Just a few months after Starling Bank announced it is offering Apple Pay to UK customers, the challenger bank revealed this week is now offering Fitbit Pay to its UK customers as well. Fitbit’s payment process now allows customers to pay through the company’s wearable, Fitbit Ionics.
Fitbit stated that the payment processor works with many of the major credit and debit cards from top banks and card issuers around the global. The company reported:
“Use Fitbit Pay to purchase items in any store that accepts contactless payments. The Wallet Section of the Fitbit app is where you add and remove payment cards for Fitbit Pay, edit a payment method, and review recent purchases. If you lose Ionic, you can also suspend the card on your watch for added security.”
We’re excited to announce that as of today, Starling is the first bank in the UK to connect with Fitbit Pay. Ready to spend while you sweat? pic.twitter.com/WdRfXJgGn6
— Starling Bank (@StarlingBank) October 24, 2017
Speaking about the Fitbit Pay launch, Starling CEO Anne Boden reportedly announced:
“Starling Bank was founded to empower consumers to take control of their money and better manage it on the move, so Fitbit Pay is a perfect partner for us.”
Des Power, Senior Vice President and Managing director at Fitbit International, also shared:
“By working with banking institutions globally, we have the opportunity to expand our reach around the world to drive engagement with existing customers and attract new ones.”
The launch of Fitbit Pay in the UK comes a little over a year after the wearable tech company acquired the wearable payment assets of Coin. Fitbit revealed at the time:
“While there are no plans to integrate Coin’s wearable payments technology into the 2016 Fitbit product roadmap, the acquisition accelerates Fitbit’s ability to develop an active NFC payment solution that could be embedded into future Fitbit devices, broadening its smart capabilities. The acquisition excludes smart payment products, such as Coin 2.0.”
Fitbit Pay is currently competing with Apple Pay and Android Pay, both have which been dominating the countless pay sector. Banks supporting Fitbit Pay in the U.S. are American Express, Bank of America, Capital One – Credit, U.S. Bank – Credit, Boeing Employees Credit Union – Debit, and First Tech Federal Credit Union. FitBit Pay is available in Australia (supported by ANZ, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Mastercard), and National Australia Bank) and also Switzerland (supported by Cornèrcard – Visa)