It comes into effect on Thursday and here you can find a list of how each bank is tackling it
The UK’s major banks have updated customers as a rule change comes into effect from today. From Thursday, March 19, 2026, rule alterations mean that banks and payment providers with robust fraud controls can now establish their own higher contactless card payment limits in the future.
While the UK’s leading banks have stated they will maintain the £100 card limit for the time being, many also permit customers to set their own lower limits, providing them with the flexibility to make changes in the future if desired. Several account providers have signalled they are monitoring the situation and will inform customers of any modifications.
The contactless card limit has been increased multiple times over the years, and in December last year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirmed that rule changes would come into effect from March 19. It is at the discretion of firms to determine if and when they wish to utilise the flexibility to alter their limits.
The objective is to enable firms to better adapt to evolving consumer demands, inflation and new technology. Those who choose to implement changes will need to clearly communicate them to their customers, as per the regulator’s instructions.
Firms are also encouraged to allow customers to set their own limit, or disable contactless entirely, with numerous banks already offering customers this capability. The rule amendments could also permit companies to reconsider their cumulative contactless strategy in the future if they wish.
Existing limits have necessitated people to input their PIN after a certain number of transactions or expenditure. Contactless payments have seen a dramatic rise in popularity over the years, with the limit for contactless card transactions having been progressively raised.
Barclays’ consumer spending data reveals that 94.6% of eligible in-store card transactions were contactless in 2024, marking a tenfold increase in monthly contactless transactions compared to 2015.
Data from UK Finance indicates that as of December 2025, contactless payments accounted for 67% of credit card and 76% of debit card transactions. The average value of a contactless payment is just under £18, according to figures from UK Finance.
The FCA anticipates that the prospect of increased flexibility will encourage firms to bolster their fraud prevention measures, thereby offering consumers enhanced protection. Current safeguards will remain intact, ensuring consumers are reimbursed in cases of unauthorised fraud, such as if their card is lost or stolen. Higher payments via mobile wallets will continue to be possible, with the phone verifying the user’s identity, for instance through facial recognition or a thumbprint.
Peter Harmston, head of payments consulting at KPMG UK, said: “Over the course of nearly a decade, contactless has become the nation’s default way to pay. People value speed and ease above all else so removing the contactless limit takes us a step closer to meeting those demands.
“I don’t expect to see any drastic changes on day one, but over the next few years, we will see banks and card providers adjust their own contactless limits or remove them entirely. Banks’ top priority will be security. They already pay a heavy price for fraud, so they will work hard to ensure contactless limits don’t expose their customers to greater risk.”
The examination of the contactless card limit was amongst approximately 50 measures the regulator set out in correspondence to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in January to help bolster economic growth.
Current contactless card features by bank
NatWest
NatWest has no immediate intentions to alter the contactless limit. Should anything change, customers will be informed.
The bank already permits customers to enable or disable contactless and adjust their limit below the standard £100 if desired. Customers can configure their payment limit via their banking app.
Santander UK
The bank has no current plans to modify the contactless limit from £100. Santander’s customers can already deactivate contactless or establish their own limits in £5 increments.
Lloyds
Customers of Lloyds, along with the banking group’s Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands, can already set their own contactless payment limits in their apps, in £5 increments, up to £100. The bank has confirmed its commitment to maintaining this flexibility and currently has no plans to alter these limits.
Barclays
Personal banking customers possessing a Barclays debit card can establish their own contactless limit, up to £100, within their Barclays app. The bank will persist in applying the £100 card payment limit.
HSBC UK/First Direct
The contactless limit will stay at £100 for both brands. At present, customers are unable to set lower limits within their app.
Nationwide Building Society/Virgin Money
A spokesperson stated: “We do not have any immediate plans to increase the current £100 contactless transaction limit, although we will continue to keep this under review over the coming months.”
Nationwide customers already possess the capability to set contactless card limits below £100 if they desire to within their banking app.
TSB
TSB will not be raising the cap beyond the £100 level it is currently set at. Its customers can already utilise the TSB app to reduce the £100 limit if they choose or eliminate the contactless option entirely.
Starling Bank
The bank is presently assessing the changes to the limit increase, and no decisions have been finalised yet. Its customers can already determine their own single transaction contactless limit, and this will persist. They can adjust their limit by setting the amount in their Starling app, sliding the scale from £100 all the way down to £0.
Monzo
Customers of the bank can already modify their contactless limits in the Monzo app, including reducing their limit or disabling contactless payments. Monzo regularly reassesses payment limits. There are currently no alterations to its contactless payment limits, and customers will be notified if there are any changes to products or features.
Revolut
The bank currently has no plans to increase the contactless transaction limit, but strategies are being continually reviewed. Revolut customers cannot currently set lower contactless limits than £100, but they can establish monthly spending limits, capping the total amount that can be spent on that card via all payment methods.
