Have you been looking around to open a bank account within the UK? Initially, everyone might have struggled if they don’t have a good credit history within the country. This is where digital banks play their role. Starling Bank is a similar platform to provide ease of banking for all.
Starling Bank has been operational since 2017 and has made its name and fame in the digital banking industry. If you are interested in digital banking, read the article to learn more about the bank and its features and accounts.
What is Starling Bank?
Starling Bank is a privately owned, independent company. The head office is in London, while the offices are in Dublin, Cardiff, and Southampton. Anne Boden founded the company in 2016, and it launched its first mobile-friendly current account in 2017.
The company aims to allow every resident within the UK to have a current account. The platform is not restricted to branches, but one can have only a mobile account, with a dedicated MasterCard to the rescue.
Is Starling Bank Safe?
Starling Bank is registered in Wales and England; therefore, it is fully licensed by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). Moreover, it is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Therefore, the bank is secure and safe as any other bank within the country.
Starling Bank Accounts
Like any other bank, you can choose different types of accounts; Starling Bank also offers them under its umbrella. Starling Bank has it all open to you, whether a current, joint, or business account.
Starling Bank Personal Accounts
To have your hands on a personal account with Starling Bank, you must download the app on your smartphone. The requirement remains that you must be above 16 years of age and a UK resident.
A picture, a passport, or a driving license within the UK is required for validation purposes. Starling Bank commits that the account can be established within five minutes after proper verification, unlike conventional banks, requiring hours of the process.
Starling Connected Card
The connected card is a secondary card linked to the main account within Starling Bank. The benefit of this card is that you can give the card to anyone in your trusted circle within the family of friends for expenditure.
The card has a monthly cap limit of £200, stored in a separate space within the app. The connected cardholder cannot access your main account, and one cannot utilise the card for gambling or ATM stations.
Starling Kite Account
A Starling kite account is specially designed to cater to young children aged between 6 to 16 years of age. It allows them to save their money and spend accordingly. However, the kite account is made under a personal account beneficiary.
The kite account card costs £2 per month. The account holders can set up spending limits within the app and manage their savings. There is no additional charge for transferring money to or from a personal account to a kite account.
Starling Bank Business Account
The business account is similar to a personal account; however, the application process is longer. Starling claims the process to be completed within 10 minutes after basic verification.
For a business account creation, download the app, and enter your personal and business details along with a video ID verification. Starling Bank also offers a business toolkit for £7 per month, which allows you additional bookkeeping within the app.
Starling Bank Login
To start using your Starling bank account, you must have an account with the bank. Once the account is created, you have to log in and enjoy the perks of your account. We’ve mentioned the steps to create the Starling bank account below.
- Download the Starling Bank app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
- Create an account, provide your name, date of birth, residential address, and a valid email ID.
- You will be prompted to verify yourself with a selfie video and a picture of your valid ID.
- The approval might take a few minutes.
- Once the account is approved, you link your account to Apple Pay or Google Wallet as per your liking.
- The MasterCard is received at the registered address within three to five working days.
- As you receive your MasterCard, link it to the app, and you’re set to use it wherever you want.
Now you can enjoy the benefits the card and the account offer. Starling bank login is very simple and easy. One may not have any difficulty using the app.
Cost of Starling Bank
There is no joining or sign-up fee with Starling Bank. You only pay exchange rates set by MasterCard on expenditures and withdrawals from ATMs internationally. Overdraft charges may vary between 15% to 35% AER depending on your credit score.
Starling Bank Address
As stated earlier, Starling Bank is a digital bank with no physical branches. However, the company eases the pain by mentioning physical addresses if you need to mention the address anywhere for verification purposes.
Suppose you say one can use a debit address, 5th floor, Brunel House, 2 Fitzalan Road, Cardiff, CF24 0FG, Starling Bank Operations Team. For a branch address, one can utilise the 5th floor London Fruit and Wool Exchange, 1 Duyal Square, London, UK, E1 6PW.
Starling Bank Contact Number
They have introduced multiple channels to contact Starling Bank for any query. The channels to contact are an in-app chat box, registered email ID, and telephone number. The Starling bank contact number is 0207 930 4450.
The list of services that the numbers mentioned above and email addresses can avail of are listed below.
Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
| The setup is fast and easy | The account only allowed for UK residents |
| No monthly fee or charges | Joint account holders cannot get an overdraft |
| 24/7 access to the account and support center | Some features are limited to personal accounts only. |
| Safe and secure system |
Starling Bank Reviews
The Starling Bank has been rated 4.3 out of 5 in the world of digital banks. It is believed to offer spontaneous and impeccable services to its customers. We’ve attached a few reviews below to help our readers.
Conclusion
Starling Bank is a bank of the future with its founding stone in the 21st century. The bank offers easy access from wherever you are, even in the comfort of your home. Starling Bank also offers budget and investing tools to its customers.
Furthermore, Starling Bank has introduced an innovative experience as it provides a bank that fits in one’s pocket. You can utilise its services throughout the day and night and even on gazetted holidays. All in all, Starling Bank has changed the view of banking altogether. Visit Somquest to learn more about mobile banking accounts.