Barclaycard’s bpay wearable band and contactless devices let you pay with just a swipe of your wrist, key or phone
Shoppers heading to the tills and travellers passing through ticket gates will soon be able to pay with just a simple swipe of the wrist using Barclaycard's new wearable technology.
The new bpay band, due to launch next month, will bring an end to rummaging through bags for contactless cards and is one of three new wearable devices being introduced by Barclaycard.
A key fob and a sticker which can be attached to the back of your phone will also streamline shopping, with all three devices available to any Visa or MasterCard cardholder – not just Barclays customers.
Users can load money onto the devices via the bPay website or using the mobile app and can make payments of up to £20 – rising to £30 when the contactless payment limit is increased in September – by touching one of 300,000 UK terminals at shops, stations and other locations.
Barclaycard first trialled its “bpay” band – effectively a contactless bank card in the form of a wristband – at sponsored events including Pride in London festival last year. All three will go on sale online from 1 July and on the high street at shops including Snow and Rock in August with prices starting at £14.99 for the sticker.
“The launch of our bPay band last year was an evolutionary step for the business, with highly positive customer feedback,” Mike Saunders, managing director of digital consumer payments at Barclaycard said.
“We’re building on this success with our expanded bPay proposition, and have produced a range of wearable products that you can use to pay for everything in your day – from travelling to work and grabbing a coffee, to buying your lunch or picking up groceries from the supermarket.”