Android Pay Adds Big Banks and Expands Web Support

Android Pay has added scale, winning support from banks including Chase, Santander and TSB, and broadening its Web payment capabilities.  

The Sept. 7 news about Chase follows weeks of speculation that Chase would support Android Pay. Google also announced Santander and TSB, two of the largest U.K-based banks, are expected to add support for the mobile payment system in the coming week.

Android Pay is also expanding beyond mobile apps, enabling checkouts on Google's Chrome browser at sites such as Groupon.com, 1-800-Flowers.com and other merchants that it did not identify.

Santander is active in mobile commerce, launching a mobile wallet for in-app payments two years ago. At Chase, cardholders have been able to load their cards onto Google accounts, but the bank had not supported Android Pay through its acquiring network or promotions.

Consumers can now open Android Pay on any NFC enabled Android devices with an operating system of Android 4.4 ("KitKat") or higher. Users add cards by scanning a picture of the card and following verification steps.

Chase's separate Chase Pay system, which uses QR codes to execute contactless transactions in stores, is expected to launch soon, and has already drawn support from Shell Oil, Starbucks and Phillips 66. Chase Pay is built off of ChaseNet, a merchant acquiring platform that's part of a collaboration between Chase and Visa.

Chase has also partnered with the Merchant Customer Exchange to offer Chase Pay as an option to lower fees for retailers.