Also known as: Starling Bank; Starling
Starling Bank Ltd is a UK digital bank that operates through a smartphone app and online platform. Founded in 2014 and launched to customers in 2017, it is one of the leading challenger banks in the UK and was one of the first to reach profitability among its peers.
Starling offers personal current accounts, joint accounts, and business accounts for sole traders and limited companies. The personal account comes with a debit card, real-time spending notifications, savings spaces (similar to savings pots), and a marketplace of financial products from partner providers. There are no physical branches.
The bank is well regarded for its business banking offering, which includes invoicing tools, accounting integrations, and multi-currency features. Personal customers benefit from fee-free overseas spending on the standard account.
Starling has also offered personal loans and overdrafts to eligible customers. It participates in government-backed lending schemes for small businesses.
If you have a Starling account and need to contact support, this is handled through the app or by email. Their registered address is 3rd Floor, The Breadworks, 1 Cucumber Alley, London, N1C 4AG. Starling Bank Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by both the PRA and the Financial Conduct Authority. Eligible deposits are protected up to £85,000 under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
If you are experiencing financial difficulty with a Starling product, free advice is available from StepChange on 0800 138 1111 or National Debtline on 0808 808 4000.
Quick summary
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These are general questions that may be relevant to your situation. They are not personalised advice.
Always use contact details from Starling Bank Ltd’s official website ↗ or the FCA Register — not from unexpected letters or messages.
Main products and services
Personal current accounts; joint accounts; savings spaces; overdrafts; business current accounts; EUR and USD accounts; Engine by Starling (B2B banking-as-a-service); payment services
Trading names and group notes
App-only bank, no physical branches. Approximately 4.5 million personal customers and 500,000 business accounts as of 2025. Engine by Starling (B2B banking-as-a-service platform) is a growing revenue stream. FCA Final Notice October 2024: £28.98m fine for financial crime/sanctions screening failures. Confirmation statement February 2026 on record at Companies House.Review scores are third-party public indicators only. They are not proof of FCA compliance, product quality, or suitability for your circumstances.
Trustpilot
4.1
45000 reviews
App Store
4.8
Google Play
4.7
Other review sources
Which? Customer Score: 79%; Smart Money People: 4.3/5; Which? Recommended Provider historically; FSCS protected deposits up to £85,000; multiple awards for business banking
Overall public sentiment
Good on Trustpilot (4.1/5, Great). Customers value business banking features, instant notifications, and app usability. Some negative reviews relate to account freezes and the 2024 FCA fine. Overall sentiment strongly positive, particularly among business customers.
Review sources
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Source URLs used in preparing this record
Date checked
2026-06-05
Next review due
Periodic review
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