Business

Danske Bank brings Apple Pay to customers in Northern Ireland

Danske Bank has introduced Apple Pay for its customers in Northern Ireland
Danske Bank has introduced Apple Pay for its customers in Northern Ireland Danske Bank has introduced Apple Pay for its customers in Northern Ireland

DANSKE Bank has become the latest financial institution in the north (Ulster Bank is the other) to introduce Apple Pay, which is transforming mobile payments with a secure and private way to pay that is fast and convenient, to all debit and credit card holders.

Danske has more than 300,000 debit and credit cards being actively used across Northern Ireland, and Ofcom’s most recent market barometer showed that seven in 10 adults (72 per cent) in Northern Ireland now own a smartphone. Apple said in May that Apple Pay transactions in the UK had grown by nearly 300 per cent over the past year.

Thanks to Touch ID on iPhone and double clicking on Apple Watch, Apple Pay transactions in stores are faster and more secure than chip and PIN payments, benefiting both customers and retailers.

Richard Caldwell, managing director of personal banking and small business at Danske Bank, said: “There has been a clear demand from customers for us to integrate Apple Pay, and I'm delighted we are now offering it. It's a great addition to our already strong online offering and will further improve customer experience.”

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said: “Lots of consumers here like to pay for goods or services via contactless technology and most of our members are actively embracing the ever-changing digital payment landscape.”

Orla Smyth, owner of the Kaffe O coffee shops in Belfast, welcoming the announcement, said: “"It offers a convenient and efficient way for customers to pay - which we welcome as often our customers are under time pressure.

"People bring their smart phones with them everywhere, so Apple Pay is an easy concept to grasp. I expect that we will see a lot more people paying for their coffees and lunches using Apple Pay now that Danske Bank is supporting it."