limits for now<\/p>\n
Steven Smith Content Editor<\/p>\n
09:36, 23 Feb 2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Banks will be able to set higher contactless card limits from March 19(Image: Klaus Vedfelt via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Fewer than half of the banks<\/a> and building societies reviewed by a ratings platform currently allow account holders to set their own contactless payment threshold. Defaqto carried out the research ahead of regulatory changes taking effect from 19th March, which will enable financial institutions to impose higher contactless transaction ceilings than the current \u00a3100 limit, should they choose to do so.<\/p>\n Banks<\/a> are also being encouraged to give customers the option to establish their own threshold, or switch off contactless functionality altogether, as numerous high street lenders already permit. Defaqto’s examination of both traditional and digital-only banking applications uncovered substantial differences in the financial management<\/a> tools that account providers presently make available to their clientele.<\/p>\n The study found that merely 13 out of 31 (42%) banks and building societies assessed give customers the ability to determine their own contactless payment ceiling, though 21 (68%) did enable users to suspend contactless transactions.<\/p>\n Katie Brain, banking expert at Defaqto, said: “With the contactless cap being removed, choosing a bank or building society with the right in-app controls could make a real difference to how easily people manage their money. Features like setting your own contactless limit or freezing payments give customers a practical way to put the brakes on spending if they need to.”<\/p>\n