Contactless is a new feature that will soon be introduced on payment cards to make purchases quicker and more convenient for both retailers and consumers.  For transactions of £10 or less customers will simply hold their contactless card up to a secure reader to make their payment.

Contactless cards will be secured by the same advanced technology that underpins chip and PIN. Though the card would not usually require a PIN to be entered, from time to time a chip and PIN transaction will be requested. This is designed to deter fraudulent use should the card be lost or stolen; each time a PIN is used it re-affirms that the cardholder is in possession of their card.