A quick how-to

Apple Pay for your Starling bank account

Add your Starling debit card to Apple Pay and start spending instantly on your iPhone or Apple Watch. You can make fast, secure purchases in stores, in apps, on the web – wherever you see the Apple Pay or Contactless sign.

How to set up Apple Pay

Step 1

Make sure you’ve got the latest version of the Starling Bank app.

Step 2

Go to the ‘Card’ section of the app and tap ‘Add to Apple Wallet’

Step 3

You’ll see a ‘Card added’ notification and tick when it’s all complete.

Step 4

If you’re happy with Starling's T&Cs, accept them and you should be good to go.

In some cases, you might be asked to verify by phone. We’ll send you a code to enter, then you should be set up.

If you prefer, you can also add your Starling card to Apple Pay directly from your Wallet app. Tap the plus sign in the top right corner of the screen then follow the instructions to add your card to your wallet.

Please note: mobile wallet functionality may not be available to all customers.

Why use Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is as simple as using your physical card – and with Face ID and Touch ID, it’s highly secure. Plus, in most shops Apple Pay can be used for transactions over the contactless card limit.

Use Apple Pay anywhere you see the Apple Pay or Contactless icons — in-store, online and in-app. Hold your iPhone near the reader and verify using either your fingerprint with Touch ID or using Face ID. If you’re paying with an Apple Watch, hold it near the reader and double tap the side button.

It’s compatible with:

Apple Watch (1st generation or later)
iPhone models with Touch ID (excluding 5S) and Face ID
iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini models with Touch ID or Face ID
Mac models with Touch ID (when using Safari)

Using Apple Pay on TfL

You can use Apple Pay with TfL to speed through ticket barriers and bus card readers. No need to use Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode – just tap your iPhone or Apple Watch and hey presto… First, though, you’ll have to turn on Express Transit mode.

How to enable Express Transit mode for TfL

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or the ‘My Watch’ tab of Watch App app.

Tap ‘Wallet & Apple Pay’, then tap ‘Express Transit Card’.

Select your Starling card, then authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.

You’ll need an iPhone 6S or later running iOS 12.4 or an Apple Watch with at least WatchOS 5.2.1 installed. You can use with Express Transit mode with a maximum of one iPhone and one Apple Watch per iCloud account.

If you’re paying with an Apple Watch, hold it near the reader and double tap the side button.

Use it anywhere you see the Apple Pay or Contactless icons — in-store, online and in-app. Hold your iPhone near the reader and verify with Face ID.

Apple Pay, Apple, Apple Wallet and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions.

You may want to know...

How do I make my Starling debit card the default card?
Just open your Apple Wallet and drag the card to the front.
What if I lose my mobile phone?
If your Apple Pay enabled phone (or another device) ever goes missing, you can deactivate Apple Pay by placing your device in “Lost Mode” via Find My iPhone or “Removing All Cards” on icloud.com. You can also temporarily prevent unauthorised Apple Pay transactions by blocking your Starling Bank card - just contact us via webchat or email and we can block it for you.
What if I lose my iPad, Apple Watch or laptop?
If you lose an Apple Pay enabled device (other than your phone), you can lock your Starling Bank card in the app, then unlock it once you’ve sorted it out. Go to Card Management and tap the ‘Card Active’ toggle, which will deactivate it. You can also deactivate Apple Pay by placing your device in “Lost Mode” via Find My iPhone or “Removing All Cards” on icloud.com.