Barclays withdraws Android NFC contactless payments from its app

Barclays has withdrawn the ability to make contactless payments of up to £300 using an NFC-enabled Android device through its app, with the feature no longer available from 30 June 2023¹. The change was set out in the bank's app terms and conditions, which state that it amended Part A and Part B to include details of the closing date¹.

The April 2023 terms listed "Contactless payments of up to £300 using an NFC-enabled Android device (you need a Barclays current account or Barclaycard account to use this service)" among the things customers could use the app for². The October 2023 terms instead list "Make contactless payments to merchants (until 30 June 2023)" and "Withdraw cash using Contactless Cash from a Barclays Self-Service Device (until 30 June 2023)"¹. The same closing date applies to both features¹.

The app is available to customers aged 16 or over who hold a Barclays current account, mortgage account, investment account, Barclaycard or Barclays Partner Finance account, with a separate version for those aged 11 to 15¹. It is offered to customers of Barclays Bank UK PLC, Barclays Bank PLC in the United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, Barclays Investment Solutions Limited and Clydesdale Financial Services Limited¹. Personal customers are not charged for using the app, although charges may apply on some international payments; business customers may be charged for certain transactions depending on their tariff¹.

The two sets of terms differ on device requirements. The April 2023 version states the app works on Android 5.0 or above and iOS 14 or later². The October 2023 version states it works on Android 8.0 or above and iOS 15 or above¹. Both note that these are updated regularly¹. The October terms replace those issued in April 2023, which in turn replaced terms issued in February 2023¹.

Why it matters for households

From 30 June 2023, Barclays customers with an NFC-enabled Android phone or tablet can no longer tap the device against a terminal to pay from within the Barclays or Barclaycard app, a facility that previously covered payments of up to £300¹. The same date ends the ability to withdraw cash using Contactless Cash at a Barclays Self-Service Device through the app¹. Both features were listed in the April 2023 terms as available services and in the October 2023 terms as ending on that date¹.

The change applies to app-based contactless payments on Android hardware rather than to contactless cards or to mobile wallets, which are separate services. The terms do not set out any replacement for the withdrawn in-app function, and no reason for the withdrawal is given in either document¹. Other app functions, including viewing and managing accounts, making payments and transfers, mobile PINsentry and cheque deposit by image, remain listed in the October 2023 terms¹. Barclays states in the April 2023 terms that it "can change, update or withdraw any feature at any time"².

What happens next

No further dates are given for the withdrawn contactless payment or Contactless Cash features beyond 30 June 2023¹. The October 2023 terms say they "reflect some new services that we'll be making available now and in the near future", without naming them¹. Customers using the app are asked to read and accept the current terms¹.