Why More UK Shopify Stores Are Adding Pay by Bank at Checkout

Let’s say a customer has spent 20 minutes obsessing over the perfect pair of trainers. They hit “Checkout”… and suddenly they’re asked to type 16 card digits, expiry date, security code, billing details, password they forgot existed and poof, they vanish faster than the free delivery banner appeared. That exact moment is why Pay by Bank is having a moment in the UK Shopify checkout space.

Checkout is now the battleground for growth

Online shopping isn’t slowing down, it’s sprinting. Around 2.7 billion people are expected to shop online this year, and global ecommerce is projected to hit roughly £3.8 trillion in 2025. By 2027, nearly one in four retail purchases could be made online.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: a huge chunk of that potential revenue never makes it past checkout. Shopify’s own data shows that more than 70 percent of carts are still abandoned when friction shows up at the final step.

So while brands obsess over product photography, shipping deals, and influencer ads, the moment that actually decides whether money lands in the business account is often the weakest link. A clunky checkout doesn’t just annoy shoppers… it quietly drains revenue.

That’s exactly why Pay by Bank is gaining ground. It removes the dropout points that kill conversions and gives businesses a way to win back the sale right where it matters most.

What Pay by Bank actually is (and why customers love it)

Pay by Bank is a payment method that allows customers approve a purchase directly in their banking app. They don’t have to fill out any forms or card details. Also, they don’t have to worry about their card details being stored or stolen. It takes a checkout from:

“Hang on, where’s my debit card?” to “Face ID… done.”

For customers, the benefit is simplicity and trust. For businesses, the shift is even more compelling.

Why UK Shopify stores are switching

Here’s what’s driving adoption right now:

1. Lower fees than cards

Card processing fees eat into profits, especially for high-ticket orders. Pay by Bank removes card networks and their percentage-based pricing.

2. Faster settlement

Funds land near instantly instead of waiting days for card clearing. Better cash flow = smoother operations (and fewer finance headaches).

3. No chargebacks

Card disputes are expensive and unpredictable. Pay by Bank transactions are bank-authenticated, which significantly reduces the risk of reversals.

4. Dramatically less friction

Typing card details on mobile? Hard pass. Logging into your bank app with Face ID? Yes please. Smooth checkout = more completed orders.

5. Strong fraud protection

Authentication happens with the customer’s own bank security. That means stronger protection, less fraud exposure, and fewer failed transactions.

When Pay by Bank makes the biggest difference

This isn’t just for tech-savvy Gen Z shoppers. It’s a strategic advantage in sectors like:

• Retail with high conversion drop-off
  
  
• Subscription products where customers pay repeatedly
  
  
• High-value purchases where card fees bite hardest
  
  
• Mobile-first buying journeys
  

And importantly, it works alongside cards and digital wallets, not instead of them. Customers see more choice, not restriction.

Is now the best time to add Pay by Bank?

Short answer: yes. Open banking adoption in the UK is accelerating every quarter, and the stores adding Pay by Bank early are the ones converting more of the customers they’ve already paid to acquire. And in a world where checkout is where revenue is either locked in or lost, that edge matters.

Final Thought

Customers want checkout to feel like the rest of their online life — fast, secure, and done in seconds. Pay by Bank delivers that. It’s a smarter way to keep more revenue from every sale, improve conversion at the checkout, and deliver a payment experience that feels modern, quick, and trustworthy for customers.

With Atoa now available directly in the Shopify App Store as an approved UK payment method, adding Pay by Bank is as simple as enabling a setting. No custom builds, no new accounts for customers, and no extra hoops at checkout. Just secure bank-to-bank payments that land instantly.

For stores handling high order values or tight margins, the savings can be meaningful. Atoa helps reduce payment processing costs by up to 50% compared to standard card fees, while also cutting fraud and eliminating chargebacks on Pay by Bank transactions. Shopify already helps UK businesses grow online. Atoa simply makes that growth more profitable. If you’re ready to give your checkout a lift, adding Pay by Bank with Atoa takes just a few minutes and your next sale could already cost you less.