In a world where we’re all trying to keep our distance and probably sanitizing our hands so much that our fingerprints are fading, you might also be looking to go contact-free whenever possible. Now is the time to consider contactless payment. You’ve probably seen other people wave their phone or watch at the checkout counter and been curious about what they’re up to. Or maybe, you already know about contactless payment but think it’s too complicated for you. It’s actually way easier to set up and use than you may think, and it comes with added convenience and security. Let’s talk about basics and the benefits of contactless payment.

What is contactless payment?

Tap and go. Tap to pay. Touchless payment. You might hear any of these terms used to describe the same thing: the process of paying with your phone or device during checkout instead of a physical card. This secure payment method uses near-field communication (NFC) to facilitate the transaction. You’ll know a merchant accepts contactless payment when you see the universal contactless payment symbol:

Why use contactless payment?

Rather than digging around in your purse or pocket to find your credit or debit card, then physically touching the point-of-sale machine to insert or swipe the card, you can simply put your phone or smartwatch near the screen to complete the transaction. If you’re still not convinced, consider the main benefits of tap and go payment as described by the SBA:

• Speed: Contactless (NFC) payments are faster than other forms of payment such as EMV (the technology behind chip cards) and cash.
• Convenience: You can leave your wallet safely at home, because all you need is to tap your phone or watch at checkout to pay for goods or services.
• Security: Contactless payments are quite secure. The technology uses “dynamic tokens” for post-transaction security, which basically means your unique card information isn’t shared with the merchant.¹

How to use Apple Pay

Most Apple devices come standard with the Apple Wallet app. Once you add your card to your Wallet, you can use that card for contactless payment with your iPhone or Apple Watch—quick and easy.² Plus, you can ask Siri questions like “What gas stations near me accept Apple Pay?” to find your next stop.

To add your Grow Visa^® debit or credit card to Apple Pay:

• Open the Wallet app and tap the plus sign.
• Use the camera to capture the card information or select Enter Card Details Manually.
• Select the card as your default payment, if preferred.

Keep an eye out for this Apple Pay symbol in stores and online, which means you can use Apple Pay to check out. Visit the Apple Pay website for more details.

How to use Google Pay

Formerly known as Android Pay, Google Pay is a user-friendly digital wallet that will work for most Android device users. Using the Google Pay app, you can set up a payment method for contactless transactions.²

To add your Grow Visa^® debit or credit card to Google Pay:

• Open the Google Pay app and tap Payment.
• At the bottom, tap the plus symbol to add a credit or debit card.
• Use the camera to capture your card info or enter it manually.
• If you’re asked to verify your payment method, choose an option from the list.
• Find and enter the verification code.

Keep an eye out for this Google Pay symbol in stores and online, which means you can use Google Pay to check out. Visit the Google Pay website for more details.

Other options

Apple Pay and Google Pay are just two of many contactless payment options. Samsung Pay, FitBit Pay and others have begun to grow in popularity recently. Our Grow CardManager app even offers an in-app contactless pay option for Android devices or links quickly to Apple Pay for Apple devices, so that might be a great place to start using contactless payments if you already use our app.

If you’re considering setting up a contactless payment method, we encourage you to check out your options and select the one that will add security and convenience to your life, based on the devices that you own and use.

¹Small Business Administration. “New Payment Technology: What small businesses need to know,” page 11. Accessed Oct. 19, 2020
²Additional data charges may apply. Please see your wireless carrier for more information.

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• General Education