Starling Bank is one of the UK’s most established digital banks — fully licensed since 2016, profitable since 2023, and trusted by over 4 million personal and business customers. Unlike Monzo and Revolut, Starling has a single personal account with no upsell tiers.
This page covers all key Starling features, limits, and answers. Use the links below to go deeper on any topic.
Starling at a Glance
| Feature | Starling personal account |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 |
| UK ATM withdrawals | Free — no Starling fee (default card withdrawal limit applies, adjustable in-app) |
| Foreign spending | Free — Mastercard rate, no fee |
| Foreign ATM | Free — subject to reasonable use |
| UK bank transfers | Free — Faster Payments |
| CHAPS (large transfers) | £20 per payment |
| Faster Payments limit per payment | Up to £1,000,000 |
| Sort code | 60-83-71 |
| Overdraft | Available — 15%, 25% or 35% EAR (variable, subject to eligibility); representative rate 15% EAR |
| Interest on main balance | 0% |
| Savings (Easy Saver / Fixed Saver / Cash ISA) | Yes — rates vary by product, check current rates in-app |
| Cash deposit (Post Office) | Free up to £1,000/calendar year, then 0.7% above £1,000 |
| Customer service | 24/7 — phone + in-app chat |
| FSCS protection | Yes — up to £120,000 (rose from £85,000 on 1 December 2025) |
Why Starling Stands Out
No paid tiers. Monzo charges £5–£15/month for unlimited ATMs and better interest. Chase limits foreign ATM use above a stated monthly threshold. Starling charges no Starling ATM fee to anyone — no upgrade required, though a default daily cash withdrawal limit applies and can be adjusted in the app.
Higher transfer limit. Starling’s Faster Payments limit of up to £1,000,000 per transaction is significantly higher than Monzo (£10,000 default) and most competitors. This matters when moving large sums — paying a deposit on a property, for example — though CHAPS (£20 per payment) remains available for amounts above this or when guaranteed same-day settlement is needed.
24/7 telephone support. Monzo and Chase are chat-only for general queries. Starling offers a real phone line around the clock — a meaningful advantage for customers who need to speak to someone urgently.
Free everyday banking, but cash handling has limits. Starling does not charge a fee for cash paid in at the Post Office up to £1,000 per calendar year (0.7% applies above that) — useful for occasional cash, though not as generous as some earlier marketing suggested. For anyone handling larger or regular cash volumes, check the current limit in-app before relying on it.
Business banking. Starling’s business account has no mandatory monthly fee for sole traders or limited companies, with accounting software integrations, invoicing, and Spaces.
Starling Spaces and Savings
Spaces are Starling’s sub-accounts held within your Starling account, used to ring-fence money for specific goals. A standard Space earns no interest. Starling’s dedicated savings products — Easy Saver, Fixed Saver, and a Flexible Cash ISA — sit within the Spaces area of the app and earn interest at rates that vary and change over time; check the current rate in the app or on starlingbank.com/savings before relying on any published figure.
You can create multiple Spaces — for emergencies, holidays, bills, and so on — and each appears as a separate balance within the app.
Starling vs Monzo vs Chase — Quick Comparison
| Feature | Starling | Monzo (Free) | Chase UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| UK ATM fee | £0 (default daily card limit applies, adjustable in-app) | 1 free/month then 3% | Check Chase’s current terms |
| Foreign ATM | £0 (fair use) | Check Monzo’s current terms | Check Chase’s current terms |
| Faster Payments limit | £1,000,000 | £10,000 (default) | Check Chase’s current terms |
| CHAPS | Yes (£20) | No | Check Chase’s current terms |
| Savings | Easy Saver, Fixed Saver, Cash ISA (rates vary) | Instant Access Pot (variable) | Check Chase’s current terms |
| Cash deposit (Post Office) | Free to £1,000/year, then 0.7% | Check Monzo’s current terms | Not available |
| Phone support | 24/7 ✅ | Emergency only | Emergency only |
| Business account | Yes ✅ | No | No |
| Gambling block | No | Yes ✅ | No |
Figures for Starling verified against Starling’s own fee schedules as of September 2026; figures for other providers change independently — confirm current terms directly with each bank before relying on a comparison.
Starling Articles
- Starling Review 2026
- Starling ATM Withdrawal Limit
- Starling Transfer Limit
- Starling Sort Code
- Starling Spaces Explained
- Starling Business Account Review
- Starling Customer Service
- Starling Cash Deposit
- Starling Bank Fees UK 2026
- Starling Bank Gambling Block