What Is Allied Tap & Pay?
Allied Tap & Pay is a contactless mobile payment feature available to Allied Bank debit card holders. It allows you to make in-store payments by tapping an NFC-enabled Android smartphone against any compatible point-of-sale (POS) terminal — the same terminals that accept contactless cards.
The service is managed entirely through the myABL app. Once enabled, your phone acts as your payment instrument. You don’t open the app at checkout — you simply unlock your phone and tap.
This is separate from Allied Pay, which is a voucher-based payment collection service for educational fees, society instalments and government payments.
How Allied Tap & Pay Works
The Technology Behind It
- Tap & Pay runs on two technologies working together: Near Field Communication (NFC) and tokenisation
- NFC is a short-range wireless standard that allows two devices — your phone and the POS terminal — to exchange data when they are within a few centimetres of each other. No pairing, no codes, no internet is involved in the actual transaction.
- Tokenisation means that Allied Bank replaces your actual debit card number with a unique digital token stored on your device. When you tap to pay, the terminal receives only this token — your real card details are never transmitted. Each token is valid for up to five transactions, after which you refresh it through the myABL app under Cards > Refresh Tap & Pay Counter.
The Payment Flow at a POS Terminal
For transactions above PKR 3,000, the terminal will prompt you to enter your standard debit card PIN before completing the payment.
- Unlock your phone (fingerprint, PIN or pattern).
- Hold your phone near the NFC-enabled POS terminal.
- The terminal reads the token and processes the payment.
- You receive an instant SMS and email notification confirming the transaction.
What You Do Not Need
No internet connection is required at the time of payment. No app needs to be open. No physical debit card needs to be present. Your existing Allied Bank debit card POS limits apply automatically — there is no separate limit configuration for Tap & Pay.
How to Enable Allied Tap & Pay
Your registered mobile number and email address must be current with Allied Bank before you can activate the service. If you need to update your contact details, visit a branch or use myABL WhatsApp Banking on 0300-122522
- Open the myABL app on your NFC-enabled Android device.
- Go to the Cards section.
- Select your eligible debit card and toggle 'Enable Tap & Pay'.
- Turn on NFC in your phone's settings if it is not already on.
- Set myABL as your default payment app.
Token Management: The Five-Transaction Counter
Each digital token on your device supports a maximum of five transactions — both successful and unsuccessful attempts count toward this limit. After five transactions, Tap & Pay will not process payments until you manually refresh the token.
To refresh: open the myABL app > Cards > Refresh Tap & Pay Counter.
The counter does not reset automatically at the end of each day. You must do this manually. If you are heading into a high-spend day — grocery shopping, fuel, multiple stops — refresh the counter beforehand to avoid a failed payment mid-transaction.
Using Allied Tap & Pay Internationally
Tap & Pay works at any NFC-enabled POS terminal worldwide that accepts contactless payments. You do not need to notify Allied Bank before travelling, and no separate international activation is required.
Standard international POS transaction limits from your Allied Bank debit card apply. If you want to temporarily raise your debit card POS limit before travel, the temporary limit enhancement service is available through Allied Bank. The PKR 3,000 PIN threshold for high-value transactions applies to domestic transactions; authorisation requirements for international transactions follow the policies of the acquiring bank at the terminal.
If Your Phone Is Lost or Stolen
Contact Allied Bank’s call center immediately at (042) 111-225-225 to block your debit card and deactivate Tap & Pay. Deactivating or blocking your physical card through Allied Contact Center will also disable Tap & Pay. Deleting the Tap & Pay card from a specific device does not affect registrations on other devices — you must remove it from each device individually if needed.
Tap & Pay is not available on rooted devices and will not function if your phone’s screen lock is disabled. These restrictions are by design. For broader guidance on protecting your payment instruments, Allied Bank’s card protection guidelines cover both physical and digital card security.
Security and What to Do If Your Phone Is Lost
How Transactions Are Secured: Multiple layers protect every Tap & Pay transaction:
- Tokenisation Your real card number is never sent to the merchant.
- Device authentication The phone must be unlocked via fingerprint, PIN or pattern before a payment can be initiated
- PIN requirement Transactions above PKR 3,000 require your debit card PIN.
- Real-time alerts Every transaction triggers an SMS and email notification to your registered contact details.
Allied Tap & Pay vs Physical Debit Card
| Feature | Allied Tap & Pay | Physical Debit Card |
|---|---|---|
| Payment method | NFC tap (Android phone) | Card swipe / insert / tap |
| Internet at POS | Not required | Not required |
| Card number transmitted | No (tokenized) | Yes |
| Device compatibility | NFC Android only | All POS terminals |
| International use | Yes, NFC-enabled POS | Yes |
| PIN for high-value transactions | Yes (above PKR 3,000) | Yes (as per card settings) |
| Real-time notifications | SMS + email | SMS + email |
| Management | myABL app | Branch / myABL |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Allied Tap & Pay?
Allied Tap & Pay is a contactless mobile payment feature that allows Allied Bank debit card holders to pay at NFC-enabled POS terminals using an Android smartphone. Your phone replaces your physical card at checkout. The service is managed through the myABL app and works without an internet connection at the point of sale.
Which phones are compatible with Allied Tap & Pay?
Any Android smartphone with NFC capability is supported, provided it runs the original Android operating system and is not rooted. The service is not currently available on iPhones or iOS devices.
Why does Allied Tap & Pay stop working after five transactions?
Tap & Pay uses a digital security token that is valid for five transactions. This is a deliberate security measure — limiting token reuse reduces the risk of fraudulent duplication. After five transactions (successful or not), you refresh the token in the myABL app under Cards > Refresh Tap & Pay Counter.
Does Allied Tap & Pay work abroad?
Yes. Tap & Pay works internationally at any NFC-enabled POS terminal that accepts contactless payments. Your standard international POS limits from your Allied Bank debit card apply.
What happens to Tap & Pay if I report my physical card lost?
Reporting your physical card as lost or stolen deactivates both the card and the linked Tap & Pay service. Contact Allied Bank's call centre at (042) 111-225-225 to block the card immediately.