Exciting news for UK shoppers! Big changes are coming to your supermarket trips from March 19, 2026. Soon, contactless payment limits could exceed £100 thanks to new powers being granted to banks and card providers by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This means, with strong anti-fraud measures in place, each bank can set its own limit—or even remove limits altogether!
For those hitting Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi, Asda, Morrisons, or Waitrose, this is great news—especially with inflation eating into that £100 threshold. Traditionally, shopping over £100 means keying in your PIN. But with this new flexibility, making bigger purchases with just a tap might become the norm.
Previously, contactless started with a modest limit of £10 back in 2007 and gradually increased over the years—reaching £100 in October 2021. The contactless payment’s surge in popularity has meant it’s become the go-to way to pay for around 94.6% of eligible transactions, according to recent figures.
This move is designed to make life easier for us all and adapt to our changing spending habits and inflation. There’s also encouragement for firms to let customers set their own spending caps if they wish. Of course, security is top of mind, so you’re protected if your card goes missing and gets misused.
So, whether you’re grabbing a couple of pints or stocking up for a big weekend, contactless is set to be a flexible friend in your wallet. Stay tuned for updates on how your bank will respond to these new possibilities!
What do you think about this change? Will it make your shopping trips easier? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! 🛒💳