VocaLink has announced that Wirecard, a European payment and internet technology company, has joined the payment providers backing the Pay by Bank mobile initiative, according to a press release.

Wirecard will bring the Pay by Bank app to its mobile payment solution, boon, a product that lets consumers use their smartphones to tap and pay in-store using NFC. In addition, Wirecard will incorporate the Pay by Bank app into its U.K. online merchant acquiring suite of alternative payment options.

Wirecard said that as a result of the partnership, boon is the first mobile payment method that can be uploaded via mobile banking.

"I'm thrilled Wirecard and VocaLink have come together to better serve millions of U.K. consumers, boon customers and Wirecard's online merchants in the U.K.," said Rajiv Garodia, managing director of Zapp and international business at VocaLink. "The combination of Wirecard and [the] Pay by Bank app will give consumers an easy and natural way to pay from their banking app with the added security of not having to share their personal details."

VocaLink recently announced that Barclays, Bank of Scotland, Halifax, HSBC and Lloyds Bank have signed up to launch Pay by Bank. Barclays will be the first bank to make Pay by Bank app payments available to consumers; the bank is now in beta testing with a select group of customers. 

"Wirecard and Pay by Bank ... is a convenient match for consumers and merchants wanting to accept trusted mobile payments," said Georg von Waldenfels, executive vice president of consumer solutions at Wirecard. "We're delighted to be working together to deliver mobile payments to millions of consumers."