Starling

Your habit-building current account.

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

You must be 18 or over, live in the UK, and have valid photo ID to apply for a personal current account. Terms and eligibility criteria apply.

Why choose us?

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

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

If you’re awake, so are we.
24/7 support, 365 days a year, from our UK-based teams. No ifs, no bots.

More features from your award-winning current account

Instant alerts

We’ll let you know every time you spend, get paid or pay a bill. And if you want, we can also notify you whenever your account balance hits or dips below a certain amount.

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.

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

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.


To open a Starling personal current account, you must be a UK resident aged 18 or over, with a valid photo ID and a UK mobile number. You’ll also need a smartphone to use our app. We’ll carry out a soft credit check as part of the application process – this won’t affect your credit score. Additional eligibility criteria may apply.

Everything you want

Everything you want

A quick note on fees

There’s no monthly fee and no charges for day-to-day account use. We’ll always be upfront about any extras, like cash deposits over £1,000 a year or CHAPS payments, and we’ll show you any costs in the app before you go ahead.

See our full fees and charges for all the details.

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.

How do we stack up
against other banks?

Feature

Starling - Current Account

NatWest - Select Account

Lloyds Bank - Classic Account

HSBC - Bank Account

Santander - Everyday Current Account

Monzo - Current Account

App Transaction History

real time

pending transactions

pending transactions

pending transactions

pending transactions

real time

Mobile App Card Security

lock, unlock, cancel

lock, unlock, cancel

cancel

lock, unlock, cancel

lock, unlock, cancel

lock, unlock, cancel

Arranged Overdraft Representative APR

15.00%

39.49%

29.90%

39.94%

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 Imagi

Compare all banks and features

Data supplied by Defaqto and correct as of 16 February 2026.

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

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!

Do I need any documents to apply?

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

 

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 February 2026.

As part of a regulatory requirement, an independent survey was conducted to ask approximately 1,000 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.

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

Important information

Current Account General Terms

Personal Current Account Schedule and Rates, Fees & Charges

Glossary of Banking Terms

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