Barclays Bank introduced the first general-purpose debit card in the United Kingdom in 1987.
The card was called Connect and allowed customers to pay directly from their bank accounts. It was introduced as electronic payment technology and automated teller networks were becoming more widely integrated. Unlike a credit card, a debit card normally draws on funds already held in the customer's account rather than creating a separate revolving balance.
The launch helped make card payments a routine part of British retail banking. Debit cards later expanded through broader merchant acceptance, cash-machine access, contactless technology, and online payments.
This history is sometimes confused with the earlier introduction of cash cards and charge cards. Cash cards were primarily designed for ATM withdrawals, while charge and credit cards involved different payment arrangements. Barclays' Connect is remembered for combining account-linked retail payments with the general-purpose debit-card model.