Paym launches today

Paying back IOUs to friends and family just got easier, following the launch today of Paym, the new secure way to pay using just a mobile number across nine banks and building societies.

Paym is now available to more than 30 million people across the UK – customers of Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Cumberland Building Society, Danske Bank, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Santander and TSB are able to send and receive Paym payments. The service will expand further later in the year, becoming available on more than nine out ten current accounts, covering in excess of 40 million customers.

To receive money through Paym, you first need to register your mobile number and the current account you’d like payments made into with your participating bank or building society. Your friends will then be able to pay directly into your current account using just your mobile number – no sort codes or account numbers. You don’t need a smartphone to receive payments and you still receive the money if your phone is off or out of coverage.

To send money using Paym, use your existing mobile banking or payments app to select a friend’s number from your contacts or enter a mobile number manually. It’s possible to send without registering your mobile number for Paym. You’ll be asked to confirm the name of the recipient. Once you’re happy, check the amount and press send. If the person you’re sending money to hasn’t yet registered, you won’t be able to send them a payment using Paym. You could contact them to suggest they register, or use an alternative form of payment.

You’ll then receive confirmation that your payment has been sent. And because you’ll be using your existing mobile banking or payments app it couldn’t be easier, it’s just as secure and most payments are processed almost immediately. You can send up to £250 a day through Paym, although some participating banks and building societies offer a higher daily limit.

Adrian Kamellard, Chief Executive of the Payments Council said: “Paying someone back just got easier for millions of people. Paym is another safe and easy option to pay friends and family – after all, you probably already know all your friends and family’s mobile numbers, so why not use them if you need to send them some money?” 

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