Elavon is providing the Royal British Legion with a network of 1100 cashless terminals.

The move marks the largest implementation of cashless terminals for a charitable campaign in Britain.

The collaboration between Elavon and the Royal British Legion was facilitated by Santander UK.

Simon O Leary, assistant director of fundraising for The Royal British Legion, said: “This is an exciting step for us. Often, people want to donate but can’t as they don’t have cash handy. By working with Elavon, we can make it simpler for the public to support our Armed Forces community.”

Hannah Fitzsimons, EVP and general manager of Elavon Europe, added: “We are very proud to support this year’s Poppy Appeal. As consumer behaviour and cash use changes, we want to be at the forefront to help important charities like the Royal British Legion maximise their revenue potential to provide vital assistance to people in need.”

Olivia Moorby, head of charities London & South East, Santander UK, said: “The Poppy Appeal is a cornerstone for British people, and a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by servicemen and women. The introduction of contactless payments by the British Legion is on a larger scale than that previously undertaken by any UK charity – we see this as a step-change for charities looking to move with the times.”