One of the biggest updates to UK banking in the last two decades has come into place today.
Harvey Jones and Ewan Mowat Deputy Lifestyle, Trends, & Showbiz Editor
17:00, 19 Mar 2026
A huge change in UK banking came into force today(Image: Getty Images)
A huge banking change has landed in the UK today. And while it may make things quicker and more convenient at the tills, a finance expert has warned of the danger to some people.
It has been almost 20 years since contactless cards first appeared in the UK in the autumn of 2007. They quickly became a hugely popular payment method, allowing people to speedily tap their cards rather than insert them and add the PIN.
More than 90 per cent of adults now own at least one contactless-enabled credit or debit card, with more than 150million in circulation. Contactless tech has developed in the two decades since, with mobile payment methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay letting people tap with their phone instead.
Contactless is used on average four times a week by Brits, with the convenience one of the many plus points of the technology. The original maximum payment for a single use was £10 and that has steadily increased before hitting £100 in October 2021.
Today, however, March 19, the biggest change of all is coming. The payment limit is to be scrapped altogether. Banks can now set their own limits, or get rid of them completely, meaning shoppers can drop hundreds of pounds at the till with just a single tap.
The convenience is unrivalled… but what if you lose your card or it is stolen? The risk of someone else being able to rack up a huge bill on your card has increased with this new change.
Contactless payments have been around in the UK since 2007(Image: Mark Langridge/Getty Images)
The Express personal finance editor Harvey Jones believes this tech update is of particular concern for pensioners, many of whom aren’t all that keen on the shift from physical to digital money. But it seems somewhat inevitable, with some shops refusing to accept cash and bank branches closing all across the country.
Older and more vulnerable customers risk being further squeezed out of the high street. Though there will still be security in place for banking users.
To protect customers, the Financial Conduct Authority still expects banks to maintain security measures, such as fraud monitoring and occasional PIN checks for larger purchases. Banks including Lloyds, HSBC, Santander, Barclays, NatWest and Monzo have all been updating customers on their plans.
And for those that are concerned about the contactless increase, cardholders can now set their own limit or turn it off altogether. Well worth considering for anyone wary of the dangers this move may bring about.
There are concerns the increase in contactless limit makes financial crime far easier(Image: Getty Images)
And for those looking to further increase their security, a finance expert has offered insight on other ways to stay safe following the change. Nicola Morgan, financial services expert at comparison site Confused.com, shared five tips to help those that are worried.
Five ways to stay safe as the contactless limit is removed
Check your bank’s fraud protection – Morgan said: “Most banks will refund unauthorised contactless payments, but it’s worth understanding exactly what’s covered and how quickly you would get your money back.”Set a personal limit – “If your bank allows it, choose a contactless limit that reflects your usual spending, so you’re not taking on more risk than you’re comfortable with.”Use mobile wallets where possible – “Paying with your phone often includes fingerprint or face recognition, which adds an extra layer of security for larger purchases.”Turn off contactless if you don’t need it – “Many banking apps allow you to switch contactless payments off at any time.”Keep an eye on your account – “Regularly checking your transactions can help you quickly spot anything unusual.”
Small steps like these, along with keeping your wallet and cards safe, can help card holders stay in control as payment rules change.
The update to the contactless banking rules mark another step to a world “where cards increasingly rule the high street,” according to Jones.
And for those concerned, he is unable to offer much comfort. Jones added: “[This is] another major step in that direction. Like it or not, you need to be ready for it.”