Starling Bank

2837 reviews

5th Floor, Fruit & Wool Exchange, Duval Square, London E1 6PW, United Kingdom

www.starlingbank.com

+442079304450

About

Starling Bank is a Bank located at 5th Floor, Fruit & Wool Exchange, Duval Square, London E1 6PW, United Kingdom. It has received 2837 reviews with an average rating of 3.6 stars.

Photos

Hours

MondayOpen 24 hours
TuesdayOpen 24 hours
WednesdayOpen 24 hours
ThursdayOpen 24 hours
FridayOpen 24 hours
SaturdayOpen 24 hours
SundayOpen 24 hours

F.A.Q

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The address of Starling Bank: 5th Floor, Fruit & Wool Exchange, Duval Square, London E1 6PW, United Kingdom

  • Starling Bank has 3.6 stars from 2837 reviews

  • Bank

  • "Starling froze my wages around two years ago on pay day and didn’t tell me why"

    "Wow - I honestly don’t think I’ve ever dealt with a business who is this disgraceful"

    "So costumer 3"

    "We recently had an extremely frustrating experience with Starling Bank"

    "This bank is absolutely amazing because they are the first generation of digital bank that has opened ways for others like Monzo, e money institutions like Revolut and many more bank and e money institutions that are here today"

Reviews

  • Pump

Starling froze my wages around two years ago on pay day and didn’t tell me why. Gave me the run around and after a day (I had no other savings with a chronic disability to manage requiring me to eat to not go into a coma), they unlocked the account after I threatened to take them to the European Court of Human Rights and the Ombudsman. Absolutely Orwellian banking practices, verminous in fact. Leaving customers with no ability to pay for food to survive with Type 1 diabetes. I had my complaint upheld by the FCA after about a year waiting for them to get back to me and received compensation. I then needed an account to pay a cheque into as my current banks don’t allow it so I tried to open a new account with Starling. I was told upon trying “we’re unable to offer you an account and can’t tell you why but need to safeguard against fraud” etc. For a current account with no overdraft facility and upon being provided with a valid Passport. I can only conclude that I’ve been red listed in some way and victimised for getting one over on Starling and exposing their disgraceful and harmful antics. As the Nigel Farage episode with another bank shows, there is indeed a culture of discrimination in banking where having the wrong views or going against the system in some way to expose corruption can see you “punished”, targeted and oppressed. Starling are verminous and have never explained to me why my wages were frozen or why I’m not allowed an account. Yet I have five accounts with other banks, with no problems. Starling need to be looked into as they not only have been responsible for depriving a clinically-vulnerable person of the ability to buy food but are, in my view, discriminating against certain customers who challenge their questionable behaviour.

  • Will

Wow - I honestly don’t think I’ve ever dealt with a business who is this disgraceful. So much so that I have had to involve the ombudsman, as well as my own solicitor to try to recover costs that occurred due to Starlings incompetence. After using the current account switch service, they transferred all my money into their account, but did not send me a bank card. Instead of resolving this on a next day service, they chose to keep on telling me to ‘use Apple Pay’ which is not a solution as I cannot withdraw cash, or spend money in places that do not offer Apple Pay. I do not live in a big city and Apple Pay is not a common thing near me. I have had to cancel a holiday, as well as be left without access to any of my money - especially bad given the cost of living crisis we are in. My partner who is currently off work with a medical issue has had to pay for everything and the stress and mental health issues that Starling have caused us is irreparable. To make matters worse, they also blocked me using the current account switch service to get away from them, something for which I still have had no reasoning explained to me. They then took a ridiculous amount of time to ‘investigate’ my complaint, and have come back with a long winded response that addresses absolutely nothing and instead says ‘we’ve acted appropriately’. Seemingly their money greedy stakeholders think that stealing money and causing people stress is appropriate. Due to holiday cancellation, I have lost over £500 because of Starling and they are refusing to compensate a single penny. I am now faced with the further stress of a legal battle to regain the money I have lost, as well as compensation for the mental health issues caused purely by Starling.

  • The Honest

So costumer 3.5 years, opened a business mid pandemic, never had any government loans, help, etc. We just growed quarter by quarter, company never had any financial problems, all paid vat, corporation tax, never missed a payment on any thing, small business, but a more than average turnover for 11 staff company. 2 credit cards with other companies /all paid in full each month/ credit score on experian 100 business/ personal credit scores of directors excellent both no ever any adverse events / yet they refuse any line of credit, business load, overdraft. Nothing. It's a joke of a bank, they are good just for using them to hold your money and transactioning. Nothing else. They don't look to help grow no one. And yeah 2nd they don't offer bank refrenceing. When we were in thre process to open 2nd business, we were asked for a reference from lur main bank. - apparently they don't don't. So being with them 3 year plus but aren't able to give a simple referencing about how is your company with money. A total joke. Avoid, go to high street banks at least in case of anything you can meet someone face to face.not just heartless over the phone and online people which in 90% of the cases they won't help in any way.

  • Uzma Qaiser

We recently had an extremely frustrating experience with Starling Bank. They abruptly halted our access to the business account just before month-end, leaving us unable to pay our staff. Despite spending hours on the phone over the past week, the support team promised resolution emails that never arrived. Only a day before month-end, we received an email stating our account would be closed in three months, without granting immediate access. A bank staff named Harshad, who contacted us, was unhelpful, rude, and uninformed about our ongoing issues and rang us just to inform that our account will be closed in three months time as all the PSC are unable to access the app. It was quite strange as he was telling us to get all our money moved to other some account without giving us any access to the account. We strongly caution others against using Starling Bank for smooth running of their business accounts. We do appreciate the efforts of Meiya, the only staff member who genuinely tried to assist us last night but all in vain. Our concern now lies in how we can pay our hardworking staff today after a month of waiting for their salaries.

  • Huseyin Besguller

This bank is absolutely amazing because they are the first generation of digital bank that has opened ways for others like Monzo, e money institutions like Revolut and many more bank and e money institutions that are here today. The bank allows me to deposit at post office, withdraw at post office, open other accounts like Euro account, business account, multi currency business account, connected card, savings spaces, kite account and teen account. The staff are knowledgeable, punctual, friendly, attentive, respectful, supportive, responsive, sociable, understanding, well behaved, well mannered, professional, honest and well organised. The best thing about this bank you get to use abroad at the mid market rate rather than paying hidden when I use regular high street bank like Santander or Halifax. Apply for account and get this card to use before it is too late. Although I never been to the building but I am guessing it is clean, tidy, modern, vibrant, big, huge, spacious, colourful, secure and safe which is better because you don’t want anyone breaking in the building. The saving rates are good as well.

  • sandra herbert

Update: Since leaving the review below, I raised a complaint with Starling and to their credit, the roadblock was fairly swiftly resolved. I have been using a Starling business account for three months now and so far have been very pleased with the way it operates. I have therefore uprated my review from one to four stars. I would give no stars if possible. Tried to open a business account and ended up in a Kafkaesque loop of requests for proof of address. Despite providing bank statements, credit card statements and a letter confirming that I am on the electoral roll at my address, I was told that I hadn't satisfied the requirements to prove that my address is residential as well as commercial (live/work building). Tried calling customer services to see if I could find someone with whom common sense would prevail and was left hanging on for ages before I gave up. Whole process took hours and now I have to start all over again with another bank. Appallingly intransigent and inflexible sign-up process. Reading other reviews, it seems I not alone, but clearly Starling have yet to take this on board.

  • Jason Scott

Reference number : 22272451 I recently raised a issue with starling bank, I had made a deposit for a apartment, the owner cancelled appointment said he wouldn’t be back for two weeks offered me a refund I agreed, no email confirmation and after few days no contact from owner, no monies returned. Starling within a couple of hours of having the facts say they cannot get my money back from the receiving bank. Now I’ve done transfers via my banking app to as far as China and a known British high street bank, when I explained they weren’t giving me access to the transferred money or refunding it, put in a recall for the funds, (this was not a scam company by the way,) managed to get my money back into my account in less than 2 days! So why can’t starling do the same, they were meant to contact the recording bank but I was only told that the person taking my complaint assumes that they bothered to contact the receiving bank. Either way I cannot trust starling to perform their duty of care to the best ability of this is how useless they are.

  • richard paddick

It seems as though that this bank only want a select few businesses. I have tried twice now, the first time I tried they wanted more and more documents which I dont have. considering as a business I have been running for 3 years and have accounts to match everything it makes no sense as to why they just refuse my application. Today I sat on the phone for over an hour getting someone to delete all the information which I had told them to do last time so I can try and make another application. I supplied everything and got to a point where they will review. They came back to me and just refused to open an account. I cant even go back and try. I have given them a call and the advisor just refused to even look into it and said there isnt anything they can tell me. (how can you just refuse and not advise on why. it would be handy so I can help with it). So now i cant go back and try and do a new application because the app has shut me out of it. Terrible service do not use. they would get no stars but i have to put at least one.

  • Ashley Spencer

Worst bank I’ve ever had to use!!! For some reason Starling bank think it is acceptable to freeze your bank account leaving you with no money to your money for 4 days!!! The back story to this is that I sold my car privately to a person on a Wednesday afternoon for £2800…when this transfer went into my account from the person who bought my car starling instantly froze and suspended my bank account. When trying to ring starling numerous times to clarify what was happening, nobody would talk to me just a simple it’s being looked into by the fraud department and they’ll be in touch with you…no timescale for when though!?!? Until Saturday afternoon when I had a message to provide lots of information such as screenshots of the full conversation between me and the private buyer of my car…pictures of the log book and so on and so on until they were happy and unfroze my account. Absolutely ridiculous and made me be without any money for 4 days. DO NOT GET A BANK WITH THIS AMATEUR CHEAP BASIC SET UP OF A BANKING SYSTEM.

  • Paul D-A

One must be honest! Starling has the best digital banking, not only in the UK but also in the EU. However, this is an app that is created entirely by technology specialists and not by financial advisors. BUT, the biggest problem is the customer support and financial advisors who work at this bank. For any questions, they require multiple documents and proof that you have had for a long time. They don't even read what you're asking. They respond very quickly to inquiries without checking anything, and most of the time, it's a negative response. Unfortunately... unable... I wanted to stay with Starling because their technology (App) was really good and straightforward. But I left the bank because opening a simple business account was very challenging. Even though with another bank (I won't mention the name so you don't think I'm advertising), it worked realy quickly and easily! Banking is not only about having good technology; they must also have good financial advisors. That I cannot see at Starling.

  • Pat K

I have been a business account holder for over 3 years. The experience has been OK, nothing special. I haven't been needy so no real demands put on them. I recently applied for a small overdraft for short term working capital. 1 week passes and no response, i had to chase. We are processing it! Then various questions, some which they have the info as they are my bank! Customer services even starting replying to me but my name had suddenly changed.... Laughable. Passed from pillar to post. Eventually some 2 weeks after applying, i provide even further detail and next day i'm told we cannot give you an overdraft. Such an unsupportive bank. In the meantime, my invoices have been paid and personal savings been dip into, so i haven't needed their help. I will be leaving for probably Lloyds Bank as i have personal recommendation on them being a supportive bank and no problem requesting an overdraft. So disappointed and let down by Starling Bank. I would not recommend.

  • Le Tza

Do NOT open an account with them!! Opened a virtual account on a Thursday , asked for all my life details, screenshots, mug photos, address, passport, last 5 years addresses etc etc; received a message saying it will take 24 hours until decision is made. Next day (it said “successful” but I need to update/upload more details. Asked again for more and some of the same details, then an hour later, I receive another message saying it will take 3-4 working days. The following week on Thursday, I receive another message saying it has been successful and now I can order my bank card, which will arrive in post in minimum 7 working days I never wanted a plastic bank card, that’s why I’ve applied for a virtual one!! Most moronic bank service, rang to speak to someone, might as well be from a different planet as they couldn’t understand the meaning of a “virtual card”, they kept asking me to apply for a plastic card?! Del Boy and his company comes to mind..

  • B D

Starling seemed great at first ( 4 years back ) then the cracks appear .. they almost treat you like a criminal when it comes to paying in ( depositing) larger amounts of money and opening a simple business bank account is so difficult. They ask to see contracts between your customers and landlords they’re super vigilant to the degree that simple everyday online banking gets blocked when payments are a little higher! They control peoples money way too much . My partner has almost lost a 10 k work payment with starling because they’re making it difficult for him to get paid into his account…they’ve asked for details of who the customer ? Can we see a contract between you! There Way too interrogative and controlling with making payments and taking payments! Starling has loss it’s credibility as far as I’m concerned and will be using other more user friendly banks in the future!

  • Laura Juskaite

Small businesses, AVOID using Starling bank if you want to keep your money safe! I have had fraud cases occur 4 times in the last few months on my Starling Business bank account. As you can imaging it is very unsettling when you see £1000s leaving your account due to Starling's poor security. On 2 occasions it has been fraud via Facebook (someone spending my hard earned money on ads I imagine). I have raised several complaints however nothing has been done to resolve as the fraud cases just keep occurring. And every time this has happened I've had to cancel my card and wait up to 2 weeks to receive a new card (which is terrible if you run an online business and can't pay suppliers and buy business supplies whilst waiting for the new card to arrive). I have finally had enough and will be opening a new business bank account with another bank. STARLING, SORT IT OUT!!

  • Vanya C

Absolutely disgusting bank........please if I could give minus 100 stars I would. IM URGING YOU TO STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS BANK, DONT DO IT! THEY HAVE NO EXPERIENCE WHATSOEVER ABOUT HANDLING FRAUD AND ARE CLEARLY FRAUDULENT THEMSELVES. If you have money in there please take it out they are allowing money to be stolen from peoples account and acting like they are oblivious. They allowed someone to access my bank account and steal money from my account, and refuse to give it back, who does that. They did it to my friend a couple weeks ago and were both devastated . Please I don't want this to happen to you. Don't open account with them and if you have one take your money out asap, they don't care about your well-being. I WOULD RECOMMEND MONZO REALLY GOOD BANK PLUS YOU CAN HAVE DIFFERENT POTS AND ACCOUNTS ALL IN ONE PLACE AND THEY DONT STEAL YOUR MONEY!

  • Richard Carter

Wouldn’t bother for small business banking. It’s all fine until you actually need an answer from a real human, or some actual help, and then it falls down. Like others who have reviewed, we were declined for a small overdraft to help us through a tough time. We waited 2 weeks for an answer and then were told no with an automated, generic response. They need greater transparency for processes, because we were told “it will be reviewed soon” with no expectation of when to expect a reply despite us asking multiple times. Customer service was faster and more efficient at NatWest, and that’s saying something, because they were awful. A shame, as Starling was very promising when we first moved. The app has some good features for reviewing spending by category, but a shiny app is unfortunately not enough support for businesses in the real world.

  • Chloe Wood

DONT BANK WITH STARLING. My partner broke his phone and needed a new code to activate the app on his new phone. This was in MAY 2023. They sent a letter out the beginning of may which we never received. We called again in June and they sent another two letters that month that we never received (That's one month without access to his bank other than using a cash machine.) In July we requested a letter to be sent to my nans address signed for which was apparently done. Yet again we are still waiting for this letter and they cannot give us any information on it. My partner then decided he wanted to change banks and so he did. That was in July. STARLING HAVE STILL NOT RELEASED HIS MONEY AND SAVINGS A MONTH AND A HALF LATER. We've had to contact the bank umbisman as a last resort to try and get his hard earned wages back

  • Marina Kelava

As a potential customer who just moved to the UK, I wanted to contact the bank online to ask two questions as I couldn’t find the answer on their website. There was a section on the website “Can’t find what you’re looking for?” in which was suggested to download a mobile app, from the account menu tap “Help”, then click “Talk to starling”. A problem is that as a potential customer I can’t even get to the account menu as I’m asked to register a new account or to login as a returning customer. There is no chat support ok their website as well. How I’m supposed to get in touch with the bank as a potential customer? Update: they replied within 1 day on email which is pretty much good in comparison to other banks. However, I can’t register with an EU mobile phone number (such a shame because some other banks allow it)

  • El Marsele

The most poor customer services when you complain they never sort out anything always replied as policy regulations.. I don't think how they manage to get UK law and regulations as I'm taking it further to take legal action. They manipulate your money any transaction wages or paying goods they keep sending messages and need explanation oh dear is my own money i do as i wish you should be very grateful to trust you as new bank only online you cannot rely or withdraw cash is umbeilavable it shouldn't be allowed in uk Best advice get well reputation bank in high street as old school Hsbc barclays natwest halifax. Don't waist your time Very poor bank and poor customer service need more training and hopefully me taking it further it will improve or close

  • Jurand Pyrcioch

I strongly discourage establishing a business bank account with Starling Bank. We recently undertook a collaborative endeavor with a Ukrainian registered charity, contributing to their commendable efforts in Ukraine. Regrettably, when the charity attempted to remit payment to our Starling Bank account, not only were the payments unceremoniously rejected, but we were also promptly notified that our bank account would be terminated within 60 days, devoid of any explanation. Fortunately, we had the foresight to maintain an alternative banking provider, thereby evading any detrimental repercussions. It is perplexing and disconcerting that Starling Bank would impede transactions originating from a well-known and reputable charitable organization registered in Ukraine.

  • Lexi Latapi-Dean

I can’t express how much a haaaaate this bank. They have new ways of doing things that make no sense, and which lead to them unapologetically stealing hundreds of pounds of your money. Just to be new without thinking about the inconvenience to the customer. Absolutely atrocious app, even worse customer service that is only script based and doesn’t allow for an ounce of common sense (see the answers to other negative reviews for perfect examples of this). I can’t understand how a modern bank (with good reviews, no less) could be this awful. I will be warning anyone who is interested off this bank! Too many options nowadays to deliver so poorly. Take your money elsewhere - even some of the original brick and mortar banks are better than this. Wasted potential.

  • MrSdjones3

Poor customer service. I had transferred money from another bank to Starling, which went missing. Asked Starling for help to locate the money and provided all the necessary paperwork. Although I didn't request it, they immediately initiated their complaints procedure, which slowed the whole process down. Their findings were that the money had been transferred, which it hasn't. In their complaint findings letter to me, the complaint handler said that I should email him directly if I had any further enquires. However, he did not include an email address. I contacted Starling through their app requesting a direct email address for him. I was referred by the operator to the FSA and the chat was ended. I still don't have my money. AVOID!!!

  • Dean Richardson

Completely pointless company. We wanted to set up a business account to be ready to buy a property at auction as you need to give the auction house your bank details so they can take the deposit immediately if you win the bid. After ID checks and seeing proof of funds in excess of the likely purchase price, they refused the account because there is no documentation to confirm the property has been purchased despite explaining in the app and in a follow up phone call that you only get documentation if you win the auction. We will now open an account with a more understanding bank! Special thanks to Musa for failing to understand this situation and sticking to the script of needing to see documents that can’t possibly exist!

  • Lynden

I’ve used Starling for business and personal, and up until now it’s been my top recommendation. Today I go to process our business payroll and the transaction is blocked. Contact them via chat and telephone, after waiting 30 mins on hold at 10pm at night to be told there’s nothing they can do. ‘Escalating’ to the payments team has done nothing, and now my team aren’t being paid on time. Response from Starling: well If you don’t like it, raise it as a complaint and take it to the Ombudsman. Poor response and poor attitude. This is not a business bank, their processes are too immature to fix things when they go wrong. Watch Starling’s robot reply back with a generic link to a FAQ about payments being restricted.

  • Jon Shepley

Very disappointed, according to "independent surveys" Starling is incredible, but for a business bank it's painfully restrictive. You cannot add access to your account for book keeping or even have an automatic email monthly for statements, you can't even add access for another person unless they are a company director. You cannot have a second phone number to allow app access that way. This may seem like a small issue, but unless the company director does the book keeping (which is rare in any LTD company) its a HUGE pain. If you integrate banking into something like Xero your "spaces" also do not show up at all which lead to manual changes every month to reflect the real balances in the account

  • P

I have been conducting the majority of my transactions with this bank since 2019. It's so convenient, customer service is excellent. I've faced various issues like losing my bank card in another country, updating address and phone number, etc and Starling has always been quick to respond and solve any issues. Compared to other banks, they are also quick with producing statements tailored to the dates you need, and you can instantly save certified copies of these and download account ownership documents from the app too. I use the saving spaces and they are quite helpful to keep track of where you spend your money, the app is quite user friendly. Plus it doesn't hurt that the card looks so nice!

  • Simon Ashley

I have banked with Starling Bank for nearly 5 years now and I have to say that it has been one of the best financial experiences ever. The App over that time has never failed and customer services are one of the best in the industry. I have banked with almost all the UK banks over my 40 year working life and for the most occasions banking was only ever a necessity rather than a pleasure. The App has come a long way in the time I have been with Starling and I truly cannot imagine I will ever need to bank elsewhere. I hope that they will launch a credit card at some point in the future but even without a Starling branded credit card I will remain loyal to this bank well into the future.

  • Phil Steed

I've used Starling for a few years now as my second bank, for when I travel to Europe. They are superb, slick and secure with countless features when using their app. I have a £ account and linked €Euro account. Moving Sterling to the Euro account is great value and extremely convenient and usage abroad is reliable. I recently had my wallet stolen in Paris and was able to lock my card via the app; they also auto blocked attempted transactions. Called them and received fantastic service and advice - they assigned a new card number to my app and I was then able to pay via Google Wallet. A life saver. New card arrived less than 2 working days later. Brilliant.

  • Azem Alptekin

Possibly the worst bank of all times. They don't inform you with any real information apart from information one can read from their website, and they block your incoming money for your business account for a week. I still don't know when I will receive my money from them. I have to send it to my vendor but it's blocked with them all this time. Just avoid them and use a proper bank with real people in them. Not an online bank. Edit1: Starling gave my money only after 10 days. I sent them messages so many times without receiving any response. The phone number is not available anywhere else. Its just been a nightmare. Avoid them at all costs.

  • annabel

I dont recommend banking with this company, customer service is appalling, blocked my account because I received a large payment, despite providing proof. they locked my account and kept my funds for over 1 month. Bills were unpaid and caused a lot of difficulty. Was responded to by a robot called SAM every single time I contacted them. They never got back to me and over 1 month later they sent over documents so I called them and they stated my account had been closed and that my money will be sent in the post via a cheque. DONT TRUST THEM. they will keep your money for as long as they want to and not have a care in the world.

  • Ben Mark

Seriously disappointed to have my application rejected - was very hopeful to use there invoicing and expenses service (the £7 a month option) as a small business who provides video content for social media, weddings, sports and live events. Normal sole trader work where apparently it doesn’t fall under ‘their scope’ of banking business - absolute rubbish. 95% of the internet is now video content, fail to see how they have no one in that industry doing banking with them. Provided all relevant details as asked and have years of paying UK tax as a sole trader. Just shows poor support of UK small businesses to be honest.

  • Will

I have some buy to let mortgages and rent coming into my personal account and my bank at the moment feeds everything to my accounting software (Xero)- even though it’s still mostly a personal account. Starling won’t provide automatic bank feeds for personal accounts and won’t convert a personal account to business so I can send the transactions to my accountant. The only way to do it would be to manually set up a new account - I’d have to set up all payees again, notify everyone sending me money and call everyone with direct debits set up and set them up again. So much for a hi tech challenger bank!

  • Peter

Trying to open a new business acount. even though i already have a bank with them. they have taken 2 days applied twice with no reason why they cant open the account. seems weird as they have done it before and wasnt a problem. very dispointing service as customer support dont know anyting and not allowed to talk to you about it. ask to speak to a such person and there isnt anyone. i will not be recommanding or adding any more accounts with sterling. Tide seems to be the way forward. The fact that sterling is ment to be quick and eary is far from it!

  • Hina Aaliyah

Well I was a fan of starling until they decided to close my account assuming it was used fruad or I was a victim of fruad which was a false statement! I even told them this shower evidence! It’s like they happy with not using the accounts. Iv had starling for a long time never had problems . My transactions have been normal and never given my bank details except to my own close fam to send money. I’m actually fed up with banks assume anything when it’s actually nothing at all! It’s caused me inconvenience and problems!

  • Mike Gowing

I don't have an account with Starling but my daughter does. She made a few large transactions which were out of the norm so her account was frozen (quite understandable, all banks would do the same). Although her account was in credit (by a lot), when she phoned to unlock the account the customer service person said that they couldn't unlock it but someone would be able to do it tomorrow. So an account is in credit and you can't access your money. Is this what all these challenger banks are like? Not very professional!

  • Alfred Dublin

It has good things but when it comes to euro transfer is very slow and unpredictable. It may take 3 to 5 days for a transfer, even if it is Starling to Starling domestic transfer. They say this is because they are considered international transfer, but with Revolut transfers happen immediately, especially if users are from within Revolut, no matter what countries or currencies are involved. I liked Starling, it is a shame I cannot continue to use it that frequently. I will start to use Revolut more often.

  • Ahmad Al Tawbah

My daughter studies in the UK. Almost every time I transfer her monthly pocket money to her Staling account, the bank holds the amount and keep quiet until we start asking. I made the transfer on 25 Nov and so far she did not receive the money while it should take 3 business days max. This doesn’t happen with other banks. What would my daughter do if doesn’t have a buffer of money till she solve the issue with you?? She will borrow from her pals or starve. Will definitely switch to another bank!

  • Simone Petullà

Worst bank I have dealt so far and useless customer care. Being waiting for my salary payments from abroad, they have a 10 days review policy for international payments, but after a month and a half my money is not arrived yet. One complaint opened, a phone call to the customer care every single week, and the only answer I've got so far, "we will chase the dedicated department which will be in touch with you directly". Well, I'm still waiting!!! Probably if I sue them there will be some effect.

  • michael killick

I am so disappointed in this bank! It is like a bank from years ago with ultra slow transactions that seem aimed to confuse you! This bank has led to problems with my paypal due to how ridiculously slow the system is. Payments not secured straight away and can take upto a week to come out! There should be no banks as slow as this anymore! I will be switching as soon as possible! Not suitable for modern banking at a time where people like to keep track of their money an payments in real time!

  • Fione Tan

I am not an account holder of Starling. But I do a remittances from other country to this account holder from Starling bank, account holder should have received the transfer amount by 3-4 days. Unfortunately not! When I asked my bank to recall back the amount I have remitted, it was cancelled for refund by Starling. I sent on 28 Aug, recalled back on 4 Sept, and was asked to wait for 7-10 working days. Now I still not able to get my fund return! This was real bad

  • Jennifer Mulholland

This has the best customer service, I have ever dealt with. I have had a reason to contact them on 3 occasions now. Each time, I have been impressed with the people I spoke to. They were all friendly, polite and patient. Even when I didn't understand something, They stayed calm and looked for another way to help. Each of them did this, until the issue was resolved and I was satisfied with the help I had received. Seriously, you couldn't ask for better service.

  • Ahmed Muhiaddin

Avoid this bank please, I used and the merchant charged me 2 times 3 times and even 4 times when I spoke to customer service they said we can’t do anything it’s offline transaction we will msg Mastercard and never back never got refund and again I used Sparshop for one coffee £3 and charged twice and time, I now use like my main bank but I am looking another bank to transfer all my direct debits. Poor customer service I am still looking my money back.

  • B Popescu

Awful experience with Starling. Being double charged by Expedia and asking them to investigate and refund me for the double charge they allowed to happen. A week later I asked them how long until I have a result of their investigation, they said 8 days "from last contact". So every time.you message them to ask for an outcome and they say "not yet" they add 8 more days to their deadline. Disgusting experience, have no words how they make you feel.

  • IJ DC

SCAM! Had an account closed for no reason! Told me they were closing in line with their terms and conditions but couldn’t tell me what terms I had not met. Also stated they were going to donate the money in my account. Gave me a date my account would be closed but they froze my account before that without informing me and I missed all my my direct debits including my mortgage. Go with Chase or Monzo much more reliable!

  • Alan Maile

Been with Starling for a while, but this last week has been abysmal. Trying to send a small amount abroad to Turkey to pay home insurance. Firstly received the Spanish inquisitive as to what payment is for, I jumped through hoops and provided relevant documentation. Now been told payment from UK to Turkey is delayed by Independence Day in the US. Unbelievable and abysmal. Maybe time to move our 3 accounts.

  • Owen Smith

They shut down my bank account yesterday with over £7000 pounds in, I have to wait 28 days for a cheque to arrive and until then I have no money for food, fuel, heating or anything! I have tried everything to just get a fraction of my money back just so my family can eat but they won't give me my money. They didn't even notify me they were shutting my account. This should be criminal.

  • Peter Lloyd

I would avoid this bank like the plague! They freeze my account when sitting on information for weeks, reversing all funds that should credit the account. Wasted hours on the live chats etc and simply no solution regarding the account being re-opened. One thing they’re great at is helping you lose your money and time also. Fantastic bank for that.

  • ahmad nawaz

I recently had an experience with Starling Bank and I must say, it was far from satisfactory. I regretfully inform that I cannot recommend opening an account with this bank due to several concerns that I encountered during my time with them. From their poor customer service to their untrained staff members, it was an overall unpleasant experience.

  • S.

They ask a ridiculous amount of questions to apply for a sole trader account, more so than any other bank I have dealt with, and then reject the application without providing reasons for why it has not been accepted, which I find very poor. Save your time and just use another company. I’ve made a Tide sole trader account and it’s been accepted.

  • Marwan Atalla

The worst bank I ever dealt with. They send you messages asking why you are withdrawing cash from another country while traveling. They even had the audacity to ask me when I was coming back!! I transferred money to top up my account and they sent it back because they wanted to know where I got the money from. It was $2000!!!!

  • Cameron Turner

closed one of my savings account, one of my squares on the 26/10/23 and have withheld for my money £1800 still not got it back will not return my money to me. No explanation do not trust this bank they will steal from you. You have been warned. I am now taking it up with the financial ombudsman and making a formal complaint

  • Barry Randle

Excellent i added £ and Euros before going to Spain for 6 days. At the last minute my wife holing my cash could not join me. All i had and all I needed was the Starling card. I used it for everything- and the Spanish seem to prefer it, even for a cup of coffee . My first experience of a 'cashless society'

  • Daren Broadway

Started out as an amazing bank. I got loads of friends to join. But they have now capped the maximum cash deposit to £30 a day. What an absolute joke. Must be working with the government to make us a cash free society. Not me, Cash is King. Sorry but I will be changing and speaking to all my friends.

  • Joshua Collington

Do not trust starling, delete and move to a different bank. They won't protect your Money if something goes wrong. This bank is a wasted of time and should be taken down. Don't bother with opening an account with starling. Highly recommended switching to a different bank asap

  • Christopher Barrow

Pretend to be all new & improved. But actually they don’t have their customers’ interests at heart. A petrol station in France took €167 out of my account & they weren’t interested. Told me to contact the petrol station, even though I had returned to the UK.

  • BrewMy Teabag

Fantastic! Easy to open and once everything is setup, I've been using my card in Italy for the last week just like I would in the UK. Exchange rates are fair but the convenience is what makes this so easy. I'll never need cash again. Card is king.

  • Shawn Mann

Been with Starling Bank for 5yrs now, they delt with a recent issue I had fast and effortlessly, by far the best bank I've delt with, customer service is first class and they take the hassle out of any problems I've had, keep up the good work.

  • Muhammad Qasir

Froze my account for no reason. Over a week and same answer on online chat (our team are looking into this) no phone number, no high street branch. This is why you should stick to the bigger banks. I would never recommend STARLING

  • Nicolle Riedel

Great experience with this bank over the last 3 years. The app is very easy to use and has lots of smart features. Quick support when needed and no fees. Absolutely amazing when travelling. I recommend starling to everyone

  • Niccy Rich

The app has useful services. However my card expired in July, we're now in October and I've still not received my new card. I have requested a new card 3 times. Giving up and closing my account

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