Bill payments provider PayPoint has reported a 6% year-on-year growth in overall transactions for the third quarter of the year.

Revenue grew 4% compared to the previous year while net revenues (less the cost of mobile top-ups) were up by 8% as a result of the growth in bill and general payments.

In its UK and Ireland network, bill and general payments were up 2% compared to the same period last year. Retail services transactions, including ATMs, debit and credit cards, parcels and mobile phone sim cards were up 28% while top-ups were down 11% on last year.

PayPoint also increased the number of retail sites to 26,683, up by 554 compared to the end of Q2.

Its Collect+ parcel collection and delivery arm reported an 87% growth in volume, rising to 4.2 million transactions during the period, compared to 2012. Transaction volumes hit a peak of 436,000 during the week leading up to Christmas. PayPoint has increased the number of Collect+ sites by 173 to 5,617 during the quarter.

It has also increased its focus on the e & m side of the business which deals with internet and PayByPhone transaction, which both increased during the period, 4% and 42% respectively.

PayPoint chief executive Dominic Taylor said: “Overall trading for the period to 31 December 2013 was in line with market expectations, taking seasonality into account. Our retail businesses are continuing to generate satisfactory growth this year.

”Bringing the e & m businesses under single management will provide the opportunity to unlock better growth, which should lead to improved returns on our invested capital in these businesses.”