Lloyds customers can show a QR code to request payments from friends and family

Link Pay helps people to request money back on purchases where people have clubbed together, such as for restaurant bills or joint gifts

Customers at Lloyds Bank can now ask for payments from friends and family using a QR code.

Link Pay helps people to request money back on purchases where people have clubbed together, such as for restaurant bills or joint gifts. It works using the mobile banking app, and you can send over a payment request complete with a secure link, or show your unique QR code, meaning you won't have to share private account details, the bank says.

When people are together they can show the QR code from the app for the person making the payment to scan. The code takes them directly to the link to make the payment.

Any bank's customer can make the payment, said Lloyds. Link Pay sends the request to the other party with customers able to choose text message, WhatsApp, or even Facebook Messenger for the link.

You're free to tag the request with the amount and a reference. Gabby Collins, the payments director at Lloyds, said that there's "no need to dig out a sort code and account number when someone owes you money – just add the amount and what the payment is for". The payer doesn't have to set up a new payee either.

The link takes them into their own banking app, using technology called open banking, so they can send the money without asking for more details. Open banking's a secure way to share your financial information securely.

Customers can request up to £150 each time and receive a maximum of £500 per day. Link Pay can be accessed via the Lloyds mobile banking app. The bank has also announced that it will soon be available on the Halifax and Bank of Scotland mobile banking apps, both part of the Lloyds Banking Group.