UK banks sign up for contactless Android Pay system

Santander, Royal Bank of Scotland and its two subsidiaries Natwest and Ulster Bank have all weighed in behind Google's new contactless payment system, four months after the app's launch.

Android Pay allows its users to register a card and make purchases much easier through their smartphone.

The announcements by the banks is welcome news for Google, as previous scepticism from certain groups held up its development for customers.

Following on from rival ApplePay, the service acts like a contactless card but using only a smartphone app or it can be embedded into internet browsers such as Google Chrome.

Barclays and TSB are amongst those banks who have still not signed up to the Android Pay system.

However, many other banks have been partnered with Google since the launch of the system in May. HSBC, Halifax and Bank of Scotland have all been operating with the technology since then.