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The current account
built for you

Organise your money, view spending insights and split payments all on one easy-to-use app.


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4% AER

Introducing the Easy Saver

Our new easy-access savings account, paying 4% AER, 3.92% gross variable* interest. Easy to add money, with no minimum deposit. Easy to withdraw to your personal current account, with no need to give notice, no penalties and no maximum number of withdrawals.


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*18+, UK residents. Interest paid monthly. Starling personal current account required. Subject to eligibility. Gross is the contractual rate of interest payable before the deduction of income tax at the rate specified by law; AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and compounded once each year.

Why choose us?

  • Apply in the app 

    No more lengthy calls or standing in line to open an account. 

  • Smart money tools

    A range of tools to help you manage your money.

  • If you’re awake, so are we

    24/7 support from UK-based humans, no bots here. 

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Man paying in a shop, holding out his Staring card to a payment terminal.

Feel more organised

Spaces are like virtual change jars within your account. Use it to set aside and organise your money – however you like – then add a name and picture to make it your own.


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spaces feed

See where it all goes

Keep an eye on where your money’s going with Spending Insights. Spot trends across 50+ different categories and create customisable graphs to help you visualise your spending better.


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Collection of transactions

More features from your award-winning current account

notifications

Instant alerts

We’ll send you a phone notification every time you spend, get paid, or pay a bill. It’s great for keeping track of the ins and outs.

bills

Bills manager

Put bills on autopilot, and pay them from a separate Space in your app. You’ll get a clear view of what’s left for daily spending.

Orange virtual card screenshot from app

Virtual cards

Have a debit card for every budget. Each virtual card is linked to a Space, and can only spend the money in that Space.

settle up

Settle up

Get paid quickly by sending payment links to friends with Settle Up, with no need to swap bank details – even if they don’t use Starling.

Everything you need

  • 24/7 support, 365 days a year, from our UK-based teams. No ifs, no bots.

  • Deposit cheques of up to £1,000 by simply taking a photo of it in the app.

  • Withdraw £300 a day from ATMs. Deposit £1,000 each year for free, with a 0.7% fee thereafter.

  • No fees from us overseas. We won’t charge for using your card abroad.

  • Mobile wallet. Add your debit card to spend with your phone.

  • Lock your card with a tap if you misplace it, so it can’t be used.

  • Online banking if you prefer to manage your money on a computer.

  • Contactless payments. Choose your own limit, up to £100.

  • Statements are downloadable in the app, with custom ranges.

Everything you want

  • Round Ups adds spare change from every transaction to a Space.

  • Recycled debit cards made from at least 90% recycled plastic.

  • Split incoming payments across your different accounts and Spaces.

  • Connected cards. Allow someone you trust to spend on your behalf.

  • Gambling block can be turned on, to prevent any betting transactions.

  • Nearby Payments allows you to pay other Starling users via Bluetooth.

  • International payments. Easily send money in the app to 35 countries.

  • Earn 3.25% AER / 3.19% Gross interest on balances up to £5,000 (includes money in a main balance together with any money in Spaces, such as Kite Space). Interest is paid monthly into the adult’s personal or joint account.

*AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and compounded once each year. Gross is the contractual rate of interest payable before the deduction of income tax at the rate specified by law. Interest is paid monthly. See illustrative example.

We’re removing the interest rate from our personal and joint current accounts on 10 February 2025. If you have an account with us, you can carry on earning interest on balances up to £5,000 until 10 February 2025. We’ll send existing Starling customers more information about this interest rate change.

CASS

It’s so easy to
switch your account to us

The Current Account Switch Service does it all for you. Money, payees and Direct Debits are moved in seven working days.

Plus, money sent to your old account is instantly forwarded to your new account.


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How do we stack up
against other banks?

Feature
Starling LogoStarling Bank - Current Account
Natwest LogoNatWest - Select Account
Lloyds Bank LogoLloyds Bank - Classic Account
HSBC LogoHSBC - Bank Account
Santander LogoSantander - Everyday Current Account
Monzo LogoMonzo - Current Account
App Transaction History
real timepending transactionspending transactionspending transactionspending transactionsreal time
Mobile App Card Security
lock, unlock, cancellock, unlock, cancelcancellock, unlock, cancellock, unlocklock, unlock, cancel
AER interest on £1,000
3.25%0%0%0%0%0%
Arranged Overdraft Representative APR
15.00%39.49%39.90%38.90%39.94%39.00%
ATM World £100 Cost
£0£2.75£4.49£4.75£2.95£0
Faster Payments App Limit
£1,000,000£20,000£25,000£50,000£25,000£10,000
App Cheque Imaging
Includes app cheque imagingIncludes app cheque imagingIncludes app cheque imagingIncludes app cheque imagingIncludes app cheque imagingIncludes app cheque imaging

Compare all banks and features

We’re removing the interest rate from our personal and joint current accounts on 10 February 2025. If you have an account with us, you can carry on earning interest on balances up to £5,000 until February 2025. We’ll send existing Starling customers more information about this interest rate change.

Data supplied by Defaqto and correct as of 25 November 2024.

Apply for a Starling bank account today and enjoy app-based banking at its best.

Start your application

Frequently asked questions


What is a current account?

It’s a bank account designed for holding and withdrawing money. Most people have their salaries paid into a current account, and they’re used for things like Direct Debits, paying bills, and your day-to-day shopping.

Is a debit card a current account?

When you open a personal current account, you’ll usually be sent a debit card, too – so you can make transactions from your account. Learn more about debit cards, account numbers and sort codes.

When you open a Starling personal current account, we’ll aim to have your debit card with you after 5-7 working days. You can add the digital version of your debit card to your mobile wallet as soon as your account is approved, and can use it to spend straight away – even before your physical card arrives!

How much interest will I earn with a personal current account?

You’ll earn 3.25% AER* / 3.19% Gross* (variable) interest on balances up to £5,000. You will earn interest on the money in your main balance together with any money in Spaces, including Connected card and Kite Spaces.

The current account interest rate does not apply to Fixed Savers, which is a savings product with its own rate.

Interest is calculated daily and paid on the first day of each month. The interest rate we offer is subject to change.

We’re removing the interest rate from our personal and joint current accounts on 10 February 2025. If you have an account with us, you can carry on earning interest on balances up to £5,000 until February 2025. We’ll send existing Starling customers more information about this interest rate change.

*AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and compounded once each year. Gross is the contractual rate of interest payable before the deduction of income tax at the rate specified by law. See illustrative example.

Do I need any documents to apply?

To open an account, you’ll need to provide at least one of the following ID documents:

  • A valid passport

  • EU/EEA ID card

  • UK residence permit

  • UK photocard driving licence (full or provisional)

We may also ask you to provide a document that proves your address. We’ll perform a soft credit check, which won’t affect your credit score.

Independent service quality survey results

Personal current accounts, Great Britain

Published August 2024.

As part of a regulatory requirement, an independent survey was conducted to ask approximately 1000 customers of each of the 17 largest personal current account providers if they would recommend their provider to friends and family. The results represent the view of customers who took part in the survey.

View the full set of results

The requirement to publish the Financial Conduct Authority Service Quality Information for personal current accounts can be found here.

Starling overall service quality survey results: Rank 1, Monzo, 80%. Rank 2, Starling Bank, 79%. Rank 3, Chase, 78%. Rank 4, First Direct, 74%. Rank 5, Nationwide, 66%.


Apply for a Starling bank account today and enjoy app-based banking at its best.

Start your application
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