The Yaspa Index 2025: media coverage and key takeaways

The launch of the Yaspa Index 2025 has sparked significant discussion across the payments industry. Our inaugural annual report on consumer awareness of the term ‘Pay by Bank’ - one of the many terms used to describe instant account-to-account payments powered by open banking - has been picked up by key industry publications, some adding valuable context and analysis to the findings. Here, we explore some of the coverage and the key themes that emerged.

Understanding remains fragmented – Payments Cards & Mobile

In their article, Payments Cards & Mobile explored one of the key takeaways from our research:

Almost half of the consumers surveyed (45%) report that they are unfamiliar with the term ‘Pay by Bank.’

Despite the account-to-account payment method popping up in more checkouts than ever before, including HMRC’s self-assessment website, there’s still a sizable gap in consumer awareness in the UK.

The article pointed out that unlike ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ - a term which has strong consumer recognition - ‘Pay by Bank’ lacks a unified industry-wide branding approach. This aligns with experts' opinions in our report and our webinar, which called for the industry to agree on a consistent name for the payment method, along with more standardisation and awareness campaigns to drive adoption.

Read the full article: The Rise of Pay by Bank – Understanding Remains Fragmented

Security and adoption challenges – Payment Expert

While Payment Expert acknowledged the rising awareness of ’Pay by Bank’, they still see the lack of familiarity as a key barrier to adoption, along with consumer apprehension to try new payment technologies - despite financial stakeholders and government efforts to drive more open banking adoption. 

They also noted that our research highlighted that security and simplicity remain top priorities for consumers when choosing a payment method.

The article discussed the view that adoption would likely increase through greater promotion and education, drawing a comparison to the initial hesitancy around contactless payments a decade ago. They suggested that with familiarity and increased usage, ease of use would also improve, just as it did with contactless payments. 

Payment Expert consider that security remains a more pressing concern, as open banking payments rely on data sharing and consent to function effectively. They said that consumers, particularly in industries like iGaming, need to know their data is protected. The UK government has also recognised this issue, with the Future of Payments Review and the National Payments Vision both calling for stronger consumer protections around open banking.

Read the full article: UK familiarity with Pay by Bank rising but security remains a consumer concern 

The role of open banking in iGaming – Global Gambling News

‍Global Gambling News shared a sector-specific angle, looking at what the Yaspa Index findings mean for the iGaming industry. They emphasised that while operators increasingly offer ‘Pay by Bank’ for deposits and withdrawals, consumer education remains a barrier to widespread adoption.

Their coverage highlighted that open banking payments offer key advantages - such as instant transactions and lower costs - but that many players still default to cards and e-wallets due to familiarity. The article suggested that iGaming operators must focus on communicating the benefits of ‘Pay by Bank’ to their players to demonstrate a simpler payment experience.

Read the full article: Global Gambling News: Study reveals top payment priorities for users in 2025

Other publications that also reported on the launch of the Yaspa Index included:

Open Banking Expo: Yaspa finds nearly half of UK adults unfamiliar with ‘Pay by Bank’

‍European Gaming: Yaspa Index: Study reveals top payment priorities for users in 2025

‍The Gamblest: Yaspa Index: Study reveals top payment priorities for users in 2025

‍iGaming Future: Yaspa Index: Study reveals top payment priorities for users in 2025

‍iGaming Express: Yaspa Index Reveals Security and Ease of Use as Top Payment Priorities in 2025

What this means for the future of pay by bank

The Yaspa Index 2025 has ignited important discussions across the industry. While use of the term ‘Pay by Bank’ is on the rise, the media coverage underscores a crucial takeaway: familiarity does not always equate to understanding.

For open banking payments to achieve mass adoption, the industry must take collective action. This includes:

• Clear, standardised naming and branding to ensure consumers recognise and trust ‘Pay by Bank’ across different platforms.

• Education initiatives to explain the increased security, speed, and convenience benefits of open banking payments.

• Frictionless user experiences to encourage repeat usage and long-term adoption.

At Yaspa, we’re committed to leading this change. Through our research and product innovations, we work to connect awareness with understanding so that ‘Pay by Bank’(or whatever name the industry settles on) becomes the preferred payment choice for merchants, operators and consumers alike.

What are your thoughts on the findings? Drop us a line to share your view or join the debate on LinkedIn. 

Download the Yaspa Index 2025

The full Yaspa Index 2025 report is now available, offering in-depth insights for eCommerce merchants and gambling operators to better align checkouts for customer and player needs.

Download now at: https://content.yaspa.com/yaspa-index-2025