Tell us what you think of this provider.
Great to use abroad
We use our Starling card mainly on holidays after our son suggested it, much easier than the old days of getting cash from exchange, we now only take minimal euros with us.
Notifications every time I spend, brilliant idea…
It’s not my main bank, but it’s wonderful, from saving spaces and notifications every time I use my card…other banks should all do that, because sometimes I don’t check my main account every day, then I missed an unauthorised payment, luckily I still got it refunded.
Starling is brilliant for spending when on holiday as there are no hidden charges as long as you spend in the local currency.
Saving spaces let’s me save towards winter energy bills, so I earn the interest on my money, not the energy companies, especially as some people get 100s of pounds in credit with energy companies.
Simple savings with Starling…
Great bank!
Relatively straightforward to use and excellent customer service. I also love being able to create Savings spaces! And…I get a little interest each month, just on my current account!
Banking
Banking
Starling a bank that listens
Banking with Starling is an enjoyable experience
Best thing I ever did
Whilst on holiday I saw a friend using the card for this bank, I’d not heard of it and she explained everything to me, saying that it was excellent, I applied for 1 and put money on it each month, only use it on holidays, fantastic exchange rates, and save’s getting foreign currency or carrying a large amount of money on you.
Best thing I ever did joining this bank and have recommended it to family and friends.
Excellent bank but…..
Overall I’m very pleased with Starling. The app is excellent and it does everything I want it to do. Except. Why can’t I open an Euro currency account? I’ve tried several times.
My go to debit card – easier than cash
Just use the current account and debit card. Very easy to use and monitor everything through the app. Free overseas spending is great so I use the card at home and abroad instead of cash. Very happy with everything.
A simple life!
Simple, intuitive app., great to use.
Excellent
Brilliant app
Amazing
Just the best bank I’ve had the good fortune to come across. Slick. Informative. & caring.
Good bank
Banking with Starling is so easy and Im confident that my money is safe. Would highly recommend
Head and shoulders above high streets banks
You can do all your banking on the sofa. Not so abscessed with security. Just enough to make sure it is you.
Great to use
Excellent
The best
Fast and easy to use
Excellent online bank
Everything is done immediately, no worries and a reasonable rate of interest on my balance. Refreshing following my disastrous association with the crooked N26 online bank in Berlin with whom I lost thousands. It’s great to now have a safe account with Starling, where I can hold Sterling and Euros.
A happy customer!
I love my Starling account !
I was nervous about having an online bank account but it’s been so easy with Starling!! Well done!
Simply simple banking.
Simple clear and full of useful features.
Excellent
Easy to use and the pots and virtual cards make separating money so easy. Love it
Best Bank
Best Bank I have used over my lifetime
Starling Bank: A UK digital bank with modern features and competitive savings
Provider: Starling Bank
Verdict: Starling Bank is a UK digital challenger bank offering personal, joint, euro and business accounts. It has no monthly fees, FSCS protection on deposits up to £85,000, and is regulated by the FCA and PRA. Starling is based in London, with its registered Starling Bank address at 2 Finsbury Avenue, London, EC2M 2PP.
Is Starling Bank good?
For most users, yes. Starling Bank offers fee-free banking, competitive savings rates, and an excellent app. Is Starling going bust? No — despite regulatory fines, it remains stable, FSCS-protected, and growing. It’s one of the strongest digital options for personal and business accounts, as long as you are comfortable with app-based banking and don’t need branches.
Pricing & Interest Rates
Starling Bank has built its reputation on transparent pricing and competitive interest rates. Its Easy Saver account currently pays interest on 12-month terms. It has removed interest on standard current accounts from February 2025, reducing returns for customers holding large balances.
There are no monthly account fees, and Starling does not charge extra for spending abroad, using Mastercard’s exchange rate for foreign card payments and ATM withdrawals. These features make it attractive for both domestic and overseas use.
Products & Features
Starling Bank offers a full range of current and savings accounts, plus business and euro accounts. It has budgeting tools like Spaces for ring-fencing money, Bills Manager for setting aside funds, instant transaction notifications, and strong card controls.
Business customers can connect accounting software through the Starling Marketplace and access free UK payments and integrated spending insights.
There is no Starling Bank credit card yet, but its core products are broad and well integrated, giving users strong day-to-day banking functionality.
App & Website
The Starling Bank app is one of the strongest in UK banking. It has a clean design, reliable performance, and highly rated features like cheque imaging, instant alerts, spending categories, savings goals, and card freezing.
The app and online banking platform are regularly updated, and customer reviews praise their stability and ease of use. Starling Bank login is secure and fast, and you can open or close accounts entirely through the app without needing branches.
But website bank account access is limited.
Safety & Reliability
Starling is a licensed UK bank with full FSCS protection and robust security tools like biometric login, fraud monitoring and instant card controls. It has faced scrutiny, with the FCA fining it £29 million in 2024 for “shockingly lax” anti-money laundering controls, which has raised questions about Starling Bank financial struggles and governance, though it remains solvent and operational.
The bank has since pledged to improve compliance systems. While these failings dented its reputation, Starling Bank is safe overall, and is Starling a UK bank? Yes, it is fully regulated and headquartered in London.
Customer Experience
Customer reviews are generally positive, praising fast account opening, helpful in-app chat support, and the absence of fees. Users say it is intuitive to use day-to-day and Starling Bank abroad works well, with no extra charges for foreign spending or ATM withdrawals.
Cash deposits are possible at Post Office branches using a Starling Bank sort code and account number, which answers common questions like how to pay cash into Starling Bank or how to put cash into Starling Bank.
There are occasional complaints about delays resolving complex fraud or disputes, but these are relatively rare.
Pros
- Excellent mobile banking app
- No monthly account fees
- Strong savings interest rates
- Instant spending notifications
- FSCS protected up to £85k
Cons
- No physical bank branches
- Lost current account interest
- Past FCA regulatory fine
- Limited cash deposit options
- No Starling credit card
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Pricing & Interest Rates
(4)
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Products & Features
(4)
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App & Website
(5)
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Safety & Reliability
(4.5)
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Customer Experience
(4.5)
Overall
4.4
Starling’s cash ISA may be convenient but you can get better rates elsewhere
Starling Bank’s Cash ISA currently only pays 2.5% AER, which is over 1% below the Bank of England base rate. If you are looking for better returns on your savings we’ve put together a list of Starling Cash ISA alternatives. Important note: Cash ISAs are generally a good way to tuck money away in the
Starling Bank Easy Saver account launches paying a competitive 4% interest
Starling Bank has introduced a new Easy Saver account to its platform, aimed at providing a simple and seamless saving experience for its customers. The new Easy Saver account offers an interest rate of 4% AER on balances up to £1 million, with daily interest calculations and monthly payouts, which is very competitive with savings
Anne Boden, Starling Bank CEO on how they offer some of the best international money transfer exchange rates in the market
About four years ago I set up a currency transfer service (it was called Berry FX if you must know). Because more years ago than that I used to be a prime broker for client-facing foreign exchange services. We used to convert some (relatively speaking) large amounts and deliver around £20m Euros, USD, Danish Krone etc.