Sterling Lotteries partners with Yaspa to boost charity payments

Sterling Lotteries has selected Yaspa as its main open banking payments provider to enhance digital transactions for over 800 charity lottery and raffle programmes across the UK.

Payment upgrade

The integration will allow charities on Sterling Lotteries' platform to accept instant Pay by Bank transfers, providing immediate entry confirmation and quicker settlement of funds. This approach aims to enhance the efficiency and security of financial transactions for charities, while catering to the needs of supporters who prefer digital payment options.

Cost efficiencies

Charity partners using Sterling Lotteries are expected to benefit from lower transaction costs compared with traditional debit and credit card payments. The open banking model reduces the processing fees associated with card payments, potentially allowing a greater proportion of donated funds to go directly to charitable causes. Entry confirmation now occurs in real-time, which is intended to help charities manage their cash flow and administrative planning more accurately.

Fraud reduction

The new payment system is also expected to reduce fraud and chargeback risks. Yaspa's payment platform utilises bank-grade security, providing additional protection for both supporters and charities involved in prize-led fundraising.

User experience

The partnership aims to deliver a smoother, mobile-first user journey for lottery participants. Digital-first donors, who have shown a preference for instant and secure payment experiences, are expected to benefit from the changes. Charity staff may also see a reduction in administrative workload thanks to instant payment settlement and direct entry confirmation.

Industry perspectives

"Sterling sets a high bar for reliability, security, and supporter experience. We're proud to power their next chapter with instant bank payments that help charities move faster, enhance engagement, and achieve more with every donation," said Amie Kadhim, Head of Commercial, Yaspa.

Richard Dixon, Managing Director at Sterling, said: "We're thrilled to be partnering with Yaspa to deliver an open banking solution that represents a true sector-first innovation. From the outset, it was clear that Yaspa shares Sterling's vision for using technology to drive meaningful change in the charity lottery space. Open banking has transformed retail and financial services and now we're bringing that same innovation to fundraising. It's faster, more secure, and significantly more cost-effective for charities. By harnessing open banking, we offer charities a bold, efficient, and future-proof way to engage supporters, especially digital-first donors who expect a seamless experience."