UK Payments - Not Enough Mainstream Banks

[GlosSteve]

Hi,

Is there any update on when any of the UK mainstream banks will be added to Fitbit pay?

Surely common technology with what you already have, isn’t it just an agreement you need to strike with the banks? This is a much needed feature to lift up the appeal of your UK pay enabled devices.

Please confirm if there is a target date to make our UK fitbits even better? Fingers crossed 😉

[N8teGee · Accepted solution]

Hi @GlosSteve.

I agree that there needs to be more UK banks added. Although it doesn't appear that Fitbit shares details of upcoming plans with users. I imagine as you say, it's a case of making deals/agreements with the Banks, perhaps none are interested in adding the Fitbit infrastructure for such a small user base (I'm not sure how much effort/costs are involved).

Personally I opened a Starling account some years ago just for Fitbit pay. I was actually surprised by the features the account offered and now use it as my day to day account. I still use my traditional account for my salary, bills (direct debits) etc, but transfer my monthly spending money over to Starling each month. Perhaps something like this could work for you?

Now that Google owns Fitbit, I wonder if Fitbit pay will eventually be replaced by Google Pay. This would definitely benefit the users as Google pay has far more banks signed up. 

[GlosSteve]

Hi,

Really useful answer, thank you so much for your detailed reply.  I will also be taking a look at Starling as keen to use this cool feature 😉

[blueeagle]

Before I decided on a watch I opened a Santander account online (very easy) just for watch payments as they all seem to be able to use this bank no matter which watch manufacturer I went with in the end (Fitbit Charge 5 as it happens).

I have to transfer money in occasionally but the ability to pay without getting my phone out in these times is great. The Charge 5 is very clever at how it deals with payments: you only need to enter a code once a day if required (before leaving home) and you only have to enter it again if you take the watch off (in case you lose it) - how good is that?!

It's your bank's fault that they don't use fitbit pay/Garmin pay/etc as you can be sure that Fitbit has applied to all of them, they just won't allow it. I couldn't even get any of my cards to work with Google pay, so Kudos to Santander for being so modern and forward thinking.

[GlosSteve]

That’s another great idea - I even have a Santander account from way back. Thanks will take a look at that also. Sounds just perfect and well worth sorting 😉