Mastercard payment firm back in the black with £7.3m profit

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 17, 2026

Vocalink, the UK payments technology company owned by Mastercard, returned to profitability with a £7.3 million pre-tax profit after reversing a £10.7 million loss in 2022. Mastercard is considering selling majority ownership to a consortium of British banks to address concerns over national control of key payment infrastructure, coinciding with Vocalink’s appointment of Sir Jonathan Thompson as chairman.

Vocalink, the payments technology company responsible for processing a significant proportion of salaries, household bills, and state benefits in the United Kingdom, reported a return to profitability in the latest financial year. The firm posted a pre-tax profit of £7.3 million, reversing a £10.7 million loss recorded in 2022, according to accounts filed at Companies House.

Despite the profit recovery, Vocalink experienced a 4 percent decline in revenue, which fell to £212 million. The company generates income by charging small fees on the billions of payment transactions it handles annually. In addition to its core payments processing services, Vocalink’s technology supports the UK’s current account switching service.

Vocalink is wholly owned by Mastercard, which is currently exploring a sale that would transfer majority ownership to a consortium of British banks. This potential transaction aims to address concerns over the strategic importance of Vocalink’s infrastructure and the implications of its control being held by a US-based corporation.

In a recent leadership change, Vocalink appointed Sir Jonathan Thompson, former chief executive of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), as chairman. He replaced the previous chairman, Tim Murphy, who remains with Mastercard.

The company’s anticipated sale and leadership updates come amid ongoing discussions about the security and sovereignty of national payment systems, reflecting broader debates on critical financial infrastructure ownership. Mastercard has not disclosed a timeline for the sale or named potential buyers within the banking consortium.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.