You can deposit cash into Starling Bank at Post Office branches. On a personal current account, the first £1,000 per calendar year (January to December) is free, and Starling charges 0.7% on any amount above that. On a Starling Business or sole trader account, there is no free allowance — every deposit is charged at 0.7% of the amount, or £3, whichever is higher.
This page is part of the Starling Bank UK complete guide, which covers all Starling features, limits, and account types. If you’re comparing cash-deposit allowances across providers, always check the current published fee schedule for each bank, as these limits and charges change.
Starling Cash Deposit — Key Facts
| Detail | Personal account | Business / sole trader account |
|---|---|---|
| Where to deposit | Post Office branches | Post Office branches |
| Free allowance | £1,000 per calendar year | None |
| Fee above the allowance | 0.7% of the amount over £1,000 | 0.7% of the amount, £3 minimum |
| Applies across | Main + any additional personal current account | Per business/sole trader account |
| How long it takes | Typically within a couple of hours | Typically within a couple of hours |
How to Deposit Cash into Starling
Step 1: Find a Post Office Use the Post Office branch finder or search Google Maps for “Post Office near me”. Not all Post Office counters are open the same hours — many are inside WHSmith or convenience stores with limited opening times.
Step 2: Go to the counter Take your Starling debit card and the cash you want to deposit. You do not need anything else.
Step 3: Request a cash deposit Tell the cashier you want to make a cash deposit to your bank account. Hand over your card and cash. The cashier processes it through the Post Office banking system.
Step 4: Money arrives The deposit typically appears in your Starling account promptly. You receive a push notification when it arrives.
The £1,000-a-Year Free Allowance (Personal Accounts)
Starling’s fee schedule states that cash paid in through the Post Office is free up to and including £1,000 within a calendar year; above that, a 0.7% charge applies to the excess. This limit applies across your main personal current account and any additional personal current account you hold with Starling — it is not a per-transaction or per-day allowance.
Worked examples (based on Starling’s published fee schedule):
- Pay in £900 across the year: no charge.
- Pay in £1,200 across the year: charged 0.7% of £200 (the amount over £1,000) = £1.40.
- Pay in £1,000 to your main account and £500 to an additional personal account at the same time: charged 0.7% of £500 = £3.50, since the £1,000 allowance is shared across both accounts.
If you expect to deposit significantly more than £1,000 in cash across a year, budget for the 0.7% fee on the excess, or consider whether a different account suits your needs better.
Business and Sole Trader Cash Deposits — No Free Allowance
Unlike the personal account, Starling’s business and sole trader accounts do not have a free cash-deposit allowance. Every deposit at the Post Office is charged at 0.7% of the amount, or a minimum of £3, whichever is higher. A trader depositing £500 in a single visit would be charged £3.50 (0.7% of £500); a trader depositing £300 would be charged the £3 minimum, since 0.7% of £300 (£2.10) is below the minimum.
This is an important cost to factor in for cash-heavy sole traders — see the Starling Business Account Review for the full business fee breakdown.
Is Starling Good for Cash-Heavy Businesses?
For sole traders who regularly receive cash — tradespeople, market stall operators, tutors, childminders — Starling remains convenient for digital banking, but the 0.7%/£3-minimum Post Office fee applies to every deposit with no free allowance. Factor this into your costs, especially compared with other providers that may offer different terms.
- Starling Spaces let you ring-fence cash once deposited — for example, moving 20% to a Tax Space immediately
- Xero and FreeAgent integrations mean cash income is captured automatically once it clears
See the Starling Business Account Review for a full breakdown of the business account features and how it compares to competitors like Monzo Business and Tide — check each provider’s current cash deposit terms before choosing, as these vary and change.
For businesses handling very large volumes of cash (tens of thousands per month), a traditional bank with branch access (Barclays, NatWest, Lloyds) may offer different cash-handling terms — check directly, as this varies by bank and account type.
Tips for Cash Deposits with Starling
- Check Post Office opening times before you go — they vary, especially for those inside shops
- Track your calendar-year total on a personal account so you know when the £1,000 free allowance is used up
- Factor in the 0.7%/£3-minimum fee on every business or sole trader deposit — there’s no free allowance
- Use Spaces to allocate cash for tax as soon as it’s deposited
- Keep receipts from the Post Office — your evidence if a deposit is delayed or disputed