Yaspa powers instant payments for Sterling Lotteries

Sterling Lotteries, the United Kingdom’s leading External Lottery Manager (ELM), has officially announced its partnership with Yaspa, the award-winning Pay by Bank fintech company. This strategic collaboration designates Yaspa as Sterling’s primary open banking payments provider for its prize-led fundraising programmes, aiming to deliver faster, safer, and more efficient supporter transactions for charities across the UK.

The move reflects Sterling’s ongoing commitment to modernising the charity lottery sector, improving operational efficiency, and offering a seamless experience to digital-first donors. By leveraging Yaspa’s technology, Sterling Lotteries is positioned to enhance cashflow, reduce administrative burdens, and strengthen the security of payments in its fundraising ecosystem.

Sterling Lotteries: A cornerstone of UK charity fundraising

For decades, Sterling Lotteries has been at the forefront of charity fundraising in the UK, managing weekly lotteries and raffles for over 800 charitable organisations. These range from small local charities to nationally recognised causes. Through its innovative lottery programmes, Sterling has provided charities with a reliable, high-impact way to engage supporters while generating meaningful revenue for social initiatives.

Richard Dixon, Managing Director at Sterling, commented on the partnership:
“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.”

This statement underscores Sterling’s commitment to adopting forward-looking technologies that improve both donor experience and operational efficiency. By prioritising open banking, Sterling demonstrates leadership in a sector where modernisation is increasingly essential.

Yaspa: Revolutionising payments for charity lotteries

Yaspa is recognised as a leading fintech provider specialising in Pay by Bank solutions, which enable instant bank-to-bank payments without the need for traditional debit or credit card transactions. The company’s platform is designed to deliver a secure, frictionless payment experience, which is particularly beneficial for charities handling large volumes of small-value donations.

Amie Kadhim, Head of Commercial at Yaspa, highlighted the significance of this collaboration:
“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.”

This partnership represents a significant evolution in charity fundraising. Instant bank payments not only improve the user experience but also reduce administrative overheads and the risks associated with traditional payment methods, such as chargebacks and fraud.

Transforming charity payments with open banking

Open banking technology allows financial institutions to share payment and account information securely with authorised third-party providers. For Sterling Lotteries, this means supporters can complete their entries quickly and securely, with funds transferred directly to the charity in real-time.

Key benefits of the Sterling-Yaspa partnership

• Immediate payment confirmation: Supporters receive instant confirmation of their entries, providing a seamless and reassuring experience.
• Faster settlement: Funds are transferred directly to charities without the delays associated with card processing, improving cashflow and planning.
• Lower processing costs: Open banking typically incurs lower fees compared with debit and credit card transactions, allowing charities to retain more of every donation.
• Enhanced security: Yaspa utilises bank-grade security protocols, reducing fraud and chargeback risks.
• Mobile-first user experience: The platform is designed for smartphones, reflecting the growing preference for mobile-based donations and transactions.

These features combine to make Sterling Lotteries’ fundraising efforts more efficient, cost-effective, and technologically advanced, reinforcing its position as a leader in the UK charity sector.

Meeting the expectations of digital-first donors

The fundraising landscape has evolved considerably over the past decade. Donors increasingly expect quick, convenient, and transparent methods to contribute to their chosen causes. Digital-first supporters, in particular, are accustomed to instant transactions and seamless mobile experiences in retail, banking, and other services.

By implementing Yaspa’s Pay by Bank solution, Sterling Lotteries meets these expectations directly. The technology allows supporters to participate in charity lotteries with minimal friction, confirming entries in real-time while ensuring their contributions are secure. This approach is likely to boost donor satisfaction, engagement, and retention, which are crucial for sustaining long-term fundraising efforts.

Strategic alignment and sector innovation

The collaboration between Sterling Lotteries and Yaspa is not just a technical upgrade; it reflects a strategic vision for the future of charity fundraising. Both organisations share a commitment to leveraging technology to drive meaningful social impact. Open banking, which has revolutionised retail and financial services, is now being adapted for charitable contexts, delivering unprecedented benefits for both charities and donors.

Richard Dixon emphasised the forward-looking nature of the partnership:
“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.”

This statement highlights the strategic dimension of the partnership, positioning Sterling Lotteries as an innovator in a sector that has historically relied on traditional, slower methods of fundraising.

Impact on charities and supporters

For the 800+ charities that Sterling supports, the benefits of integrating Yaspa are manifold. Immediate entry confirmation and instant settlement mean charities can plan programmes and allocate resources with confidence. Reduced processing costs and enhanced fraud protection mean more funds go directly to charitable purposes rather than administrative overheads.

Supporters also gain from the streamlined, mobile-first experience, which makes participating in charity lotteries easier and more enjoyable. This dual benefit—enhancing both donor experience and organisational efficiency—underscores the transformative potential of open banking in the fundraising space.

Future outlook for charity lotteries

As the UK charity sector continues to embrace digital transformation, partnerships like the one between Sterling Lotteries and Yaspa are likely to become the new standard. The integration of instant payments, lower transaction fees, and enhanced security reflects broader trends in the financial and technology sectors, including consumer demand for faster, safer, and more convenient payment solutions.

Sterling’s adoption of Yaspa’s Pay by Bank solution sets a precedent for other External Lottery Managers and charities across the UK. By demonstrating how technology can improve donor engagement and operational efficiency, Sterling is helping to redefine what modern charity fundraising looks like.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Sterling Lotteries and Yaspa represents a significant step forward for charity fundraising in the UK. By integrating open banking technology, Sterling is enhancing supporter experience, improving operational efficiency, and increasing funds available for charitable causes. The partnership aligns with the sector’s shift towards digital-first solutions, providing a secure, cost-effective, and future-proof platform for lottery-based fundraising.

Richard Dixon and Amie Kadhim’s statements reflect the shared vision and strategic alignment between the two organisations, highlighting the transformative potential of this partnership for both charities and donors. As the sector continues to evolve, Sterling Lotteries and Yaspa are positioned at the forefront of innovation, setting new standards for technology-enabled fundraising.

FAQs

What is Sterling Lotteries?
Sterling Lotteries is the UK’s leading External Lottery Manager, supporting over 800 charities with weekly lotteries and raffles.

What is Yaspa?
Yaspa is a fintech company specialising in Pay by Bank solutions that enable instant, secure bank-to-bank payments.

How does open banking benefit charity lotteries?
Open banking allows instant payments, immediate entry confirmation, lower transaction costs, and enhanced security for charities and donors.

Why did Sterling choose Yaspa?
Sterling selected Yaspa to improve supporter experience, reduce costs, and strengthen payment security in its fundraising programmes.

How does instant entry confirmation help charities?
It allows charities to plan programmes effectively, manage cashflow, and reduce administrative overheads.

What security measures does Yaspa provide?
Yaspa uses bank-grade security protocols to reduce fraud and minimise chargeback risks.

Can donors use mobile devices for payments?
Yes, Yaspa’s platform is designed for mobile-first use, providing a seamless and convenient donation experience.

Does this partnership reduce fundraising costs?
Yes, using Pay by Bank transactions is typically cheaper than traditional debit or credit card processing.

Will this improve donor engagement?
Instant confirmation and a smooth mobile experience increase donor satisfaction and retention.

Is this partnership a sector innovation?
Yes, it represents a first-of-its-kind implementation of open banking technology in charity lotteries.