Can your contactless limit change? What the new flexibility means

What the FCA announced

In December 2025, the FCA announced that banks and payment providers with strong fraud controls would have greater flexibility to set contactless limits from March 2026. It also encouraged firms to offer customers a choice of limit or the option to switch contactless off.

The FCA said firms choosing to change limits would need to communicate clearly with customers. At the time of the announcement, it expected most providers to keep existing limits for the foreseeable future.

Permission to change is not a change to your card

That announcement is not evidence that a named bank has since raised your limit. We have not assumed a universal new amount in this article.

Check your provider’s current information and any notice addressed to you. If the app offers a contactless setting, read what it controls before changing it. There is no need to increase a limit simply because a higher setting is available.

A contactless limit is not your borrowing limit

These numbers answer different questions. The contactless setting relates to a way of authorising payment. Your credit limit concerns the amount of borrowing available on the account. Neither figure is a personal spending budget.

Suppose, as an illustration, you plan to spend £50 on a shopping trip. A terminal allowing a larger payment does not add money to that plan. Keeping the budget separate from the card’s technical limits makes the decision clearer.

Questions to ask your provider

If a setting or notice is unclear, ask specifically about your card and the way you pay.

• What contactless limit currently applies to this physical card?
• Can I lower it or switch contactless off?
• Does this setting also affect a phone or watch wallet?
• How will you tell me about future changes?

If the card goes missing

Use the provider’s official lost-card route promptly and ask about any transactions you do not recognise. Do not wait for the next statement to raise a concern.

For everyday budgeting, a spending notification—where offered—may help you keep track. It is a reminder, not a substitute for checking your account or reporting a problem.