Mastercard launches best-in-class ‘BIN Sponsor Plus’ programme to support next generation of U.K. Fintechs

Mastercard is introducing a new accreditation programme for BIN sponsors – established financial institutions which support Fintechs and any business interested in getting into payments by helping them to launch card programmes quickly and efficiently.  

The BIN Sponsor Plus programme is the first of its kind, intended to accelerate the growth of UK Fintechs and businesses entering the payments space by providing them with access to a vetted list of trusted partners and guidance on scaling efficiently. BIN Sponsorship provides a route to market without the initial time and administrative investment associated with becoming an issuer.  

Darren Deal, Senior Vice President, Fintech, Government and Digital Partnerships said : “We’ve seen first-hand how central BIN sponsorship has been to the story of some of the UK’s most successful financial institutions. This programme will provide the next generation of Fintechs with a ready-made list of best-in-class partners, supported and accredited by Mastercard and providing trusted access to our global payments ecosystem. If you’re a Fintech with a big idea or a business which is keen to get into payments and just needs the right partner or support to scale, get in touch today.”    

Mastercard’s BIN Sponsor Plus programme launches with four founding participants: Transact Pay, PSI Pay, IDT Financial Services and Edenred Payment Solutions. All four BIN Sponsors have committed to a programme which includes enhanced standards of training and due diligence above and beyond industry norms.  

In return, these partners will receive tailored technical and operational support from Mastercard. This includes dedicated, specialised teams and a Mastercard ‘Partner Mark’ which confirms their participation in the programme and continued adherence to these industry-leading standards.  

Andy Downes, CO-CEO of PSI Pay, said : “This programme gives us the opportunity to showcase our own continuous commitment to industry-leading standards and services, whilst highlighting Mastercard’s support for BIN Sponsors and the payments industry more broadly. We’ve seen first-hand how effective BIN Sponsorship can be in enabling high-growth businesses to achieve their strategic objectives, and this initiative will help drive the next generation of UK Fintechs.” 

Rehana Mitha, Managing Director Edenred Payment Solutions, said : "The UK continues to lead in fintech innovation, and programmes like BIN Sponsor+ from Mastercard are vital to sustaining that momentum by connecting fintechs and businesses with accredited, trusted BIN sponsors. At Edenred Payment Solutions, we’re proud to join this initiative and help companies scale quickly and confidently with secure, best-in-class payment solutions." 

Bank Identification Numbers (BINs) are essential to the payments ecosystem. They identify a card’s type (such as debit or credit), the issuing institution, and the information needed to move money securely. Since most fintechs are not traditional banks, they do not have access to managing their own BINs. Despite not being traditional banks either, as licensed financial institutions BIN Sponsors bridge this gap, giving fintechs a trusted route to market and access to Mastercard’s global payments network.  

The U.K’s Fintech scene is among the best in the world. Revenues generated by the sector reached £32.4 billion in 2024 and as of 2025 it is the second largest market globally for funding, with $3.6 billion raised from 534 deals last year - more than the next five largest European countries combined. 

In the UK and Ireland, Monzo, Starling, and Revolut all scaled with the support of BIN sponsors before becoming Mastercard issuers. 

The BIN Sponsor Plus programme is the latest in a range of Mastercard products and services which support and enable Fintech growth; Mastercard Engage connects customers to financial technology partners, Start Path provides growing companies with funding and global support, and Product Express enables customers to launch card issuance more rapidly with plan-certified partners.  

Anyone interested in learning more about growing through BIN Sponsorship, or in joining the programme, should visit BIN Sponsorship Plus | Contact