Overview
Starling Bank, at a glance.
Starling Bank is a bank headquartered in the United Kingdom, regulated by PRA. The business account has no monthly fee. Opening an account takes 3–5 days.
Eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £120,000.
Why businesses pick Starling Bank
- No monthly fee and no opening fee
- A licensed UK bank with FSCS protection up to £120,000
- No Starling fee on card spending abroad
- Euro account for £2 a month
- Trustpilot score of 4.3 from more than 48,000 reviews
Watch out for
- Only for companies registered at UK Companies House
- All owners and directors must live in the UK
- Holding companies, financial services, gambling and businesses holding client money are not accepted
- Dollar account applications are paused
- A CHAPS payment costs £20
Business fit
Will Starling Bank accept your business?
Four quick answers. Where your company is registered and what it does rule a provider in or out faster than anything else.
Based on Starling Bank's published rules
Likely fit
Starling Bank lists both United Kingdom companies and UK limited companies as accepted.
Starling Bank does not publish a minimum company age or turnover, so those two answers are not checked here.
This is one provider. Your profile checks all of them.
- Every provider that fits your business
- The reason behind each match
- Company age and turnover checked too
Who it works with
Accepted and not accepted.
What Starling Bank publishes about the businesses it takes on.
Who Starling Bank serves
- Startups and SMEs
- Professional services
- E-commerce
All 4 industries on Starling Bank's accepted list
- UK limited companies
- Limited liability partnerships
- Community Interest Companies
- SMEs and trading businesses
Not supported
Industries and countries Starling Bank does not accept, from its own published lists.
Industries
- Businesses regularly making significant cash deposits
- Banking, credit and other financial services
- Businesses holding client money, including accountants and solicitors
- Defence or weapons, including manufacture/distribution of weapons, explosives or armaments
- Gambling or betting, including lotteries or competitions
- Unregistered or unregulated charities
- Dealing in antiques, art, watches, precious metals or precious stones
- Dating or escort services
- Sale of used vehicles
- Pornography or adult entertainment
- Distribution of non-licensed drugs, including cannabidiol/CBD
- Political parties
- Mining and commodities
Countries
- Not published
Coverage
Where can you use Starling Bank?
Coverage is a starting point. It does not confirm that every business in these markets is eligible.
Supported currencies
3 currencies
- EUR
- USD
- GBP
Payment reach
Not published
Who can apply
Company incorporation countries1 countries · show list
- United Kingdom
Owner nationality
Not publishedOwner residency1 countries · show list
- United Kingdom
Company types
UK limited companies, Limited liability partnerships (LLP), Community interest companies
Pricing
What does Starling Bank cost?
Look beyond the monthly fee. Your total cost depends on how many transfers you make, where they go and how much you convert.
Account cost
Opening fee
Free
Monthly fee
£0–2
depends on plan
Business current account
Lowest cost£0 per month
£0 setup · £0 in year one
Euro account
£2 per month
£0 setup · £24 in year one
Transaction fees
| Cost | Listed amount | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Outgoing | ||
| SEPA | Free | No charge · From the euro account |
| Faster Payments (GBP) | Free | No charge |
| CHAPS (GBP) | £20 | Fixed fee |
Other fees
Currency exchange (FX)
| Cost | Listed amount | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| FX markup | 0.4% | Percentage of the amount · Between your Starling accounts |
Cards
| Cost | Listed amount | How it is charged |
|---|---|---|
| Physical card issue | Free | No charge · A replacement costs £5 |
| Card FX | Free | No charge |
Onboarding
From application to live account.
Opening an account typically takes three to five business days.
- 1
Apply
Start the application online or through the sales team.
- 2
Company and people
Give the company's registration details, directors and owners.
- 3
Checks
Upload the documents requested and complete identity verification.
- 4
Account live
Once approved, the account is opened and you receive its details.
Documents you need
Not published
FAQ
Your questions, answered.
Is Starling a bank?
Yes. Starling Bank Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the FCA, reference 730166. Eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000.
How much does a Starling business account cost?
Nothing a month. A euro account costs £2 a month, a CHAPS payment £20, and converting between your accounts 0.4%.
Who can open a Starling business account?
UK limited companies, LLPs and community interest companies registered at Companies House, whose owners and directors all live in the UK.
Which businesses does Starling not accept?
Its list includes financial services, businesses holding client money, gambling, weapons, unregistered charities, dealers in art, watches and precious metals, cash-heavy businesses and holding companies.
Alternatives
How Starling Bank compares.
If Starling Bank is not the right fit, these providers work with similar businesses. Compare their listed licences and services below.
| Provider | Licensed in | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Starling BankThis pageBank |  | Free accountDeposit protection |
 Revolut BusinessBank |  | Cards and spend controlsStartups and SMEs |
 Wise BusinessE-money institution |  | Low FX costsStandard businesses |
 Paysend BusinessE-money institution |   | UK companies33 currencies |
 Equals MoneyPayment institution | | Multi-currency IBANExpense cards |
Not sure which one fits? Your profile ranks them for your business, with the reason behind each.